Thinking about growing your own potatoes? It’s easier than you think, and there’s nothing better than digging up fresh, homegrown potatoes for dinner.
When to Plant
Potatoes like cool weather, so plant them 2-4 weeks before your last expected frost. The soil should be at least 45°F, or they’ll just sit there and not grow until it warms up some.
Whole or Cut Potatoes?
For the best results, buy certified seed potatoes from a garden center or seed supplier rather than using store-bought potatoes, which are often treated with sprout inhibitors and may carry diseases that can affect your crop. You can plant small seed potatoes whole or cut larger ones into chunks. If cutting, each piece should have 1-2 eyes (those little sprouts). Scrape off extra eyes to encourage bigger potatoes. Let the cut pieces sit for a day or two so the cut sides can dry and form a callous—this helps prevent rot. The cut end will become blackened.
Planting in Trenches
You can plant potatoes in ground, in raised beds or in containers. 25 gallon grow bags work great for potatoes and that is how I grow mine. Dig a trench about 6 inches deep. Place your seed potatoes cut-side down, “eyes up” spacing them about 12 inches apart if you are planting in ground. In a raised bed or container, using square foot gardening I plant 4 potatoes per square foot. In my 25 gallon grow bags I plant three or four per bag. Cover them with 3-4 inches of soil. If growing in a container or grow bag, fill the bag halfway with soil, plant the potato then cover with a couple of inches soil.
Hilling Up as They Grow
Once the plants are 6 inches tall, mound soil around the base, covering the lower part of the stem. Keep doing this every couple of weeks until you’ve hilled up about 8 inches of soil. This keeps the potatoes underground and prevents them from turning green (which makes them bitter and toxic).
- Baby potatoes – Once the plants start flowering (around 8-10 weeks after planting), you can carefully dig around the base and check for small potatoes. If you find some, go ahead and grab a few!
- Full-size potatoes – Wait until the plants start to yellow and die back, usually around 15-18 weeks. Let them sit in the ground a bit longer for thicker skins, which helps with storage.
Best Soil for Potatoes
Loose, well-draining soil is key. Heavy, compacted soil makes for misshapen potatoes. Avoid too much nitrogen—it makes plants leafy but reduces the harvest.
Pests & What to Plant with Potatoes
Potato beetles and flea beetles can be a problem. Try interplanting with:
✅ Marigolds – Repel beetles
✅ Nasturtiums – Trap flea beetles
✅ Basil & Catnip – Deter pests
That’s it! With a little care, you’ll have a great potato harvest. Ready to get planting?
Happy Gardening
Karen
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