Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, or on the balcony, potatoes are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing potatoes.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Potatoes Belong To?
Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) belong to the Solanaceae family, also known as the nightshade family.
Some of their relatives include tomatillos, bell peppers, and eggplants.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Potatoes?
The minimum container size recommended for potatoes is 10 gallons for small varieties and 15 gallons for medium and large varieties.
Potatoes also do well in grow bags and potato bags.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Potatoes?
Some of potatoes' best companions are as follows:
- Beans like green beans
- Celery
- Lovage
- Corn
- Garlic
- Marigold
- Onion
- Peas
- Thyme
- Amaranth
- Tulsi, which repels potato bug
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Potatoes?
Potatoes are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with potatoes are as follows:
- Blackberry
- Broccoli, tatsoi, and other Brassicas
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Melons
- Walnut
- Orach
- Raspberry
- Rosemary
- Parsnip
- Squash
- Sunflowers
- Tomatillo
What Soil Conditions Do Potatoes Need?
Potatoes prefer light, loose, well-draining soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH of 5.0 to 7.0.
How Long Do Potatoes Take to Germinate?
Potato seeds take 10-15 days to germinate at a temperature of 60-70ºF.
Potato starts or seed potatoes take 2-4 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 40-50°F.
How Much Sun Do Potatoes Need?
Potatoes need full sun.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and potatoes grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Do Potatoes Need?
Potatoes need 1-2 inches of water per week.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Potatoes?
Potatoes grow fastest in temperatures of 60-70°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some potato varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Potatoes Get?
The average height of potatoes is 3-4 feet.
Their average depth is 2-3 feet.
Are Potatoes Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Potatoes are perennial vegetables, meaning that they live for longer than a couple years.
But they are usually grown as annuals, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year. This is because potatoes tend to become tough and more difficult to eat after the first year.
How Do Potatoes Reproduce?
Potatoes reproduce by seed.
How Many Potatoes Are Produced Per Plant?
For potatoes, how many are produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type of potato and, at times, the variety.
Most potato varieties average about 5-6 potatoes per plant.
Can Potatoes Be Ingested?
Potato tubers are edible.
Potatoes do not have any known uses in herbal preparations.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting ripe potato tubers. Do not eat green, underripe potatoes, as they have a higher amount of solanine.
Do not eat the fruits or other above-ground parts of the potato plant. These parts have a much higher concentration of solanine than the tubers do, and solanine is harmful to humans.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of potatoes rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for potatoes here!
Potatoes are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: