How do you grow potatoes step by step?
Ready to get your potato garden growing? Here's everything you need to know about planting potatoes!
Step 1.
Start by picking out a location in your garden (or large pots) with well-draining soil and full sun.
Step 2.
Dig a few inches deep and place the seed potatoes into the hole. Make sure to space them at least 8-10 inches apart.
Step 3.
Cover the potatoes with soil and water the area.
Step 4.
Once sprouts begin to appear, add a layer of mulch (or compost) around the potatoes to help retain moisture.
Step 5.
Keep the potatoes hydrated and fertilize with a balanced fertilizer once a month.
Step 6.
When the plants are 6 inches tall, add soil around the base of the plants to help keep the potatoes covered.
Step 7.
When the plants turn yellow and die back, the potatoes are ready to be harvested. Use a shovel or garden fork to carefully dig up the potatoes.
Shopping for your potato-planting needs? Here's a list of the items you'll need:
Seed potatoes: Simply Seed - 10 Piece - Fingerling Potato Seed Mix
Mulch or compost: R&M Organics Premium Organic Compost
Balanced fertilizer: Look for a fertilizer that is designed for vegetables and contains the three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. We like Jobe’s Organics 09026 Fertilizer, 4 lb.
Shovel or garden fork: Try Fiskars Steel Ergonomic Garden Fork.
Large pots (optional): Homyhoo Potato Grow Bags with Flap
Soil: Miracle-Gro Potting Mix. This potting soil is designed for vegetables and contains added Miracle-Gro Plant Food for faster growth. It also contains sphagnum peat moss, compost, and perlite for improved drainage and air-flow.
Watering can: Go for the Qilebi 2 Gallon Watering Can with an extra-long spout for easy watering. It has a large capacity so you can water your potato plants with fewer trips to the tap.
Questions & Answers on How to Plant a Potato
A quick note! You'll find many of the questions below about how to plant potatoes will have similar answers. Instructions such as choosing a sunny location with well-draining soil, adding a layer of mulch or compost to help retain moisture, and digging up the potatoes when the plants turn yellow and die back appear more than once. This is because it's important to us to do our best to answer all of the specific questions our readers may have, as each question provides a different perspective on the best way to plant potatoes. Also some readers may be looking for quick answers and only read their specific question so we want to do our best to facilitate that!
Can I just put a potato in the ground?
Yes! You can plant potatoes directly in the ground. To maximize your chances of success, we recommend cutting the potato into smaller chunks with at least two eyes each before planting. This will help the potatoes grow faster and healthier.
How do you grow a new potato from a potato?
Begin by cutting the potato into smaller chunks with at least two eyes each. Plant the chunks in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. Make sure to keep the soil moist by watering regularly and adding a layer of mulch or compost to help retain moisture.
As the sprouts begin to appear, add more soil around the base of the plants to help keep the potatoes covered. When the foliage turns yellow and dies back, your potatoes are ready to be harvested. Carefully dig them up with a shovel or garden fork.
How do you grow a sprouted potato plant?
Select a sprouted potato and plant it in an adequately sunny spot with well-draining soil. Keep the soil around it moist by watering regularly and adding a layer of mulch (or compost) which will help retain moisture.
As you begin to notice that sprouts are appearing, add a bit more soil around the base of the plants to help keep the potatoes covered. When the foliage turns yellow and dies back, your potatoes are ready to be harvested! Carefully dig them up with a shovel or garden fork.
What month do you plant potatoes?
The best time to plant potatoes is in the spring or early summer. Depending on your climate, potatoes can be planted as early as April or as late as July.
What happens if you plant a whole potato in the ground?
Planting a whole potato in the ground is possible, but it is not recommended. Whole potatoes will take longer to sprout and may produce fewer potatoes. It is best to cut the potato into smaller chunks with at least two eyes each before planting.
This will help the potatoes grow faster and healthier. Make sure to choose a location with well-draining soil and full sun for the best results.
Can I grow potatoes from store bought potatoes?
Yes, you can grow potatoes from store bought potatoes! Start by selecting a potato that is sprouting. Plant the sprouted potato in a spot with well draining soil that gets lot of sun. Water regularly to keep moist and add a layer of mulch or compost to help retain that moisture.
When the sprouts begin to appear, add a bit more soil around the base of the plants to help keep the potatoes covered. When the foliage turns yellow and dies back, your potatoes are ready to be harvested. Carefully dig them up with a shovel or garden fork.
How many potatoes does 1 plant produce?
The number of potatoes one plant produces can vary greatly depending on the variety, soil, and climate. Generally, one potato plant can produce anywhere from 3-10 potatoes depending on the conditions. Certain varieties, such as ‘Yukon Gold’ and ‘Red Pontiac’ are known for producing higher yields than other varieties. Soil quality and moisture content also play a role in how many potatoes a plant produces.
Potatoes grown in nutrient-rich soil with adequate moisture will produce the highest yields. Additionally, potatoes grown in cooler climates tend to produce more potatoes than those grown in warmer climates.
Now that you know the basics of how to grow potatoes, why not give it a try? Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok and sign up for our newsletter and leave comments with your tips on growing potatoes in the comments below. Happy planting!
