With their charming, leafy vines and delightful surprise harvest, potatoes bring a little magic to any backyard garden or patio container. The best part? You don’t need a sprawling homestead or fancy equipment to grow them. All you need is a sunny spot, some soil, and a bit of patience. Whether you’re dreaming of buttery mashed potatoes or golden crispy fries, growing your own crop is easier than you might think.
Potatoes are as satisfying to grow as they are to eat. Tucked away underground, these nutrient-rich tubers quietly multiply, and the moment you dig them up feels like a treasure hunt. Learn how to grow and care for potato plants below, including tips on planting, watering, and harvesting your homegrown spuds.
Potato Plant Basics
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Common Name: Potato
Botanical Name: Solanum tuberosum
Family: Solanaceae (the nightshade family)
Sun Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Loose, well-drained, and rich in organic matter
Mature Size: Vines up to three feet tall, tubers develop underground
USDA Hardiness Zones: Grown as an annual in all zones
Native Area: South America
Toxic to Pets: Yes (leaves and green potatoes can be toxic)
How to Care for Potato Plants
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Potatoes are typically grown from “seed potatoes,” which are just small tubers saved from previous crops. You can buy certified disease-free seed potatoes or use organic ones from your pantry that have started sprouting. Plant them in early spring, about two to four weeks before your last expected frost.
Cut larger seed potatoes into chunks with at least one or two “eyes” (the little bumps where sprouts emerge), then let them sit out for a day or two so the cut surfaces can callus over. This helps prevent rotting once planted.
Plant them three to four inches deep in rows or containers, spaced about 12 inches apart. As the plants grow, you’ll need to “hill” them, which means to mound soil or compost around the base of the plants, to protect the developing tubers from sunlight (which turns them green and bitter).
Sunlight
Potatoes love full sun and need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. A bright, open location is best to keep the plants vigorous and productive.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season. Potatoes don’t like to sit in soggy soil, but they also don’t tolerate drought. A deep, thorough watering once or twice a week is often enough, depending on your climate. Consistent moisture is especially important when the plants are flowering—that’s when the tubers are forming.
Soil Type
Loose, loamy soil is ideal. Potatoes need room to expand underground, so compacted or rocky soil can lead to oddly shaped tubers. If your native soil is heavy clay, try growing in raised beds or large containers filled with compost-rich potting mix.
Fertilizer
Potatoes are hungry plants. Mix compost or a balanced fertilizer into the soil at planting time, and consider feeding again halfway through the growing season, especially if your soil is light or sandy.
Common Diseases and Pest Issues
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Potatoes can fall prey to a few pests, including Colorado potato beetles, aphids, and flea beetles. Keep an eye out for holes in leaves and hand-pick any pests you see. Covering young plants with floating row covers can help early on.
Fungal issues like early blight or late blight can show up in wet, humid conditions. To prevent this, don’t water from overhead, and be sure to rotate crops each year so potatoes aren’t planted in the same spot season after season.
How to Harvest Potatoes
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You can begin harvesting “new potatoes” about two to three weeks after the plants flower. These are small, tender, and perfect for steaming or roasting. For full-size spuds, wait until the foliage dies back completely, which usually happens around 90 to 120 days after planting.
Use a garden fork or your hands to gently dig around the base of the plant. Be careful not to stab the potatoes! Let them sit out for a few hours to dry off, then store them in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place. Don’t wash them before storing—just brush off the excess soil and save the rinsing for when you’re ready to cook.
Popular Potato Types to Plant
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Yukon Gold: A buttery, yellow-fleshed variety that’s great for roasting, boiling, or mashing. Red Norland: A red-skinned early potato with creamy white flesh, perfect for new potatoes.Russet Burbank: A classic baking potato, with fluffy, dry flesh. Great for fries and mashed potatoes.Purple Majesty: A potato with eye-catching purple skin and flesh. High in antioxidants and flavor. Are Potatoes Toxic to Pets?
Yes, but only certain parts. The green parts of the plant (stems, leaves, and unripe tubers) contain solanine, a compound that can be toxic if eaten in large quantities. Keep pets (and curious toddlers!) away from growing plants, and never feed them green or sprouted potatoes. If you suspect your pet has eaten any part of the plant, call your vet right away.
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