Potato Potatoes, Tatties, Potties

Solanum tuberosum

Potato belongs to the Solanum genus. Potato is also known as Potatoes, Tatties, Potties

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The Potato Plant Wiki

All details in our wiki have been kindly provided by our members.

There are basic four categories of potatoes:

First Earlies
Second Earlies
Main Crop / Early Main Crop
Late Main Crop

Potato belongs to the Solanum genus.

How to grow and keep Potato happy

Do not plant potatoes where tomatoes have been planted the previous year. Do not plant potatoes in the same place in succession. Grow potatoes in full sun with little or no shade.

Remove any flowers from the potato plant as this will divert energy away from the tubers.

Harvesting instructions for potatoes

Potatoes are ready for harvest when the foliage starts to die down and turn yellow. For new potatoes, harvest a couple of weeks after the first flowers show. Main crop potatoes are ready for harvest in mid autumn. Remove all soil clinging to the potato and leave on top of the soil for a couple of hours to dry out and store in boxes.

How to sow and germinate Potato

Potatoes are generally grown from the eyes of another potato and not from seed. The tubers need to be chitted (i.e. sprouted), in order to accelerate their maturity and shorten the growing time needed to get a good crop of new tubers. In late winter to early spring, place the tubers in an old egg-box, or lay them out in a tray. Position them so that the end or face with the largest number of eyes is facing up to the light.
Place the trays in an unheated, frost-free room, in filtered light (not direct sunlight).

How to transplant Potato

How to harvest Potato

Companion plants for Potato

These plants will grow well with Potato:

Repellent plants for Potato

These plants will not grow well with Potato so avoid planting these within close proximity:

Common Potato pests

These pests are known to attack Potato plants:

Common Potato diseases & problems

These problems and diseases are known to effect Potato plants:

How long does Potato take to grow?

These estimates for how long Potato takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world. Start logging and journaling your observations to participate!

When should I sow or plant Potato?

These estimates are relative to your last frost date. Enter your frost dates and we'll calculate your sowing and planting dates for you!

Potato Etymology

The English word potato comes from Spanish patata.

Potato Folklore

The potato was first cultivated at around 800 BC

Potatoes are more nutritious when eaten with the skin on.
~ Potatoes were the first vegetable grown in space in 1995.
~ Europeans consume twice as many potatoes as Americans per year.
~ Potatoes are second only to milk as the most consumed food in America.
~ Treat facial blemishes by washing your face daily with cool potato juice.
~ Treat frostbite or sunburn by applying raw grated potato to the affected area.
~ Treat a toothache by carrying a potato in your pocket.
~ Treat a sore throat by placing a slice of baked potato in a stocking and applying to the throat.
~ Treat aches and pains by rubbing boiled potato water (cooled) to the affected area.