How to Grow:
Potatoes are planted 2-4 weeks before your last spring frost and 10 weeks before your first fall frost. You can see specific dates for your location using our FREE iOS, Android, and Universal Web App. Seed potatoes are planted 4-6 inches deep, 4 per square foot, in the full sun. Take care to notice what plants are around the area as well, see the companion plant section below. Potatoes will begin to sprout within 14-28 days with constant moisture.Companion Plants:
Companion planting is a vital part of organic gardening. Companion plants assist in the growth of others by attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or providing nutrients, shade, or support. There are also plants that do not like being next to each other. Some plants get too tall and can provide too much shade for your plant. Sometimes certain plants attract the same pests, so it is important to try and separate these.| Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Good | Bad | |
| Arugula | Kale | Acorn Squash |
| Basil | Kohlrabi | Butternut Squash |
| Beans (bush & pole) | Lettuce | Celery |
| Beets | Marigolds | Cantaloupe |
| Broccoli | Marjoram | Cucumbers |
| Cabbage | Nasturtiums | Pumpkin |
| Carrots | Onions | Spaghetti Squash |
| Cauliflower | Oregano | Summer Squash (Zucchini) |
| Chamomile | Peas | Sunflowers |
| Cilantro/Coriander | Radish | Tomatoes (bush & vine) |
| Corn | Spinach | Turnips |
| Eggplant | Tarragon | Watermelon |
| Garlic | ||
Pests:
Pests can be one of the most difficult challenges you face in the garden. We strive to grow food without the use of pesticide and luckily there are natural solutions for most of these nasty pests! The pests listed below are common ones for potatoes:- Cabbage Loopers
- Cutworms
- Flea Beetles
- Leafhoppers
- Potato Beetles
- Raccoons
- Slugs/Snails
- Tomato Hornworm
- Wireworms
Harvesting:
Potatoes will be ready to harvest in about 90-120 days. It’s best to harvest potatoes when the soil is dry. Small early potatoes can be harvested in summer after the plants finish flowering. Potatoes can be kept in the soil until 2-3 weeks after all the foliage has died in the fall. Gently loosen the soil and dig around the plant with your hands to find the potatoes. You may need to dig deep with a shovel to get the deeper potatoes. Brush the soil away from the potato and let sit in a cool, humid location for 2 weeks to cure. We’ve found it’s easier to grow potatoes in containers and like using the Smart Pots containers for this purpose.Cooking & Eating!
Carrie Spoonemore, co-founder of “From Seed to Spoon,” stands as a beacon of inspiration for gardeners and health enthusiasts alike. Her journey alongside her husband, Dale Spoonemore, in creating a platform that demystifies gardening and promotes a healthier lifestyle, has made a significant impact on individuals around the globe. Through the “From Seed to Spoon” app, Carrie has dedicated herself to empowering people to take control of their health and environment by growing their own food.
With a profound belief in the power of gardening to improve mental and physical health, Carrie’s contributions to the Seed to Spoon blog reflect her holistic approach to wellness. Her articles often focus on the nutritional benefits of homegrown fruits and vegetables, organic gardening practices, and the mental health benefits of spending time in nature. Carrie’s expertise in health science shines through in her detailed discussions on how specific plants can contribute to a balanced diet and overall well-being.
Carrie’s passion for gardening is deeply intertwined with her commitment to family and community wellness. She frequently shares personal stories of how gardening has brought her family closer together, offering practical tips for involving children in gardening activities and making it a fun, educational experience. Her writing encourages families to explore gardening as a means of spending quality time together while learning about nature and sustainability.
In addition to gardening advice, Carrie’s contributions to the blog include insights into the use of technology to enhance the gardening experience. She has played a crucial role in designing the “From Seed to Spoon” app to be user-friendly, ensuring that users of all ages and backgrounds can navigate the complexities of gardening with ease. Her vision for the app is not just as a gardening tool but as a vehicle for change, inspiring individuals to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle by growing their own food.
Carrie Spoonemore’s presence on the blog is marked by her compassionate approach to teaching and her unwavering belief in the transformative power of gardening. Her work continues to inspire a community of gardeners to pursue a healthier, more sustainable way of living, proving that with the right tools and knowledge, anyone can become a gardener and advocate for their health and the planet.
9 thoughts on “Potatoes: How to Grow and When to Plant in Your Backyard or Patio Garden!”
This is one we need to work on. We have not grown many potatoes, and have done without them on various years. They are not as easy as so many other vegetables. However, because they are one of the few types of vegetables that we continually purchase in the market, we really should work on growing them, even if we do not have the best situation for them.
The leaves of my red potato plants started with small brown spots and the earwigs are out of control. We just pulled the potatoes from one of the 3 pots and found that there was small ones in it. Can we eat those if the plant hasn’t flowered yet? Are the other potato plants too sick to salvage?
My app screen don’t look like this picture?