How to Grow Potatoes

After harvesting, allow your potatoes to cure before storing. Spread them out in a cool, dry, dark place with good air circulation, like a shed or covered porch, for about 1 to 2 weeks. This toughens the skin and helps prevent rot.

Once cured, move them to a cool (around 40–50°F), dark, and humid location, like a basement, cellar, or unheated closet. Keep them in paper bags, cardboard boxes, or mesh bins. Avoide plastic containers or bas which can trap moisture.

Check stored potatoes regularly and remove any that are soft, shriveled, or sprouting.

Once your potatoes are planted, keeping up with consistent care will help maximize your harvest. Here are a few key tips for healthy, productive plants:

Mulching:

To retain moisture and block light, apply a layer of chopped straw, shredded leaves, or compost around the base of the plants. This also helps reduce weeds and improve harvest quality.

Watering:

Potatoes need about one inch of water per week, especially once they begin flowering and forming tubers. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Uneven watering can lead to cracked or misshapen potatoes.

Fertilizer:

At planting time, apply a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer to promote root growth. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, as they’ll boost foliage at the expense of tubers. Midseason, side-dress with compost or a balanced fertilizer if plants look pale or weak. The University of Minnesota Extension notes that potatoes require more fertilizer than other vegetables.

Pests and diseases:

Watch for common issues like Colorado potato beetles, aphids, flea beetles, and leafhoppers. Diseases may include early and late blight, scab, and blackleg. Rotate crops yearly, keep foliage dry when possible, and remove any infected plants promptly to reduce spread.

Even with good care, potatoes can run into a few common problems. Use these tips to prevent issues and keep your crop healthy all season long.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Not hilling enough: Exposed potatoes turn green and become inedible.
• Overwatering: Can lead to rot, especially in heavy soil.
• Planting too early: Cold, wet soil can rot seed potatoes before they sprout.
• Planting treated grocery store potatoes: These often won't sprout and may carry disease.

Preventing blight:

Early blight is more common and causes dark leaf spots and gradual decline, while late blight can rapidly destroy foliage and tubers, especially in wet, humid weather. To prevent both, avoid planting potatoes (and other nightshades like tomatoes or eggplants) in the same spot more than once every 3 years. Remove any volunteer plants from previous seasons, and give your potatoes plenty of airflow. (Learn more about early and late blight from the University of Connecticut.)

Crop rotation:

Potatoes should be part of a rotation plan. After growing potatoes, plant legumes or leafy greens in that spot the following year to rebuild soil nutrients and break pest cycles.

Green potatoes:

Exposure to light causes potatoes to turn green and develop solanine, a toxin. Always keep tubers well-covered with soil or mulch. If you find green spots, cut them away before cooking—or discard the potato if most of it is green.

Deep planting option:

If you want to skip hilling, plant your seed potatoes 8 to 9 inches deep. This method reduces the need for additional soil layering, but sprouts may take longer to emerge and yields may be slightly lower.

Can I grow potatoes from grocery store potatoes?

It’s not recommended. Most store-bought potatoes are treated with sprout inhibitors and may carry diseases. For best results, use certified seed potatoes that are guaranteed to be disease-free and suitable for planting.

How deep should I plant potatoes?

Plant seed potatoes about 6 inches deep in loose soil. If you don’t plan to hill the plants later, you can plant them deeper, around 8 to 9 inches, but expect a slower start and possibly smaller yields.

What’s the best fertilizer for potatoes?

Use a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer to encourage strong root and tuber growth. Too much nitrogen will result in lots of leafy growth but fewer potatoes.

Can potatoes grow in shade?

Not well. Potatoes need full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day, for healthy growth and good yields. Too much shade can lead to weak plants and poor tuber development.

What causes scab or hollow centers in potatoes?

Scab is a common bacterial disease often caused by high soil pH. To reduce risk, keep soil slightly acidic (pH 5.8–6.5) and avoid planting in dry, alkaline conditions. Hollow centers (also called "brown heart") can result from uneven watering or overly rapid growth in some varieties.

Can I grow potatoes in containers?

Yes! Potatoes grow well in containers or grow bags if you use loose, fertile soil and a container that’s at least 16 inches deep. Keep in mind that containers dry out faster than in-ground beds, so you’ll need to water more frequently. Yields may be smaller, but it’s a great option for small spaces.

How long do potatoes take to grow?

It depends on the variety and conditions. Most potatoes take 70 to 120 days from planting to maturity. You can harvest small "new potatoes" as early as 10 weeks after planting, but full-size tubers usually need more time and are ready once the vines die back.