Potato

Solanum tuberosum

Plant family

Solanums (Solanaceae)

Season Overview

Propagating

Planting

Harvest

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Light (sandy)

Nutrient requirement

High

Seeding distance

35 cm

Row spacing

65 cm

Seeding depth

10 cm

Instructions

Mid of January

Propagating

Beginning of February

Weeding

Every week

Beginning of February

Planting

Description

The potato is a herbaceous, fast-growing nightshade plant with many different varieties. These differ in tuber size, shape and color, harvest time (early and late potatoes) and direction of use (from firm to floury).

Origin:

High Andes and coastal region of Chile

Growing tips

The potato is a heavy grower and prefers deep and nutrient-rich soil without waterlogging in a moderate, sunny climate. Seed potatoes should be pre-sprouted about 4 weeks before the planting date, e.g. in an egg box in a bright place without direct sun. You should keep the seed potatoes warm until they sprout, then they can sprout further in a cooler place. This sequence encourages the formation of many large potatoes. As soon as the tuber formation begins, the potato plants need a lot of water. However, you should avoid waterlogging at all costs. Piling soil around the plants several times during tuber formation ensures that more tubers can form.

Antagonistic Plants

Aubergine / Eggplant

Beetroot

Celery (Celeriac / Celery root)

Celery (Celery)

Chili

Courgette / Zucchini

Florence fennel / Finocchio

Jerusalem artichoke / Topinambur

Lovage

Melon (Sugar melon)

Melon (Watermelon)

Okra

Pea

Pepper / Paprika

Physalis

Pumpkin / Squash

Sunflower

Turnip-rooted chervil

Diseases

Black spot of roses

Soft rot

Brown rot

Pests

Ten-lined potato beetle

Nematodes

Aphids