How to Plant Potatoes in Just 10 Easy Steps

Potatoes are one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to grow at home.

Whether you have a large garden, a small raised bed, or just a few containers, planting potatoes can yield a reliable and generous harvest.

With the right approach, even beginners can enjoy fresh, homegrown potatoes with minimal hassle.

In this article, I will walk you through 10 clear and simple steps (from selecting seed potatoes to caring for your plants) so you can grow healthy potatoes with confidence.

Potato Plant Quick Overview

Category	Details
Common Name	Potato
Scientific Name	Solanum tuberosum
Plant Family	Nightshade (Solanaceae)
Sunlight	Full sun (6 to 8 hours daily)
Soil Type	Loose, fertile, well-draining (sandy loam preferred)
Soil pH	5.8 to 6.5 (5.0 to 5.2 to prevent scab)
Planting Depth	4 to 6 inches (or 8 to 9 inches for deep planting)
Spacing	10 to 24 inches between plants; 30 to 36 inches between rows
Water Requirements	1 to 2 inches per week, consistent moisture
Fertilization	Low nitrogen, high phosphorus; potassium-rich side-dressing
Harvest Time	70 to 120 days, depending on variety
Common Pests	Colorado potato beetles, wireworms, aphids
Common Diseases	Potato blight, scab
Special Care	Hilling or mulching to cover tubers as they grow

Step 1: Choose the Right Seed Potatoes

Starting with the right seed potatoes is key to a healthy and productive crop.

Always use certified, disease-free seed potatoes purchased from a trusted garden center, farm store, or catalog. These potatoes are specially grown to reduce the risk of diseases that could harm your plants.

Avoid using potatoes from the grocery store, as they are often treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting. Using saved potatoes from your own garden is also risky.

They can carry disease spores that stay in the soil and may infect future crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants.

When choosing seed potatoes, look for healthy tubers. You can either plant whole small potatoes (about golf ball-sized) or cut larger potatoes into smaller pieces.

Whole potatoes tend to resist pests like wireworms and maggots better because there are no cut surfaces to attract them. If you decide to cut larger potatoes, you’ll prepare them in the next step.

Step 2: Prepare Your Seed Potatoes for Planting

Getting your seed potatoes ready can give them a strong start. If you want an earlier harvest, you can pre-sprout (also called chitting) your seed potatoes.

Place them in a bright, frost-free spot like a kitchen counter or windowsill. Aim for short, sturdy green sprouts, not long, pale ones.

If your seed potatoes are large, cut them into pieces, making sure each piece has at least two to three “eyes”—the small bumps where sprouts will emerge. Cutting too many eyes into one piece can lead to crowded plants competing for resources, which often results in smaller potatoes.

Once cut, let the pieces cure for three to five days in a warm, moderately lit room. This allows the cut surfaces to form a callus, helping prevent rot after planting.

Some gardeners also dip the cut surfaces in ground fir bark, a natural fungicide, before letting them dry.

If you have small, whole potatoes, you can skip cutting and curing. Planting whole potatoes can reduce the risk of pest damage, as there are no exposed cut surfaces.

Step 3: Pick the Best Spot for Planting

Where you plant your potatoes makes a big difference. Choose a spot that receives full sun and has good air circulation.

To prevent disease buildup, follow a three- to four-year crop rotation. Avoid planting potatoes where you’ve recently grown other nightshade family crops like tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or tomatillos.

The planting area should have loose, well-draining soil. Potatoes adapt to many soil types but perform best in fertile, sandy loam. Heavy, compacted soils can lead to misshapen tubers.

Step 4: Prepare Loose, Fertile Soil

Healthy soil is the foundation of a good potato harvest. Start by loosening the soil to allow for easy root and tuber growth.

Potatoes prefer loose, fertile, well-draining soil, ideally a sandy loam. If your soil is heavy or compacted, consider using raised beds or mixing in organic matter to improve texture.

Check the soil pH. The ideal range for potatoes is 5.8 to 6.5. If you’ve had trouble with potato scab in the past, lowering the pH to between 5.0 and 5.2 and dusting the seed potatoes with sulfur before planting can help prevent it.

Add plenty of compost or well-composted manure to boost fertility and water retention. Avoid using fresh manure, which can increase the risk of diseases like scab.

Potatoes are heavy feeders. At planting, apply a low-nitrogen, high-phosphorous fertilizer or a balanced organic fertilizer like a 4-2-2.

Over time, side-dress with a potassium-rich fertilizer when plants reach 6 to 8 inches tall and again at flowering. Avoid too much nitrogen—it promotes large plants but small tubers.

Step 5: Decide on Your Planting Method

Potatoes are versatile and can grow in several ways. Choose the method that fits your space and needs:

• In-ground planting is traditional and works well for large gardens.
  
• Raised beds offer better drainage and easier soil control.
  
• Containers or grow bags are great for small spaces like patios or balconies. Use large containers (at least 40 liters or 50 quarts) with drainage holes.
  
• Straw planting involves placing seed potatoes on the soil surface and covering them with straw. This method can reduce soil compaction and makes harvesting easier.

Some gardeners plant potatoes deeply (8 to 9 inches) to reduce the need for hilling later. However, deep planting may slow sprouting and result in smaller yields.

Alternatively, plant in shallow trenches and add soil around the plants as they grow. This makes hilling simpler and helps protect developing tubers.

Step 6: Plant with Proper Spacing and Depth

Once the soil and seed potatoes are ready, it’s time to plant. Proper spacing and depth are important for healthy growth and an abundant harvest.

• For cut seed pieces, space them 10 to 12 inches apart.
  
• If planting whole, larger potatoes, give them a bit more room—12 to 16 inches apart.
  
• Fingerling and small potatoes can be spaced no less than 8 inches apart.

Keep rows 30 to 36 inches apart to allow for easy hilling and airflow.

Plant the potatoes 4 to 6 inches deep if you plan to hill later. If using the deep planting method (8 to 9 inches), hilling may not be necessary, but sprouting will take longer.

Step 7: Hill Your Plants as They Grow

Hilling is a critical part of growing potatoes.

It prevents developing tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green and toxic. Hilling also increases the space where tubers can form, boosting your harvest.

When the plants reach 6 to 8 inches tall, gently mound soil, compost, or straw around the stems, leaving the top 4 inches of the plant exposed. As the plants grow another 8 inches, repeat the process.

Continue hilling until the mound is about 18 inches high or, if growing in containers or bags, until the container is full.

If you prefer, you can also use a loose mulch like straw or composted leaf mold instead of repeating hilling. This keeps the soil cool and helps retain moisture while allowing the plant to breathe.

Step 8: Water Evenly and Consistently

Potatoes need consistent and even moisture throughout their growing season to develop smooth, healthy tubers. Inconsistent watering can lead to problems like knobby shapes or hollow heart (a gap inside the potato).

Aim to provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week, either from rainfall or irrigation.

The soil should stay moist but not soggy. Be especially careful to maintain even moisture after flowering, as this is when tubers are enlarging.

Reduce watering once the plants’ foliage starts to yellow and die back. At this stage, excess water can lead to rot or other diseases.

Whenever possible, avoid overhead watering. Water at the base of the plants early in the day to reduce the risk of fungal diseases like blight.

Step 9: Control Weeds and Pests

Weeds compete with potatoes for nutrients and water, so it’s important to keep them in check.

Use mulch—such as straw, shredded leaves, or pine needle mulch—to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture. Pine needle mulch can also help prevent potato scab.

Planting potatoes at least two feet apart where space allows can make weeding easier.

Mulch can also create a barrier against pests like the Colorado potato beetle and may provide a habitat for beneficial insects that prey on pest larvae.

Regularly inspect your plants for signs of pests or diseases. Address problems early to prevent larger outbreaks.

Step 10: Monitor and Adjust Plant Care

As your potato plants grow, keep an eye on their overall health and make adjustments when necessary.

Check regularly for pests like Colorado potato beetles or signs of disease, such as blight or leaf spotting.

If you notice any issues, address them promptly by removing affected leaves, using recommended organic treatments, or adjusting growing conditions.

Continue to monitor moisture levels, especially during dry periods. As the plants mature, you may need to adjust your watering schedule and stop fertilizing once the plants begin to flower.

Consistent observation will help catch small problems before they affect the entire crop, ensuring a healthy, productive harvest.

Pro Tip: If you want to reduce the effort of hilling and weeding throughout the season, consider starting your potatoes in shallow trenches instead of deep holes. As the plants grow, you can easily push the loose soil from the sides of the trench around the stems for hilling. This method saves time and reduces strain compared to traditional mounding. It’s especially useful in larger gardens or for gardeners who want a low-maintenance approach to growing potatoes.

Ready to Grow Your Potatoes?

Growing potatoes can be straightforward and rewarding when you follow the right steps.

By selecting healthy seed potatoes, preparing the soil carefully, choosing the right planting method, and providing proper care, you can enjoy a generous harvest.

Stick to these 10 easy steps, and you’ll have a strong chance of growing healthy, delicious potatoes right from your own garden or container.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I plant grocery store potatoes if I can't find seed potatoes?

It’s not recommended. Grocery store potatoes are often treated to prevent sprouting and may carry diseases that can harm your crop.

2. How deep should I plant potatoes if I want to avoid hilling?

Plant them 8 to 9 inches deep, but be aware that this may lead to slower sprouting and a smaller harvest compared to the hilling method.

3. What causes potatoes to turn green?

Exposure to sunlight causes potatoes to produce solanine, which turns the skin green and can be toxic. Proper hilling or mulching prevents this.

4. How often should I water container-grown potatoes?

Containers dry out faster than garden soil. Check moisture daily and aim to provide 1 to 2 inches of water per week, adjusting for weather conditions.

5. What should I do if I notice blight or pests?

Remove affected leaves immediately. For pests, use organic controls or hand-pick them off. Ensure good air circulation and avoid overhead watering to reduce disease risk.