Potato at a glance
| Botanical name | Solanum tuberosum |
|---|---|
| Family | Solanaceae |
| Other names | Irish potato, white potato |
| Plant type | Vegetable; annual crop from seed tubers |
| Size | 1 to 2 feet tall, 1 to 1.5 feet wide |
| Light | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun) |
| Water | Water evenly, especially while tubers form after flowering. |
| Soil | Loose, well-drained, slightly acid soil. |
| USDA hardiness zones | Grown as a spring crop in every zone. |
| USDA PLANTS symbol | SOTU |
When to plant potato
Plant seed potatoes 0 to 2 weeks before your average last spring frost.
Turn these into real dates for your area with the planting calendar.
How to grow potato
- Buy certified seed potatoes; grocery potatoes may carry disease.
- Cut large seed potatoes into pieces with at least one eye and let them dry a day.
- Plant in a trench and cover with soil.
- As stems grow, pull soil up around them (hilling) so tubers stay covered.
- Harvest new potatoes after flowering, or full-size ones after the tops die back.
Water and soil
Water: Water evenly, especially while tubers form after flowering.
Soil: Loose, well-drained, slightly acid soil.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun).
Common problems
- Green potatoes
- Tubers exposed to light turn green and contain solanine. Keep them covered and do not eat green parts.
- Colorado potato beetle
- Striped beetles strip leaves. Hand-pick adults and larvae.
- Scab
- Rough, corky patches on skins, often in alkaline soil.
Is potato safe for cats and dogs?
Not listed
Not listed
Potato is not on the ASPCA's toxic or non-toxic plant lists for cats and dogs.
NC State Extension rates its poison severity for people and animals as high.
If a pet chews a plant and you are worried, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435; a fee may apply). For people, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222. In an emergency, call 911.
Can you eat potato?
Only the tubers are eaten, cooked. NC State warns that all green parts, sprouts and green-skinned tubers are poisonous.
Potato questions
Why do you hill potatoes?
Hilling keeps the forming tubers covered. Tubers exposed to light turn green and become poisonous.
Are potato plants toxic to pets?
Potato is not on the ASPCA's lists, but NC State rates the green parts of the plant as highly poisonous. Keep pets away from the leaves, stems and green tubers.
When are potatoes ready to harvest?
Small new potatoes can be dug after flowering. For storage potatoes, wait until the tops die back, then dig a couple of weeks later.
Sources
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Solanum tuberosum (size, light, soil, zones, poison rating)
- USDA PLANTS Database profile: Solanum tuberosum L. (accepted name)
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: plants toxic and non-toxic to cats
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control: plants toxic and non-toxic to dogs
- Colorado State University Extension: Vegetable Planting Guide
Written in our own words from the sources above. See our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
