Potato
Solanum tuberosum
📖 About this plant
One of the world’s most important food crops, potatoes produce nutrient-dense underground tubers in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and textures. They are rich in potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Grown from seed potatoes, they require hilling to protect developing tubers from sunlight.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (40-60%)
10-22°C
Loose, well-draining sandy loam; pH 4.8-5.5 (slightly acidic to prevent scab)
High-phosphorus, low-nitrogen fertilizer at planting; hill soil around plants and side-dress with potassium-rich fertilizer as tubers develop
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Andes Mountains, Peru, Bolivia
- 📏 Max height
- 45-90 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Pink, Purple
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Annual
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Edible tubers are non-toxic when cooked; green tuber parts and all above-ground parts (leaves, stems, flowers) contain solanine — highly toxic. Never eat green potatoes
- 🌱 Propagation
- Plant certified seed potatoes (tubers with 2-3 eyes) 10 cm deep and 30 cm apart; hill up soil as plants grow to encourage tuber production
🛡️ Health & Safety
Edible tubers are non-toxic when cooked; green tuber parts and all above-ground parts (leaves, stems, flowers) contain solanine — highly toxic. Never eat green potatoes
Common issues
- Colorado potato beetle defoliation
- Late blight (Phytophthora infestata) in wet conditions
- Potato scab in alkaline soil
💡 Care tips
- Hill soil up around stems as plants grow to increase yield
- Plant seed potatoes 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart
- HARVEST after foliage dies back and skins are firm
- Keep tubers covered to prevent greening from sun exposure
