Growing Potatoes: Tips and Tricks for a Spud-Tacular Harvest

So You Wanna Grow Potatoes?

Learning how to grow potatoes at home is easier than you might think. Whether you're blessed with a spacious backyard or working with a few containers on the patio, potatoes are one of the most rewarding crops you can grow. They’re low-maintenance, high-yield, and perfect for beginners who want a big payoff for their effort. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know—from selecting the right variety to digging up your first homegrown harvest.

Picking the Right Potato for Your Plot

Before you even touch soil, choosing the right potato variety is crucial. Potatoes fall into three main categories based on how long they take to mature:

• Early-season varieties mature in about 70–90 days.
  

• Mid-season varieties take 100–110 days.
  

• Late-season varieties need 120–135 days and offer the largest yields.
  

For Bettendorf’s climate, early to mid-season varieties are a safe bet, especially if you're planting in spring. Here are some tried-and-true options:

• Yukon Gold – buttery texture and great for boiling or roasting.
  

• Red Norland – fast-growing and perfect for early harvests.
  

• Kennebec – a reliable mid-season potato ideal for frying and baking.
  

Seed potatoes (which are certified disease-free chunks of mature potato) are the way to go. You can find them at your local garden center, farmer’s market, or trusted online suppliers. Be sure to avoid grocery store potatoes—they’re often treated with growth inhibitors.

Prep Work—Let’s Talk Soil and Sun

Potatoes are a root crop, so the condition of your soil is everything. Loose, well-draining soil is essential for healthy tuber development. Compact, heavy clay soils can suffocate the roots and lead to poor yields.

Soil Prep Tips:

• Mix compost or well-aged manure into the soil to improve drainage and nutrient content.
  

• Test your soil pH—it should be between 5.0 and 6.5.
  Break up any large clumps to create a fluffy texture that encourages root spread.

Sunlight is another must-have. Potatoes love full sun—aim for at least 6 to 8 hours of direct light per day. If you’re using containers, choose large grow bags or deep pots with good drainage holes and situate them in a sunny spot.

Planting Time! Here’s How to Start

Planting potatoes is a tactile joy—digging, cutting, and placing those seed potatoes into fresh soil is the beginning of something tasty.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Cut and Cure: If your seed potatoes are larger than a golf ball, cut them into chunks with at least one “eye” each. Let them cure in a cool, dry place for 2–3 days to callous over and prevent rotting.
   

2. Spacing and Depth: Dig trenches or holes about 4 inches deep. Space chunks 12 inches apart, with rows about 30 inches apart. In containers, space chunks a few inches apart in a single layer and cover with 3–4 inches of soil.
   

3. Timing Tips: In Bettendorf, plant your potatoes 2–3 weeks before the last frost date—usually late April to early May. The soil should be at least 45°F.
   

A bonus tip? Pair your potato planting with early spring yard cleanup to get your garden ready for the season in one fell swoop.

The Art of Hilling (And Why It Matters)

Hilling is the secret to bigger yields and sun-safe tubers. As your potato plants grow, the tubers begin forming along the underground stem. If they're exposed to sunlight, they turn green and become toxic.

Think of hilling as tucking your spuds in for a nap. Every time your plant grows about 6–8 inches tall, gently mound soil, compost, or straw around the base—leaving just a few inches of the plant exposed. Repeat every couple of weeks until the mound is 8–10 inches high.

Hilling:

• Protects tubers from sunlight
  

• Encourages more tubers to form
  

• Prevents weeds from taking over
  

Pro tip: If you’re using containers, just add more soil or mulch as the plants grow taller.

Water, Mulch, and Pest Patrol

Potatoes are thirsty but not needy. They require consistent watering, especially during the tuber development stage. Aim to give them about 1–2 inches of water per week. Letting the soil dry out too much can lead to small or cracked tubers.

Mulching is your best friend:

• Use straw, shredded leaves, or untreated grass clippings
  

• Helps retain moisture and suppress weeds
  

• Keeps the soil cool in hot weather
  

When it comes to pests, keep an eye out for:

• Colorado potato beetles – Pick them off by hand or use neem oil.
  

• Aphids – Blast with a strong stream of water or use insecticidal soap.
  

• Wireworms and cutworms – Rotate crops yearly and encourage beneficial nematodes in your soil.
  

Fun fact: Adding certain plants like marigolds or basil nearby can naturally repel pests and make excellent companions for potatoes. 

Harvest Time—The Big Reveal

Nothing beats the thrill of digging into the soil and pulling out your very own potatoes. But how do you know when they’re ready?

Clues it’s harvest time:

• For new potatoes: Harvest 2–3 weeks after the plant flowers.
  

• For full-sized potatoes: Wait until the foliage turns yellow and begins to die back.
  

How to harvest:

• Use your hands or a garden fork to carefully lift the soil around the base.
  

• Be gentle—bruising or stabbing the tubers can shorten storage life.
  

• Let them sit in a shaded, dry spot to cure for about 10 days. This toughens up the skin and prepares them for longer storage.
  

Once cured, store your potatoes in a cool, dark place. Avoid plastic bags—they need air circulation. Paper bags or baskets are perfect.

If you’re feeling ambitious, this is also a great time to revisit other parts of your garden. For example, you might explore how to revive a winter-damaged lawn while the soil is still workable.

Dig In and Enjoy Your Homegrown Harvest

There’s something deeply satisfying about growing your own food, and few crops are more generous than potatoes. Now that you know how to grow potatoes at home, you’re ready to dig, water, hill, and harvest with confidence. Whether you’re working in a raised bed, grow bag, or a big backyard garden, you’re just weeks away from your first spud surprise.

Want more tips? Visit Wallace’s Garden Center for seed potatoes, containers, and soil amendments—or tag us in your potato pics and show off your harvest! 

Let’s get growing—your potato patch awaits!