Potato: when to sow, plant out and harvest
Sowing, planting and harvest dates for your climate, good and bad companions, growing tips.
When to sow in your region
Average dates, computed from the frost dates of each climate. For your exact dates, choose your town.
| Climate | Sow outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Northern France | 18 March – 21 April | 1 June – 31 October |
| Atlantic coast | 8 March – 11 April | 22 May – 4 November |
| Eastern France | 10 March – 13 April | 24 May – 29 October |
| Mediterranean | 4 February – 10 March | 20 April – 20 November |
| Mountains (around 1,000 m) | 12 April – 16 May | 26 June – 29 September |
Growing
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Latin name
- Solanum tuberosum
- Cold tolerance
- Half-hardy (dislikes hard frost)
- Between rows
- 50–70 cm
- In the row
- 30–40 cm
- To harvest
- 125 days
Companion planting
The level of evidence is shown for each pairing: many rest on tradition rather than on studies.
Good neighbours
- HorseradishExtension service
- AsparagusTradition
- BasilTradition
- French bean (bush or climbing)Tradition
- Broad bean (fava)Tradition
- BroccoliTradition
- Brussels sproutsTradition
- CabbageTradition
- Pot marigoldTradition
- CeleryTradition
- Coriander (cilantro)Tradition
- Courgette (zucchini)Tradition
- DillTradition
- FlaxTradition
- GarlicTraditionSources disagree
- German chamomileTradition
- LettuceTradition
- French / African marigoldTradition
- NasturtiumTradition
- OnionTradition
- PeaTradition
- RadishTradition
- Sweet cornTradition
- TansyTradition
Keep apart
- Eggplant (aubergine)Extension service
- TomatoExtension service
- CucumberTradition
- Sweet and chilli peppersTradition
- SunflowerTradition
- Winter squash and pumpkinTradition
Sources
- Jardiner Malin — Calendrier de semis et récolte au potager
- La Bonne Graine (seed company) — Le calendrier des semis et des plants
- The Old Farmer's Almanac — Planting Calendar (New York City, last frost Apr 3; cross-checked with Minneapolis, last frost Apr 30)
- Colorado State University Extension — Vegetable Planting Guide
- University of Illinois Extension — Time your vegetable plantings by cold hardiness (2018)
- Tous au potager — Distance de plantation des légumes : tableau des espacements
- Gerbeaud — Les distances de plantation à respecter