Potato Plant Plant Care

Potato Plant (Solanum tuberosum) belongs to the Solanaceae family within the Solanum genus. Potato Plant is native to Andes, from Western Venezuela to Northern Argentina, and in Southern Chile. Potato Plant is also known as Potato, Common Potato, Irish potato.

Potato Plant displays an upright, spreading growth habit, reaching up to 2 ft tall with a spread of approximately 3 ft. Potato Plant produces small star-shaped flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Potato Plant every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Potato Plant thrives in full sun.

Solanum tuberosum tolerates temperatures of 50–70°F. Potato Plant prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining, loamy soil. Good drainage is essential for Potato Plant to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Potato Plant every month during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun and well-draining, loamy soil. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Potato Plant is suited to USDA Zone 7a – 10b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Potato Plant can spread to about 3 ft (0.9 m) and reach about 2 ft (1 m) tall. Space plants about 3 ft (0.9 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Potato Plant while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Potato Plant is hardy down to USDA zone 7a, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Potato Plant can be propagated through by planting tubers or using seed potatoes. Similar propagation techniques also apply to eggplant plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Potato Plant is susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Potato Plant grows outdoors in USDA Zone 7a – 10b. It survives winters down to planting zone 7a. Potato Plant is native to Andes, from Western Venezuela to Northern Argentina, and in Southern Chile.