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TUBER CROP

Potato

Solanum tuberosum

Potatoes are planted from seed tubers or seed pieces and are earthed or hilled up as stems grow. Crop type and desired tuber size affect spacing. [1][2]

Plant
Potato
Category
Tuber crop
Spacing
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SOURCE-BACKED GUIDANCE

Plant spacing

Compare general, early-crop and maincrop potato spacing without losing the crop-type distinction.

General home-garden spacing

Plant spacing
10–12 in
Row spacing
30–36 in

University of Minnesota guidance; closer spacing tends toward more smaller tubers, while wider spacing tends toward fewer larger tubers. [1]

First and second earlies

Plant spacing
30 cm (1 ft)
Row spacing
60 cm (2 ft)

RHS guidance for early potato types. [2]

Maincrops

Plant spacing
37 cm (15 in)
Row spacing
75 cm (30 in)

RHS guidance for maincrop potatoes. [2]

Growing-method context

Use certified disease-free seed tubers where that is the local recommendation, and plan room for hilling or earthing up. [1][2]

Planning notes

Choose the crop-type entry that matches the potatoes being grown instead of averaging early and maincrop spacing. [2]

TURN GUIDANCE INTO A LAYOUT

Use the Plant Spacing Calculator

Choose the source entry that matches your plant and growing method, then enter that spacing yourself. The calculator applies only the geometry you provide.

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Sources

  1. University of Minnesota Extension: Growing potatoes in home gardensReviewed by Grownestia 2026-09-08
  2. Royal Horticultural Society: How to grow potatoesReviewed by Grownestia 2026-09-08