Potato Potatoes are a very easy and fun crop to grow in the home garden. Saving your own seed potatoes is generally not worthwhile because viruses and diseases often show up the next year. Seed potatoes should be firm and unsprouted. Seed pieces should be cut three to five days before planting to allow the cut surfaces to heal. Plants will resist a light frost, but hard frosts and freezes may set back growth.
Potatoes prefer a cool spring and moisture throughout the growing season.
Plant potatoes in furrows with the cut side down 3 to 5 inches deep. Later crops should be planted 5 to 6 inches deep. Space the seed pieces 8 to 10 inches apart. Pull a ridge of soil over each row when planting. Another method of growing potatoes is above-ground in a mulch.