Guides
Potato Care
Water, sun, soil, fertilizer, mulching, and hilling.
Manage the conditions that shape plant health and tuber quality, with practical guidance for beds and containers.
Start with this guide
How to Hill Potatoes
Mound loose soil (or mulch) around stems to bury more of the plant, protect tubers from light, and boost yield.
All potato care guides
How Much Water Do Potatoes Need?
About an inch of water a week, soaked deeply — uneven moisture causes knobby, cracked, or hollow tubers.
6 min read
How Much Sun Do Potatoes Need?
Full sun means at least 6 hours of direct light; 8–10 hours is better for strong, productive plants.
4 min read
Best Soil for Potatoes
Loose, well-drained, slightly acidic soil wins. Why drainage, pH, and organic matter matter more than rich clay.
6 min read
Best Fertilizer for Potatoes
Potatoes are heavy feeders. Soil-test first, fertilize at planting, then side-dress as plants grow and hill.
7 min read
When to Hill Potatoes
Start when stems are about a foot tall, then hill once or twice more — finish before plants get too large to work.
5 min read
Related potato-growing topics
Continue through the parts of the growing season most closely connected to this topic.