Potato Development and Growth Staging
Potatoes are nutritious crops that come from the Solanaceae family of plants. They are the third most popular crop grown for human consumption (following wheat and rice) and are used for a variety of purposes.¹ Each year, the average United States citizen eats about 126 pounds of potatoes, and the average Canadian consumes about 156 pounds of potatoes.² As one of the world’s most popular and widely consumed crops, growers strive to meet production goals while maximizing their profitability.
Producing high-yielding, quality potatoes requires a strong understanding of their growth throughout production. A deep understanding of each stage of development will help you better manage the crop from planting to harvest. Certain fertility decisions are only effective at specific stages of development, and factors like the climate and soil conditions can impact the evolution of growth. Thus, it is important to better understand potato’s growth stages and development cycle to better manage crop production while meeting your goals. Knowing what stage of growth your crops are in will also allow you to better manage their health, assess crop quality, and determine the best time to harvest.
Potatoes go through five stages of growth, from sprout development to maturation. The first two stages of growth (sprout development and vegetative growth) last between 30 and 70 days depending on the conditions of your soil and the environment. Then, it takes about two weeks for tuber initiation to begin, followed by a 45–60-day period of tuber bulking. In the last stage, maturation, potato vines turn yellow, and leaves begin to fall.
Potatoes are vegetatively propagated, meaning that new plants can grow from potato fragments or parts of a potato (seed).¹ New plants then produce between 5-20 new tubers which are identical to the mother seed plant.
The interactive diagram below demonstrates the different growing stages of potatoes and important considerations for each stage. Read each of the MORE buttons below to explore each stage of growth.
Sources:
¹International Potato Center, Potato Facts and Figures
²Harvard School of Public Health, The Nutrition Source, The Problem With Potatoes
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