Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1 yearUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green | |||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Native to GB / Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy
- Potentially harmful
- Harmful if eaten, except potato crop. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets (dogs): Harmful if eaten, except potato crop - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
- Genus
Solanum can be annuals, perennials, evergreen or deciduous shrubs or twining climbers, with simple or pinnnately lobed leaves and star- or bowl-shaped, 5-lobed flowers with prominent stamens, followed by fleshy fruits
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant out in April with 35cm between tubers. Select an open site with deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil. Draw earth up around the stems as the emerge, to exclude light and prevent the potatoes from becoming green. See Potato cultivation for further information
Propagation
Propagate from seed potatoes which have been chitted prior to planting
Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
May be susceptible to cutworms, slugs, wireworms, and potato cyst eelworm
Diseases
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely), potato blight, potato blackleg, potato scabs and potato tuber rots
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.