Potato Fertilizer: What, When and How Much
How to fertilize potatoes: soil pH, compost, balanced fertilizer at planting, side-dressing at hilling, potassium for tubers, and avoiding fresh manure and scab.
Muhammet Elma
3 November 2026
1 min read
Potatoes need a balanced fertilizer at planting and a side-dressing of nitrogen at the first hilling. Potassium is especially important for tuber size and quality. Keep soil slightly acidic, pH 5.0–6.5, and avoid fresh manure and lime, which encourage potato scab.
Advertisement
Feeding Schedule
| Time | What to apply |
|---|---|
| Before planting | Well-rotted compost (not fresh manure) |
| At planting | Balanced fertilizer (e.g. 10-10-10 or a potato fertilizer) in the trench, not touching the seed |
| First hilling | Nitrogen side-dress |
| Tuber bulking | Potassium if soils are low; no more nitrogen |
Advertisement
Tips
- Too much nitrogen late delays tubers and invites blight.
- Calcium and magnesium matter on sandy soils.
- Test the soil every few years.
More Potato Guides
- How to Grow Potatoes: The Complete Guide
- Potato blight and diseases
- Colorado potato beetle and pests
- When to plant potatoes by zone
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fertilizer for potatoes?
A balanced fertilizer at planting plus extra potassium; compost for soil health.
Is manure good for potatoes?
Only well-rotted manure applied in autumn; fresh manure increases scab.
Advertisement
Muhammet Elma
TarlaTapan guides focus on practical, field-tested growing advice. Corrections and suggestions are welcome at info@tarlatapan.tr.