What Can I Plant After Potatoes

So, you’ve just harvested a bumper crop of potatoes, and now you’re left with an empty patch of soil. What can you plant after potatoes to keep your garden productive and healthy? This is a crucial question for any gardener wanting to make the most of their space and soil. The good news is, with the right planning, you can follow your spuds with a variety of thriving plants that will benefit your garden’s ecosystem.

Succession planting after potatoes isn’t just about filling a gap. It’s a strategic move to manage soil nutrients, break pest and disease cycles, and ensure a continuous harvest. Potatoes are considered heavy feeders, meaning they take a lot of nutrients from the soil, particularly nitrogen and potassium. They can also leave behind specific pests, like Colorado potato beetles, or increase the risk of certain fungal diseases. By choosing your next crop wisely, you can address these challenges head-on.

This is the core principle of crop rotation, and it’s your secret weapon for a thriving garden year after year. The best plants to follow potatoes are those that have different nutrient needs and growth habits. This approach helps to balance your soil naturally.

Why Crop Rotation Matters After Potatoes

Rotating your crops is one of the smartest things you can do. It prevents soil depletion and disrupts the life cycles of pests and pathogens that target specific plant families. Since potatoes are in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), you should avoid planting other nightshades in the same spot right away.

Breaks Pest & Disease Cycles: Pests like wireworms and diseases like blight that affect potatoes won’t find a host if you switch plant families.
Balances Soil Nutrients: Different plants use and add different nutrients. Following a heavy feeder with a light feeder or a nitrogen-fixer gives your soil a chance to recover.
Improves Soil Structure: Diverse root systems—like the deep taproots of carrots or the fibrous mats of beans—aerate the soil and improve its texture in various ways.

Top Plant Families to Follow Potatoes

Focus on these beneficial plant families for your post-potato planting. They are generally excellent choices.

1. Legumes (Peas and Beans)

Legumes are the perfect partners after potatoes. They have a unique ability to take nitrogen from the air and fix it into the soil through nodules on their roots. Since potatoes consume a lot of nitrogen, peas and beans help to replenish it naturally.

Bush Beans: Fast-growing and productive. You can get a harvest in as little as 50 days.
Pole Beans: Great for vertical gardening, saving space in your newly cleared bed.
Peas: Ideal for cooler late-summer or early-fall planting in many regions. Snow peas and snap peas are delicious options.

2. Brassicas (Cabbage Family)

Plants in the brassica family have different nutrient demands and are not susceptible to the same diseases as potatoes. They are moderate to heavy feeders but focus on different nutrients, making them a good rotational choice.

Kale & Collards: Extremely hardy and can be planted for a late-season or overwintering crop.
Broccoli & Cauliflower: Require fertile soil but benefit from the cleared, loose earth left by potatoes.
Radishes: A super-fast crop that can be harvested in under a month, helping to break up soil with their roots.

3. Root Vegetables (Non-Nightshades)

While potatoes are tubers, other root veggies like carrots and beets are in different botanical families. They help to further aerate the soil as their roots push down. Just ensure the soil is loose and stone-free for the best shape.

Carrots & Parsnips: Their long taproots break up soil compaction. They are light feeders, which is ideal.
Beets & Turnips: These provide a dual harvest—roots and tasty greens. They have moderate nutrient needs.

4. Leafy Greens and Quick Crops

If you want to use the space quickly before the season ends, fast-growing leafy greens are you’re best bet. They have shallow roots and don’t require the deep, nutrient-rich soil that potatoes needed.

Lettuce & Spinach: Can be sown successively for a continuous harvest. They appreciate some shade from taller summer plants.
Swiss Chard: More heat-tolerant than spinach and produces for a very long time.
Arugula & Mustard Greens: Grow incredibly fast and add a peppery kick to salads.

What to Avoid Planting After Potatoes

Steer clear of plants in the same botanical family for at least two to three years. This gives the soil time to recover and reduces disease risk.

Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants: These are all nightshades and share diseases like early and late blight with potatoes.
Other Potatoes: Replanting potatoes in the same spot is a surefire way to encourage pests and reduce yeild.
Raspberries: Surprisingly, they are susceptible to verticillium wilt, a soil-borne disease that can also affect potatoes.

Step-by-Step: Preparing Your Bed for Planting

Once your potatoes are out, a little prep will set your next crops up for success. Don’t skip these steps!

Clear All Debris: Remove any leftover potato tubers, vines, and weeds. This eliminates hiding places for pests and reduces disease spores.
Loosen the Soil: Gently turn the soil with a fork. Potato harvesting can compact the earth, so aerating it helps new roots grow easily.
Amend the Soil: Add a 1-2 inch layer of compost or well-rotted manure. This replaces organic matter and adds a slow-release nutrient boost. For legumes, you can go lighter on nitrogen-rich amendments.
Check Soil pH: Most follow-up crops prefer a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. A simple test kit can tell you if you need to add lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it.
Water Thoroughly: Moisten the bed before sowing your new seeds or transplants. This gives them a great head start.

Seasonal Considerations for Succession Planting

Your timing depends on when you harvest your potatoes. Here’s a quick guide:

Early Summer Harvest: You have a long growing season ahead. You can plant beans, cucumbers, or summer squash for a late-summer harvest, followed by fall greens.
Mid to Late Summer Harvest: This is perfect for fast-maturing crops like bush beans, lettuce, spinach, radishes, and direct-sown kale or collards for a fall harvest.
Early Fall Harvest: Focus on overwintering crops. Plant garlic, onion sets, or hardy greens like kale that will survive the winter and give you an early spring bounty.

FAQ: Your Post-Potato Planting Questions

Can I plant cucumbers after potatoes?

Yes, cucumbers (a cucurbit) are a fine choice. They are in a different family and have different needs. Ensure you add compost, as they enjoy fertile soil.

What is the best cover crop after potatoes?

For a bed you want to rest over winter, annual ryegrass or winter rye are excellent. They prevent erosion and add organic matter. Clover is another great option as it fixes nitrogen.

How soon can I replant potatoes in the same spot?

It’s best to wait at least three years before planting potatoes or any other nightshade in that same bed. This rotation is key to preventing disease buildup.

Should I fertilize before planting my next crop?

It depends on the crop. After adding compost, legumes need little extra. Heavy feeders like brassicas may benefit from a balanced organic fertilizer at planting time. Always a good idea to get a soil test if your unsure.

What can I plant after potatoes in the fall?

Excellent fall choices include garlic, onion sets, spinach, kale, and certain varieties of lettuce. You can also sow a cover crop to protect and nourish the soil.

By asking “what can I plant after potatoes,” you’re already on the path to smarter gardening. With this simple rotation plan, you can turn your empty potato patch into a source of fresh food for months to come, all while building healthier, more resilient soil for next years garden. The key is to diversify, feed the soil, and keep those crops moving.