Vegetables Like Potato – Your Complete Guide To Growing Earth’S Hidden

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

There’s a special kind of magic in plunging a garden fork into the soil and unearthing a perfect, homegrown potato. It’s a feeling of pure satisfaction! But what if I told you there’s a whole world of other delicious, starchy treasures waiting to be discovered right in your own backyard?

I promise you, expanding your garden beyond the classic spud is easier than you think and incredibly rewarding. Growing vegetables like potato—from the sweet, creamy flesh of sweet potatoes to the nutty crunch of Jerusalem artichokes—can diversify your harvest, challenge your skills in a fun way, and bring exciting new flavors to your kitchen.

In this complete guide, we’ll dig deep into the world of these amazing root and tuber crops. We’ll explore our top five favorites, provide a comprehensive care guide covering everything from soil to storage, and share our best eco-friendly tips to ensure your garden thrives. Get your gardening gloves ready—it’s time to grow something new!

Why Grow Vegetables Like Potato? The Delicious Benefits

Stepping outside the potato patch opens up a fantastic array of benefits for both your garden and your dinner table. It’s about more than just trying something new; it’s a smart strategy for a more resilient and interesting garden. Here are some of the key benefits of vegetables like potato.

Diversify Your Harvest (and Your Plate)

Growing a variety of crops means you’re not putting all your eggs (or spuds) in one basket. If one crop struggles with a particular pest or disease, others may thrive. This diversity extends to the kitchen, introducing new textures and flavors perfect for roasting, mashing, or turning into soups.

Boost Your Garden’s Health

Different plants have different needs and attract different beneficial insects. By rotating a wider variety of crops, you can improve soil health, break pest and disease cycles, and create a more balanced garden ecosystem. It’s a cornerstone of sustainable vegetables like potato cultivation.

Discover Unique and Hardy Plants

Many potato-like vegetables are surprisingly low-maintenance. Jerusalem artichokes, for example, are famously easy to grow—so much so that you have to work to contain them! Others, like parsnips, actually improve in flavor after a frost, extending your harvest season into the colder months.

Top 5 Must-Try Vegetables Like Potato for Your Garden

Ready to get started? Here are five of our favorite potato alternatives that deserve a spot in your garden. Each offers a unique growing experience and a delicious reward.

Sweet Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) – The Tropical Cousin

Don’t let the name fool you; sweet potatoes aren’t potatoes at all! They are tropical vines that produce sweet, starchy tubers. They love heat and are perfect for gardeners with long, warm summers.

Planting: Sweet potatoes are grown from “slips,” which are small rooted sprouts from a mature tuber. Plant them in warm soil (at least 65°F / 18°C) after all danger of frost has passed, in raised rows or mounds to ensure good drainage.

Care: They need full sun and consistent moisture, but be careful not to overwater. They are relatively pest-free, making them a great choice for organic gardeners. The vining foliage makes a beautiful, lush groundcover.

Jerusalem Artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) – The Prolific Perennial

Also known as sunchokes, these are actually the tubers of a native sunflower species! They have a crisp texture and a nutty, slightly sweet flavor. A word of warning: they spread aggressively, so plant them in a dedicated bed or a large container to keep them in check.

Planting: Simply plant the tubers about 4-6 inches deep in early spring. They are not picky about soil but will produce more in a sunny spot.

Care: They are incredibly self-sufficient. Just provide some water during very dry spells. The tall, cheerful sunflower-like blooms are an added bonus in late summer.

Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) – The Sweet Winter Staple

Parsnips are a classic root vegetable with a sweet, earthy flavor that intensifies after a frost. They require patience, as they have a long growing season, but the reward is a delicious winter treat.

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Planting: Sow seeds directly into the garden in spring, as they don’t transplant well. Germination can be slow and spotty. Pro Tip: Lay a wooden board over your seeded row to keep the soil moist and dark, and check it daily. Remove the board as soon as you see sprouts.

Care: Keep the soil consistently moist and weed-free. Thin the seedlings to about 3-4 inches apart to give the roots room to grow.

Celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) – The Unsung Root Hero

Often called celery root, celeriac is a wonderfully versatile vegetable with a flavor reminiscent of celery and parsley. It looks a bit gnarly on the outside, but its smooth, white flesh is fantastic in soups, stews, or mashed.

Planting: Celeriac has a long growing season, so it’s best to start seeds indoors about 8-10 weeks before your last frost date. Transplant the seedlings into the garden once the weather has settled.

Care: The key to good celeriac is consistent moisture. It will not tolerate drying out. Mulching heavily can help retain soil moisture and keep the roots cool.

Taro (Colocasia esculenta) – For the Adventurous Gardener

If you live in a warm, humid climate or want to experiment with container gardening, taro is a fantastic choice. It’s a staple in many tropical cuisines, producing starchy, nutrient-rich corms. The large, heart-shaped leaves are also stunningly beautiful.

Planting: Plant small taro corms in rich, organic soil. Taro is a water-lover and can even be grown in boggy conditions or at the edge of a pond.

Care: Keep it very well-watered and provide plenty of compost or fertilizer. In cooler climates, it can be grown in large pots and brought indoors for the winter.

Your Complete Vegetables Like Potato Guide: From Soil to Storage

While each plant has its unique needs, there are some universal best practices that apply to most root and tuber crops. Following this vegetables like potato care guide will set you up for success and a bountiful harvest.

Preparing the Perfect Soil Bed

The single most important factor for growing great root vegetables is the soil. They need loose, loamy, and well-draining soil to allow the roots to expand freely. Compacted or rocky soil will lead to stunted or forked roots.

  • Work in 2-3 inches of well-rotted compost before planting to improve soil structure and fertility.
  • Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers. Too much nitrogen encourages lush leafy growth at the expense of the roots or tubers you want to eat.
  • Consider raised beds if you have heavy clay soil. This is one of the best vegetables like potato tips for ensuring good drainage.

Planting Techniques for Tubers and Roots

Proper spacing is crucial. Overcrowded plants will compete for resources, resulting in a smaller harvest. Always check the specific spacing recommendations for the vegetable you are planting. Plant at the correct depth—generally 2-3 times the diameter of the tuber or seed.

The Art of Watering and Feeding

Consistent moisture is key, especially as the tubers or roots begin to swell. Irregular watering can lead to cracked or hollow roots. Aim for about one inch of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. A thick layer of mulch (straw, shredded leaves) will help conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Harvesting and Curing for Long-Lasting Flavor

Harvest time varies by plant. For many, like parsnips and Jerusalem artichokes, flavor improves after a light frost. For others, like sweet potatoes, you must harvest before the first frost. When harvesting, use a garden fork to gently loosen the soil around the plants to avoid bruising or damaging your crop.

Curing is an essential step for long-term storage of sweet potatoes. Let them sit in a warm, humid place (around 85°F / 29°C) for 7-10 days. This process heals any cuts and converts starches to sugars, improving their flavor and storage life.

Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Practices for Your Root Crops

Growing your own food is inherently an eco-friendly act! You can take it a step further by adopting sustainable practices that build healthy soil and create a thriving garden ecosystem. Here’s how to practice eco-friendly vegetables like potato gardening.

No-Dig Gardening for Healthy Soil

No-dig, or no-till, gardening involves layering organic matter like compost on top of the soil instead of digging it in. This protects the delicate soil food web, improves water retention, and reduces weeds. It’s a fantastic method for root crops as it creates a wonderfully loose growing medium.

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Companion Planting for Natural Pest Control

Planting certain herbs and flowers alongside your root vegetables can help deter pests. Marigolds can help repel nematodes, while aromatic herbs like rosemary and thyme can confuse pests like the carrot rust fly, which also bothers parsnips.

Composting and Mulching

Create your own “black gold” by composting kitchen scraps and yard waste. Applying compost enriches your soil naturally, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Mulching not only conserves water but also breaks down over time, adding more organic matter to your garden bed.

Troubleshooting Common Problems with Vegetables Like Potato

Even the most experienced gardener runs into issues now and then. Don’t worry! Here’s a look at some common problems with vegetables like potato and how to handle them organically.

Pests to Watch For

Voles and gophers can be a major issue for tuber crops. Hardware cloth barriers buried around your garden beds can help. Wireworms, the larvae of click beetles, can tunnel into roots; improving soil health and practicing crop rotation are the best long-term defenses.

Diseases and How to Prevent Them

Root rot is often caused by overly wet, poorly draining soil. The solution is prevention: amend your soil to improve drainage before you plant. Scab can affect some root crops, but it’s usually cosmetic. Maintaining a consistent soil pH and rotating crops can minimize the issue.

Why Aren’t My Tubers Forming?

This is a frustrating problem with a few common causes. The most likely culprit is too much nitrogen, leading to big, beautiful leaves but little root development. Other causes can include not enough sunlight, soil that is too compacted, or planting at the wrong time of year for your climate.

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Vegetables Like Potato

Can I grow these vegetables in containers?

Absolutely! Most of these can be grown in large containers, which is a great option if you have limited space or want to control an aggressive spreader like Jerusalem artichokes. Choose a deep pot (at least 5-10 gallons) with excellent drainage holes, and use a high-quality potting mix.

What’s the real difference between a sweet potato and a yam?

This is a common point of confusion! What is sold as a “yam” in most U.S. grocery stores is actually a soft-fleshed variety of sweet potato. True yams are native to Africa and Asia, have a much starchier texture, and are rarely found in typical Western supermarkets. They are entirely different plant species.

How do I stop Jerusalem artichokes from taking over my garden?

Containment is key! Plant them in a raised bed with a solid base or in a large, sturdy pot. The other strategy is diligent harvesting. Make sure you dig up as many tubers as you can find at the end of the season, as any tiny piece left in the soil will sprout a new plant next year.

Your Garden Adventure Awaits

There you have it—a whole new category of vegetables to explore in your garden. Moving beyond the familiar potato is a wonderful way to build your skills, increase your garden’s resilience, and put exciting new foods on your table.

Don’t feel like you have to try them all at once. Pick one that sounds interesting—maybe the super-easy Jerusalem artichoke or the deliciously sweet parsnip—and give it a try this season. The process of learning how to vegetables like potato grow is part of the fun.

Embrace the adventure of digging in the dirt and discovering the hidden gems beneath. Happy gardening, and even happier harvesting!

Rimon Chowdhury
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