How to do Potato Farming in Zimbabwe

by | Jul 11, 2013 | opportunities | 51 comments

Today I forgot to wear a jersey. Turns out temperatures are not bad after all. Twenty degrees Celsius for Harare! Seems winter is slowly drifting away. Coincidentally this is the best period to start planting potatoes. Besides escaping the risk of frost and late blight attack, this is the period with the highest yield of all the 3 planting seasons.

potatoes
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Planting potatoes early means you will yield before summer. Summer is prevalent with diseases because of the hot weather and high humidity – good environment for bacteria. Thus planting early saves your potatoes from late blight. The only risk in planting during this period is from potato tuber moth which can be reduced by carbaryl

 Potatoes can be planted using tubers or seeds. If you go the tubers way, you should make sure that each tuber has at least two shoots. The cutting utensils should be sterilized. The level of hygiene required is almost similar to mushroom farming standards. This form of potato farming requires one to be well experienced as not to infect the seed. It is then dipped into a fungicide to protect against fungal infection. I shall not continue to explain this method. If you would like to pursue it, you can send me an email through our contact us page.

 The simple method though a bit more expensive is buying true potato seed. True Potato seed is available at selected agri stores around Zimbabwe. Using this method is a lot easier for those who have done tobacco farming as they are familiar with the seedbeds. Then after a set period, usually six weeks, you then transplant the seedlings.  A few farmers I have interviewed confirmed that the yield is farm much more than when using the traditional tubers.

 Alternatively, there are people who prepare tubers for farmers. In the Inyanga area, I know a place were you can buy ready to plant potato tubers. I will be coordinating a free weekend class on potato farming in Zimbabwe. Subscribe to my blog for more information.

Also click to learn hot to grow potatoes in sacks

 To your Success

51 Comments

  1. Zembe

    how long does it takes to harvest them

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      It depends with the type of seed, and region but generally its three months. Potatoes also have a good return in cash and yield

      Reply
  2. Anime Download

    Hello there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. A lot of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

    Reply
  3. Tapiwa

    i want to plant 3 hactres of potatoes in marondera so i need your advice on the type of seed, the pestcides to use, the firtilizers to use just give me your advice….

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      on the type seed to use, it depends. true potato seed is cheap but you have to create nessary beds. so for a start I dont recommend them. Rather you use tubbers. Pestcides they are a handful but some depends on the type of seed you want to plant. We have ebooks that are detailed on this subject

      Reply
    • investment eagle

      Hi Mike. I cant say yes right now. You will need an agronomist to look at the soil or bring the samples to a lab so it gets tested. Alternatively, you can speak to one of our consultants. App me on 0733369923

      Reply
  4. stewart mwenye

    I would like to plant 1hactare of potato in nyanga so would you assist me in everything required from seeds and chemicals required.

    Reply
  5. adelaide

    Do you think matabeleland would be ideal for potato farming along solusi rd

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      the best thing to do is find an agronomist in your area who will take soil samples and advice accodingly. But with new farming technologies, its nolonger a matter of which area you are. If your soil is not favourable you can use other mechanisms like the bags. We will be holding a potato farming training in Janurary.

      Reply
  6. adelaide

    i am totally blak on potato farming.please update on training for potato farming in future

    Reply
  7. adelaide

    i am totally blank on potato farming.please update me on training for potato farming in future

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      okay. will surely do that. we hold seminars regularly in Harare. YI have added you on my google talk. Also follow our facebook and twitter page for training updates

      Reply
  8. Rumbidzai

    Is potato farming using bags/sacks only recommended for those with limited space or its even ideal to be implemented on something like 5 acres

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      It’s a yes and no answer. You may have the ideal space but not the ideal soil so you may still use the bags. Contact us on our whatsapp number so we can arrange a meeting with one of our consultants. 263733369923

      Reply
  9. denver padenga

    please update us on training

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      Will make sure will do but the next trainning session will be in Harare

      Reply
  10. Henry

    Your page is so helpful keep it up we are learning a lot of things.

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      Henry How are you? It’s is so inspiring to hear that the site is adding value. Follow us on facebook and twitter too

      Reply
  11. Barbra

    I have just come across your page as i was googling how to grow potatoes in a sack. Waal, am I impressed by your page, very informative. Well done, I am definetly going to following your page.

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      Many thanks for the praises. Follow us on http://www.facebook.com/ziminvestors; twitter: @ziminvestors and also subscribe to this site. May I know your arrear of interest so we can get our consultants to research on it. Great share thanks!!!!

      Reply
  12. Tatenda Mukombe

    Hi. I’m in Mutare and really interested in starting potato farming in bags at home in our yard. About 50-70 bags to start off with. I need help. Its unfortunate you will be having your training in harare. Would have loved to attend as well.

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      We can always arrange. We shall have an audio recording of the trainning and we are also planning for a video recording that will be available for download through our website. The manuals can also be available to you. Moreover, you can also travel to Harare for the training and we will assist on securing accomodation

      Reply
  13. Colinah Manhopi

    Update me on potato farming training.

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      Okay, thank you for the interest. We are arranging for trainning mid February. We will keep you in the loop

      Reply
  14. asena

    l want to join you in your trainings especially when you are carrying out potato farming practically

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      I have send you an email of the registration form

      Reply
  15. Godfrey

    Which is the best time to start potatoes farming after the rains or before and does potatoes get affected by frost. What is the period in months to harvesting time is required.

    Reply
  16. mudhangu leonard

    this column is educational guys ,iam a smallascale farmer in bulawayo already engaged in potatoe farming ,my question is what are rhe general requirements for planting potatoes on a hectare iwish to expand my scale of production

    Reply
  17. SIPHOSAMI NCUBE

    PLIZ PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ON HOW I CAN USE MY BACKYARD AS A POTATO FARM. AM CURRENTLY DECIDING AND PLANNING TO START THE PROJECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. AM BASED IN BULAWAYO. IS IT POSSIBLE ?

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      Okay! It is very possiblr Sipho. Call me on my number or email me. I will get one of the consultants to work with you.

      Reply
  18. charles m jere

    Hie, l am a young man who is very interested in trying out potato growing, how can I have access to your manuals and video. I am based in Victoria Falls

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      Hi Charles. The manual costs $30.00 and it comes with follow-up consultation. Email me when you are ready or call me on our viber line

      Reply
  19. farai

    Which is the best month to start planting potatoes or rather which months do you recommend given our climate here in zimbabwe

    Reply
    • investment eagle

      there are three potato planning seasons per year. Its either you do it now or you wait for winter to close

      Reply
  20. paidamoyo

    um impressed

    Reply
  21. Jennifer

    When is your next course in Harare?

    Reply
  22. Malan

    Im loving this site, very educating…keep telling us more..

    Reply
    • Simbarashe Musukumidzwa

      thank you for the inspiration. You can also give us pointers on issues to research about

      Reply
  23. witness

    hallo,
    May the responsible person get in touch with me thru email, i have a plot and wanted to do this at my plot, i need the full package of growing these potatoes,

    Will be grateful to receive instance response

    Reply
    • Simbarashe Musukumidzwa

      Hi there. Iam sorry I responded to you a little too late. We do have a grower’s manual which you can buy from us but also you need to seat down with one our consultants. You will take him to your plot and ask all the questions there. Its more helpful than responding here

      Reply
  24. Itai

    Hi,

    When are you offering the famous potato growing course in 2015? I would like my nephew to attend the course and buy your manual as well. He wants to do this in Chipinge.

    Reply
  25. Melvin

    hi there.I would like to start growin potatoes.I also need to know when and where your training course is been held.

    Reply
  26. Samuti

    would like to join your program

    Reply
  27. delroy

    can they be grown in winter?

    Reply
    • Simbarashe Musukumidzwa

      potatoes are best grown by avoiding winter… so either before or after winter

      Reply
  28. Mbirimi Vincent

    I want to grow potatoes in June. the peace of land I’m going to use has been used for tobacco for years. what can i do to this plot .

    Reply

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