Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      P P              

(Best months for growing Potato in Australia - tropical regions)

  • P = Plant seed potatoes
  • Plant tuber. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 40 cm apart
  • Harvest in 15-20 weeks. Dig carefully, avoid damaging the potatoes.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Peas, Beans, Brassicas, Sweetcorn, Broad Beans, Nasturtiums, Marigolds
  • Avoid growing close to: Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sunflowers, Tomatoes, Rosemary

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
02 Dec 24, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The plant will start to die in about 4 months' time Pick them then. Read the notes here.
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17 Jul 24, Clifford Slater (USA - Zone 8a climate)
What potatoes can you grow in zone 8a in july/Aug.
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20 Jul 24, Janene (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I’ve seen these potato varieties recommended online for zone 8 Irish Cobbler Red Pontiac Yukon Gold Caribe Cranberry Red Norchip Kennebec
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14 Jun 24, Maseven makhunga (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I want advice because it my first time to plant the potatoes
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17 Jun 24, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Go summer rainfall and read all about what is required. Also google a lot about growing in your climate zone.
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06 May 24, Etta (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Best potatoes for zone 8b And when should they be planted. Ate buying potatoes online an ok idea?
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09 Jun 24, dan (USA - Zone 10a climate)
Etta, Peaceful Valley in Central Calif. is a good place. Although, there may be a place closer to you. Homestead and Chill has articles and other potato resources and advice; they're good people and they have a cat named Badger. [dry humor emoji] This website has the months suggested on 'when' to plant. Dan
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21 Mar 24, Pete (Australia - temperate climate)
Its late March and I am on the NSW Central Coast. My seed potatoes from last year have well and truly sprouted. I have planted a dozen or so, and realising that it is very early, I am curious to see what sort of yeild I will get. Anyone have any advice, or experience with planting spuds so early? Cheers Pete.
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29 Mar 24, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)
When I harvest potatoes, if I don't get all the potatoes up properly -- then potatoes will grow the following year -- and we get temperatures down to about -10c overnight in the winter here -- and lots of rain in fall..... I actually find it difficult to rid an area of potatoes (in case I want to grow something else there) --- so to me, planting a bit early should not be an issue at all.
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25 Mar 24, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
They should produce a good crop if looked after properly. All seasons vary to some degrees -late maybe early.
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I would like to endorse the comments above regarding the use of tyres to grow Potatoes or in fact use to grow any any food. The rubber compounds in both the carcase and tread contain significant numbers of nasties. Tyres are designed to perform at high speed under quite arduous conditions, absolutely not designed as end of life food growing receptacles! They contain many potential hazards/chemicals, far too many to fully list. I will list just a couple,so that fellow readers who do not have my background can appreciate better what they are dealing with. Firstly the reinforcing Carbon Blacks utilized in the rubber compounds, contain significant amounts of Organo-Nitrogen compounds, blacks of this type are banned for use with any "Potable Water" applications! the reason being these compounds are considered as being high risk carciogens. There are special Blacks made specifically for food contact applications, rubber reinforcing blacks are definitely not suitable. Processing aids, The rubber in the tyres must be made to be strong/resilient/heat resistant; specially designed chemical compounds are encorporated into the rubber compounds to achieve this. The chemical compounds used present problems in many directions, firstly they are not ( dont need to be) pure compounds they contain debris from the chemical synthesis processes used to make them; these same compounds also decompose both during Vulcanization and during the life of the tyre. The Organo-Chemical families many of these compounds belong to include compounds that are considered hazardous and not suitable for food contact. The possibility of side chemical reactions between both the impurities and the debris from the degradation, resulting in compounds that could present significant hazards is real. Are tyres dangerous? yes! when attached to cars driven by idiots and when used as receptacles to grow food; otherwise no!

- Geoff Brooks

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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