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 USA - Zone 5a 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

22 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
By this website you are a little late. Give it a go and see what happens.
11 Jan 18, Kaye (Australia - tropical climate)
We live in Townsville and are wondering if we can grow potatoes here and if so when is the best time to plant them and also are they best grown in the ground or pots??
17 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
It suggests planting April/May here. I would suggest after the chance of cyclones - heavy rain. Plant in a raised ground so that the soil drains freely. You want the soil to be wettish but not water logged. Easier to care for when in the soil. In a pot you would have to be on the ball with the watering.
09 Jan 18, Michelle Whyte (Australia - temperate climate)
Going to plant potatoes in the pig paddock ( when the pigs have gone ) will their manure be too strong and can we put in old dried animal manure with them. We are down near the sea in the lower south east of SA. We have a red/black loam soil. When should we start planting?? Thank you
10 Jan 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It would depend on how freshish the manure is in the soil after you take the pig/s out. Fresh manure has nitrogen - old dried out manure has very little. Old manure is more a soil conditioner. If you had looked at the guide here for growing potatoes - temperate climate - Plant Aug to Oct. You may be able to grow a crop from April/May. Read up about growing them.
17 Dec 17, Kym (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in a very cool part of the Barossa Valley where the growing cycle is out by 4 weeks so what would be the best time for me to grow tatties?
19 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It says Sept to Dec for cool climate. So probably Oct to Jan. If you look up your veg and put in the climate zone it tells you - then adjust it to your conditions.
08 Dec 17, PATRICK FOLEY (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi I would love to get some of those Maori potatoes any chance ?
18 Dec 17, Ann (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I bought some moi moi potatoes at the local organic supermarket Huckelberrys in the vege section. I tried planting 5 in a 20 litre and had quite good success. same with yams and kumara.
08 Jan 18, JT (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Ann ... I'm interested in the yams, any chance can get more info on this - where I can get some and how you plant them in sub-tropical climate?
Showing 301 - 310 of 826 comments

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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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