Your comments and tips

03 May 13, stan bevan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

this is May 2013 is it too late to plant seeds of marigolds into a plot freshly prepared with morning sun

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03 May 13, Tessa (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

In SA it is quite common for people to grow vegetables in old tyres. This would also work really well with potatoes because you can just tip them over and harvest the potatoes very easily. I know this article say you shouldn't, but has anyone tried?

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26 Apr 13, Ray (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi i have seed potatoes from last year that have started to sprout. As its to early to plant can I rub them off and plant latter thanks ray.

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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)

I'd just pop them in now. They are telling you they're ready to grow, and the moon is waning so it's a good time to plant rooting crops. If it's too cold, they will just sit in the ground until things are ready for them to grow. If you leave them out, they will gradually lose moisture, become soft and shrivel...not ideal for growing later in the year.

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22 Apr 13, BARRY (Australia - temperate climate)

I have just harvested potatoe crop which appear to have a disease? A dark grey core with a rusty brown surround. Appears to be the start of rot? Can you help me?

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16 Apr 13, Lyn (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, I love your site its so informative! I'm new to vegie gardening and keen to get a potato crop going ASAP but have seen the recommended planting time for me is August. Does this apply if I'm planning on using a container? e.g. a large plastic rubbish bin. I live in a suburb of Wollongong NSW. I'm about 10 min from the coast so no frosts etc. My back yard has a concreted area that gets about 5-6hrs of sun in winter. Thank you :-)

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30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)

Potatoes prefer to grow when it's warm. Soil temperature should be at least 6°C. As you are in a pretty mild maritime climate that rarely gets that low you should be fine. See how you go! (Just remember to have some drainage in your bin or the potatoes will eventually rot!)

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02 May 13, Lyn (Australia - temperate climate)

Thank you Sustainable Jill, advice taken on board. I've recently learn't my lesson on drainage in pots. :-( I'm sure thats what caused the sudden death of a beautiful specimen of Acacia which was awaiting its garden bed. I'm sad and very annoyed at myself for not putting in better drainage holes! Now to find those elusive seed potatoes.....

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02 Apr 13, sharon (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted some potatoes 3 to 4 weeks ago. They have grown stems, leaves, flowers....which I just noticed have turned into little green fruit like baby Tomatoes. Is this normal, or can you advise what it is...what should I do please? with thanks.

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05 Apr 13, Ferran (Australia - arid climate)

that's some fast growing plants! After flowering they will die back, that is when you harvest. If the growth is out of proportion to your potatoes when you harvest then the soil had too much nitrogen promoting leaf growth and hindering the roots. my garden has some naturally growing potato left in the soil from last harvest spouted 4weeks ago and now flowering normally they would not be there but they were deeper than I was dinging at harvest. If you are practicing rotation cops do not!!!! plant corn or sun flowers after potatoes it stunts them. beans are good. potatoes should not be in the same place for seven years after seven years the chemicals that are put in the soil by potatoes as well as disease and pests should have gone from the soil.

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