Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

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

  • P = Plant seed potatoes
  • Plant tuber. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 16 inches 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

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30 Jul 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Just dig by hand around the base of a plant to see if there are any potatoes forming - if so put the soil back and wait until the plant dies off before harvesting them.
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29 Jul 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
The easiest way is to dig up one plant to see if there are any potatoes .
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07 Jul 19, david lilliman (Australia - arid climate)
Hi , when do I know when to harvest my potatoes.
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08 Jul 19, (Australia - arid climate)
It does say 15-20 weeks to grow and it does say plant Aug to Dec. Usually the plant tops starts dying off.
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05 Jul 19, Val (Australia - temperate climate)
I didnt plant potatoes but they shot up from last year's crop. They started in autumn but the frost has now killed them. Why did they shoot at such a strange time and will they reshoot - or should I just harvest the new potatoes that they have produced before the frost killed them? I'm in South Gippsland Vic and we get pretty cold nights this time of year.
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08 Jul 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
Harvest them. Crop time is 15-20 weeks from germination/shooting - consider this when planting and frosts.
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21 Jun 19, Cheryl Burke (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Clarence Town NSW. TEMPERATE climate but we do get frosts. I have just bought some seed potatoes. Should I plant them now or wait until August? If I wait, do Ineed to put them in the sun to encourage them to shoot?
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24 Jun 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Put them in your pantry until late August and then plant.
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10 Jun 19, Ol' Dazza (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
where can i buy some spud seeds?
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13 Jun 19, Jello (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Most decent nursery's will stock seed potatoes. Failing that, you can buy them online.
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Showing 111 - 120 of 563 comments
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That's a big subject! I'd say it depends on what you're trying to achieve. Do you just want a few really good veggies? Do you want to grow as much of your daily food as possible? Does your garden need to be aesthetically pleasing? There are lots of books on container gardening, you could try browsing your local library online. If space is limited, I say think about which veggies you love the most, which are pricey at the store, and which are most improved by eating fresh. Basil and salad greens for instance, are very easy to grow but very overpriced at the store. Corn and tomatoes are so much better homegrown. Whereas potatoes and onions are cheap at the store and not THAT much better homegrown so they're only worth it if you have plenty of space to devote. My advice for a beginner would be to start small and manageable, and build on that each year. Maybe this year buy a couple of Earthboxes or DIY a knockoff, and just grow a few of your favorite veggies. This will also reveal what some of your challenges might be. For instance my first year raccoons ate all my sweet corn, that taught me I would need a good fence in the future. ;-)

- colleen

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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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