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 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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28 Nov 22, Louise (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it too now too late to plant potatoes on a bag in southern highlands? Cant seem to find seed potatoes will organic do? Thanks
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03 Dec 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check calander at the top of the page
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08 Nov 22, Peter Chapman (Australia - temperate climate)
My potatos have come on very nicely. I just started digging them for new potatoes. Wife did some with parsley garlic and butter - delicious. Now my question is how long can I leave my potatoes in the ground after the tops dry off. We live in a Retirement Village which has lovely large veg plots. We do not have a lot of room to store spuds. Cheers Pete
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10 Nov 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If the soil is fairly dry they could keep for a couple of weeks in the soil. When you dig them up, leave in the sun or a shaded place for 1 or 2 days to toughen the skin a bit then store in a cool dark place.
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06 Sep 22, Neil (Australia - temperate climate)
What are the best eating potato and for storage - Thank you
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08 Sep 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Depends which ones you like and if the potatoes are picked the right time (mature) they will keep in a cool place.
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27 Apr 22, Lynne Mortensen (Australia - temperate climate)
I have had some sprouting potatoes given to me. Can I plant them now? If not, will they keep to August?
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02 May 22, (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes plant them now.
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25 Apr 22, Tania Santamaria (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, can you advise on a first early potato to plant. I can only seem to find mid or late varieties when I goggle. Thanks. I am moving to NSW Bega valley area in June.
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26 Apr 22, Anonymous (Australia - temperate climate)
Your planting guide is Aug to Oct so I don't really see the point in an early variety. Planting is about soil temperature and after the likelyhood of frosts.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 563 comments
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Sorry for the late post -- I think I have the information you are looking for. First NOT ALL potatoes are suited for "tower" growth. So the first question would be how deep are your bags; if the bags are deep enough to be considered a tower, then you need to cross check this with the variety of potato you are growing. Second: when you plant a piece of potato (seed potato) this is your LOWEST POINT. Generally, a potato plant will not produce/store and tubers (potatoes) BELOW the level of the seed potato. This is why people plant the seed potatoes, wait for the green leaves to come up, and mound soil, always leaving enough leaves sticking out to collect light. You'll also note at harvest, that the lowest potato seems to have rotted; this was your seed potato that grew the plant. We plant the seed potato shallow, so the leaves get to the sun sooner/easier and start collecting light; then we mound the soil so there is room for the potato plant to set its tubers (potatoes) -- this means, that you plant you seed potatoes at the bottom of the sack, covering them with several inches of soil, and as the potato plant grows, you add soil.... always try to leave plenty of leaves sticking out of the soil so the plant can collect sun. Hope this help. From the Eagle Creek site (about their tower potato mix): Not all types of potatoes are suited for container growing, typically fingerling and late season varieties yield best. Bellanita, Bintje, Amarosa & German Butterball are the 4 varieties in this package.

- Celeste Archer

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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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