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 - temperate 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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This is my second year at growing potatoes near Kalgoorlie. Although it gets hot quickly as long as you keep the water up to them they seem to thrive. All I added last year was some blood and bone and a bit of hay for mounding them up. I've got heavy red loam ground here and the first year I grew enormous potatoes but many were derformed from the rocks in the ground. This year I decided to build a raised bed and use a mix of the red loam, potting compost and hay. I didnt plant till late September because of late frosts but already plants are really high and flowering. Unfortunately I didnt keep up with mounding them up as quickly as I should have and maybe they will not produce as many spuds because of this. I have read that you have to keep mounding them so that only one inch of stem is out of the ground. If the main stem becomes too long and exposed to the sun it no longer grows side shoots and spuds - is this true?

- Jan

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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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