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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07 Aug 20, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I was so disappointed my marrows n things were attacked/eaten/went to pot I stopped gardening. I've got my second wind! If I use store-bought spuds, can I plant them if they get eyes/will they actually grow and land on my plate? Live this site-thanks!! Stay safe.
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10 Aug 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
The difference between store potatoes and buying certified seed potatoes is disease. Store are more likely to be effected by disease. But if you have good fresh soil that hasn't had a lot of disease in it then you probably might be able to produce a good crop. You can grow a crop in the spring but also try planting late April early May.
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18 Jul 20, Judy Osborne (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown potatoes before only to find the potato to be a clear waxy look when harvested. I waited for the plants to die down before harvesting but they have always looked like that and not the usual solid white like normal bought ones. What couild the problem be?
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20 Jul 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up a company called NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS and call them and ask them.
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12 Jul 20, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, we are going to try potatoes in bags and would like to grow indeterminate varieties, does anyone know which ones are, as there is no info on any of the seed bags I have read, thanks in advance.
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12 Aug 20, alex (Australia - temperate climate)
The only indeterminate variety I can be sure of is Desiree. Kipfler and ruby Lou are terminate varieties. hope that helps .
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18 Aug 20, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks Alex, we have gone for Nicola and Brake Light, we will see how they go. We are planting them this week, cheers.
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13 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
I had never heard of indeterminate potatoes. There are thousands of varieties of potatoes but only about 6-8 are grown commercially in Australia. Ring a seed selling company like The Diggers Club to see if they can help you.
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07 Aug 20, Jsne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The above growing diagram inducates ASO as the best growing months for spuds in sub-tropical zones?
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07 Aug 20, Jane (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hmm! Digger's Club. Is it really worth joining? I have purchased seeds or plants from some places in the past that havenot been fruitful at all. Thnx.
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Showing 61 - 70 of 563 comments
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I forgot to mention -- and kept forgetting to post this additional part. When you are "hilling up" you are actually burying LEAVES. Leaves have specialized tissue to COLLECT LIGHT -- that is to say, they are NOT ROOTS -- so to me, burying leaves is NOT CORRECT. It may help to get the potatoes producing sooner, BUT somehow to me if a potato plant made leaves it wanted to collect light -- roots are different, they are sort of thin and round/tube like and are used to transport water and nutrients -- AGAIN: leaves are leaves and roots are roots -- and when I stop and think about it burying leaves doesn't seem right... and my gut instinct is saying that it is not correct. I have also noticed that roots are thinner, and are probably easier for the plant to make/grow -- leaves look like they take a lot of work/nutrition -- so why bury something that is specialized to be above the ground???....... again, the pros may say otherwise and have lots of data and past successes to prove their view point. I have done it both ways (not sure why I did- but I did) and really have not noticed any differences in OVERALL potato production.... so why bury the leaves and make all that extra work hilling up ??? Also, potato tubers seem to like lots of air flow... so make sure the soil is light or ir your in containers ensure lots of holes near the bottom sides to create updrafts..

- 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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