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 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 40 cm 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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14 Jul 20, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks, I never thought to do that.
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11 Jul 20, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
hi, I have a raised garden bed 1.2x1.2x400, how many seed potatoes would be appropriate to grow in this area?
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13 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
2 or 3 rows and plant 35mm apart.
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14 Jul 20, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you for your advice
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08 Jul 20, Nathalie Hetherington (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have bought some seed potatoes and prepared a raised garden vegetable for them. I have never grown potatoes before so am a total novice. The bed is 2m x 50cm x 40 cm. Can I plant a couple of different varieties together such as kipfler and purple potato and even if a third variety if I have the room?
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08 Jul 20, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A garden bed 2m long is only going to grow 6-7 plants. You can plant different varieties. Consider making the bed a lot bigger if you can.
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06 Aug 20, Diane (Australia - tropical climate)
i have read that you can grow them in a bottomless large bucket or a wired enclosure this way you just keep topping up the dirt and mulch when the plant gets taller until eventually you reach the top. once they are ready to harvest just pull the vessell you have chosen off and down they all fall. Saves using your garden and gives you room for more beneficial plants or vegies to use.
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26 Jun 20, Benjamin Rathbone (Australia - temperate climate)
After you have harvested your potatoes can you re use the dirt with extra compost ??
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29 Jun 20, (Australia - tropical climate)
Add compost/composted manures or fertilisers to the soil to put nutrient back into the soil for the next planting.
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27 Apr 20, Marg (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have some organic potatoes that are starting to shoot quite a lot, I cut them in pieces was about to plant them in containers,but now have heard they should be planted at the end of winter. What can I do? Store them, throw them or give them a go? Marg
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Showing 71 - 80 of 563 comments
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I live in Southern California Zone 10A and grow potatoes year-round in bags and containers, anywhere from 5 to 15 gallons size. I have found what works well for me is to put about 4-6 inches of good soil in the container, lay a few seed potatoes on top so the slips are pointed up, about 12 inches apart, then cover them with about 4-6 inches of soil, and water moderately or they will rot. These potatoes will only produce new tubers in the soil about 6-12 inches above the original seed potatoes, so when the plants are about a foot above the soil, if I have any new add seed potatoes and the container has enough room, when I add more soil I may consider adding a few more seed potatoes that will produce "baby potatoes" above the older tubers, then cover them with another 6 inches of soil that will also bury more of the new growth of the first seed potatoes. Doing this stimulates more growth, and I may even add even more soil as the plants get taller depending on the depth of the container. I don't always add the second layer of seed potatoes, but doing this produces a few larger potatoes below (Baked Potatoes!) and a lot of smaller potatoes above them, and they are all excellent eating. I am growing Russet, Golden, and Red potatoes in containers, but I think they are all determinant varieties since they are all started from potatoes purchased in grocery stores, and each plant only produces tubers in the area near the seed potato, but do not continue to produce tubers as the plants get taller no matter how much more soil is added. I am still learning as I go, such as "location, location, location!" is making a noticeable difference on how successful my efforts are, and I would like to find an indeterminant variety potato that will grow well in Zone 10A.

- dz

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