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 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
05 Nov 18, Rod (Australia - temperate climate)
I've planted spuds 16-18 weeks ago and have checked them only to find they are soft. What causes this?
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10 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Are they soft - rotten or just softish?
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06 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Sorry can't help you - try planting late April early May next year.
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26 Oct 18, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
Thank you Steve and Mike. Your comments much appreciated.
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17 Oct 18, Tony (Australia - temperate climate)
As an expat Pom 52 years in South Australia, the only thing I still miss is is traditional "new" potatoes, with thin papery skins that can be removed with a fingernail.. They had a wonderful texture and tasted sensational. Only available in March/April, an annual treat. My question is, is threr a variety available here with these qualities and when would they be planted?
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20 Oct 18, Steve (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Tony, Sadly no, there used to be a supplier in SA but I can not find any trace of them now. A couple of things to mention: Kipfler and Pink Fir Apple can be quite similar if grown quickly, secondly the traditional Jersey New and Jersey Mids were certainly grown with massive amounts of fertilizers so I am not sure if that sort of thing is acceptable these days even if they still grow them in Jersey. Cheers from another old Pom
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17 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'd suggest you try and find the name of the potato you liked. Then look up potato varieties on the internet. I think most potatoes fresh out of the ground have a thin skin. If you are temperate climate plant Sept Oct and harvest 15-20 weeks later. Try seed selling companies.
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10 Sep 18, Kashmir Singh (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Which is the best month to plant potatoes in upper north island of New Zealand, please ? Also I understand that the seed potato must be sprouted before it goes in the ground. What is the sprouting procedure please? In a cool dark place or any other suggestions you may have for me. Many thanks.
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11 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The north tip of NZ is sub-tropical. Not a lot of difference to temperate. The year monthly calendar says when to plant. It best to plant potatoes that are starting to sprout. Go to a nursery or farm produce place and buy from them. Plant in a furrow and fill the furrow in as they grow and then hill the soil up around the plant.
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28 Aug 18, Niresh (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Which area is ideal for potato cultivation and where i can go for the cultivaton over 50acres of land
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I would like to endorse the comments above regarding the use of tyres to grow Potatoes or in fact use to grow any any food. The rubber compounds in both the carcase and tread contain significant numbers of nasties. Tyres are designed to perform at high speed under quite arduous conditions, absolutely not designed as end of life food growing receptacles! They contain many potential hazards/chemicals, far too many to fully list. I will list just a couple,so that fellow readers who do not have my background can appreciate better what they are dealing with. Firstly the reinforcing Carbon Blacks utilized in the rubber compounds, contain significant amounts of Organo-Nitrogen compounds, blacks of this type are banned for use with any "Potable Water" applications! the reason being these compounds are considered as being high risk carciogens. There are special Blacks made specifically for food contact applications, rubber reinforcing blacks are definitely not suitable. Processing aids, The rubber in the tyres must be made to be strong/resilient/heat resistant; specially designed chemical compounds are encorporated into the rubber compounds to achieve this. The chemical compounds used present problems in many directions, firstly they are not ( dont need to be) pure compounds they contain debris from the chemical synthesis processes used to make them; these same compounds also decompose both during Vulcanization and during the life of the tyre. The Organo-Chemical families many of these compounds belong to include compounds that are considered hazardous and not suitable for food contact. The possibility of side chemical reactions between both the impurities and the debris from the degradation, resulting in compounds that could present significant hazards is real. Are tyres dangerous? yes! when attached to cars driven by idiots and when used as receptacles to grow food; otherwise no!

- Geoff Brooks

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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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