Your comments and tips

02 Oct 17, ANTHONY (Australia - temperate climate)

Hello i have heard that when growing potatoes , we need to trim the plant matter that grows above the ground in order to get a better yield . Is this true

Reply or Post a new comment

03 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Doesn't sound right to me. Potato is related to tomato - as the plant grows the potatoes develop up the stem. Best to hill the soil up as it grows but don't cover all the leaves. The leaves are the energy source to grow the potatoes.

Reply or Post a new comment

01 Oct 17, Denise (Australia - temperate climate)

I would like to grow potatoes from store bought sprouting potatoes in a foam tomato box Can you tell me if potting mix is ok to use alone Do i cut potatoes and which way up do I plant them Thanks

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

If I understand what you mean by tomato box, you may need something deeper than this. If potatoes are large cut in half and leave in the sun for a couple of days to dry the cut section. Then plant with the flat part down. The shoots will come out the top part.

Reply or Post a new comment

29 Sep 17, Heather (Australia - temperate climate)

I'm growing just a few purple potatoes in a cage following the instructions above. I've never grown potatoes before at all so need some help please. When they sprouted the little plants are not what I imagined. I thought it would be a tallish, narrow shoot but it is a little clump of leaves about 10 cm round (the clump, not each leaf). Do I just bury this whole thing in the next layer of mulch etc? I can't imagine how it will grow through. Perhaps I should have watched more closely and mounded up before the leaves opened, but I didn't notice until they were like this (the leaves are almost the same colour as the compost mix). So, is it OK to bury them now, or should I have done it sooner? I only planted four bits and the first two are as described but the other two are just coming up now, so not too late for those perhaps but they are all together.

Reply or Post a new comment

02 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I have never tried this. As the plant grows just add more mulch/soil around the plant but don't completely cover all leaves. Leave the top leaves out.

Reply or Post a new comment

23 Aug 17, Paul Kelly (Australia - temperate climate)

The leaves on my potatoes seem to be shriveling and dying. Leaving crisp brown holes in the leaves and dead stems. Could it be a fungal disease or insect attack. If it is fungal disease what should I treat it with. Could it be viral?

Reply or Post a new comment

25 Aug 17, Tim (Australia - temperate climate)

How old are your plants? The leaves and stems will die when its time to harvest.

Reply or Post a new comment

13 Aug 17, Gill (Australia - temperate climate)

Our potatoes have grown very tall..how do you know when to harvest them? With many tjanks Gill

Reply or Post a new comment

13 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

They have probably grown tall because of one or both of two things - too much nitrogen or if they had to compete for light -(tall nearby plants). I think the guide here say 12-16 weeks to harvest. The leaves will die off when it is time to harvest. My plants powered along (fed plenty of composting mulch - then they have just died - only about 12 weeks since shooting out of the ground. I pulled out one plant - a few big potatoes and a few smaller ones. Have left the others in until I need them to eat.

Reply or Post a new comment