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

04 Sep 15, Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks very much for your clear, helpful instructions. Much appreciated.
30 Aug 15, ilona bresca (Australia - temperate climate)
why not plant the potatoes that have gone green in the kitchen. can you still eat them after peeling the green off ?
10 Oct 15, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We constantly find potatoes growing in our compost (usually green ones I've thrown in) so I have long since stopped buying seed potatoes! Potatoes that are just starting to green, I just peel til they're not green anymore and never had any side effects. That said, one of our dogs ate a rather green potato while she was a pup...the associated get bill made for a very expensive potato crop that year...!
15 Aug 15, Lynda Rice (Australia - temperate climate)
How long should my Potatoes take to grow? I have just tried to dig up one plant and the potatoes are still really tiny so obviously not ready yet. How do I tell when to dig them up? Should I be fertilising and if so with what? Thanks
16 Oct 15, Lachlan Turner (Australia - temperate climate)
Wait till the above ground foliage dies off.
19 Aug 15, Sarah Johnstone (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Lynda, potatoes take about 5 months or so to grow to a good size. You'll get an assortment of sizes. They're ready to harvest when the vine starts to wither. The smaller potatoes are good to keep for next year's crop. If the vines aren't withering after 5-6 months, you can try to kill them off yourself, apparently that's what they do in Idaho (or so a friend tells me!)
15 Aug 15, Sally (Australia - temperate climate)
Could some one please tell me when to plant potatoes in Melbourne, Victoria Cherrs
20 Aug 15, Porto (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Sally, plant now if you want new spuds for Christmas. I have just put mine in, and I always plant on 15th August
28 Jul 15, etelka. (Australia - tropical climate)
When is the best time to plant potatoes in gold coast ....
01 Aug 15, kath (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted tubers on 1st july and they are already growing. My large potato tub is looking like trees at the moment as all the potato tubers have sprouted. I find this to be a good time of year to plant tubers. I'm located in Brissie.
Showing 271 - 280 of 561 comments

It depends -- not all potatoes are suitable for towering (layering). Additionally, I have found that the potato plant SPENDS A LOT OF ENERGY GROWING UP, UP, UP, as you cover its leaves with soil (leaves have specialized cells designed to collect light - and why you would want to cover them with soil is beyond me this is not really a good move -- leaves are not roots). My recommendation is: if you have a DEEP PLANTER bag starting at about six inches from the bottom -- in sort of a pattern that looks like the 5 on a die (dice) -- make about 3-4 inch round holes -- and make them on the sides that receive light keeping the holes about 10 inches apart (6 inches away from the bottom and 10 inches away from the top of the bag). Fill the bag with a good soil/compost/manure mix of some kind -- starting from the bottom -- when you are level with a hole, place a seed potato there, level or slight below the bottom lip of the hole, and about 3 inches from the side of the bag (so there is soil between the potato and the hole) -- continue up until the bag is full -- the top layer of potatoes can be planted as usual. Yes, the soil will come out of the holes ... not to worry -- just be sure that the soil covers the topmost holes by at least 6-8inches. That is - each potato planted in the bag should have access to a WINDOW (air and light) OR those planted on the top layer (like a usual planting) should be down about 9 inches or so. The Key to this planting is ALL potatoes need to be able to put leaves somewhere -- they will follow the air and light to find that spot -- all potatoes need water -- so you will be watering from the top of the bag only (like a potted plant) -- but you water DEEPLY, since the water needs to make it to the very bottom potato plants -- so maybe you water every 5 days or so... depends on the soil, temperature, amount of light , amount of wind/air (which whisks moisture away), Additionally, ensure there is drainage at the bottom of the bag .... maybe a two inch hole directly at ground level. It might be better to use a crate of some kind.... rather than a bag...anyhow this set up will work with any kind of potato plant without consideration as to whether or not it can handle towering. Hope this helps. Conversion of inches to cm : 1 inch = 2.5cm

- 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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