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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17 Sep 13, Catherine (Australia - temperate climate)
It might be the 28spotted ladybeetle. They love anything in the Solinaceae family - potatoes, tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant. I get alot of them in summer, and I just pick em off and squash them. I don't know what their predator is, but if you encourage alot of other insects to your garden they might balance themselves out. Check on the undersides of leaves too for little yellow and black larvae and squish them too.
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02 Oct 13, (Australia - temperate climate)
You shouldn't squash the 28spotted ladybeetle as they are not the victims as they eat the other insects and not the leaves. They are not a "pest" but a helper.
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27 Feb 14, Colleen (Australia - temperate climate)
The 28 spotted Ladybird bug is the culprit for the lava that feeds on the potato leaves. Squash them as soon as you see them on the leaf and check for the greyish fluffy lava to squash too as they will eat the whole top of the potato greenery if left unchecked.
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06 Sep 13, sally (Australia - temperate climate)
I have potatos that i missed digging up last year. They have now sprouted in the bed. Can i dig up now and move to a new bed for this year ?
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08 Sep 13, Keith (Australia - temperate climate)
Potatoes do not transfer well leave them until finished
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31 Aug 13, Sheryl (Australia - temperate climate)
I am growing potatoes in straw and mulch in a raised garden bed - after I harvest the potatoes what can I grow in the leftover straw/mulch?
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17 Sep 13, Catherine (Australia - temperate climate)
You can grow anything - except tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant which are all in the same family as potatoes (and apparently I read no strawberries as well - root rot). Just turn over some compost or manure in it. About now you might want to get your summer crops going. You can grow lettuce, silverbeet, beetroot, radish, spring onions, beans, sorrel, cabbage, kale, corn etc. :) Gardenate has a list of what to plant for your region. Make sure you mulch! Good luck!
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31 Aug 13, Frank Hughes (Australia - temperate climate)
hi I have just tried to grow some potatoes, not very successful I am afraid. I think I may have planted them to early. can I now plant some potatoes in the same soil I have just taken my others out? thank's.. i am in the South West of Australia. by the beach
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06 Aug 13, Annie Bate (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I grow potatoes that were bought from a supermarket last year. I would like to grow them in a pot.
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12 Aug 13, toby (Australia - temperate climate)
I always use potatoes that were bought from the market.Ijust leave a few in the window until they shoot,then cut them in about four pieces leaving a shoot on each.
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Showing 341 - 350 of 561 comments
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I started planting a variety of spuds mid Aug in Melb, normally after frost danger was over. End sept when plants were around 15-20cm high we had severe frosts and plants got badly burned off. Surprisingly, they recovered well only to get hit hard again 3 weeks later, Once again they recovered. I have just started ferretting out a few early spuds and the crop looks like being one of my best ever. Has anyone ever tried reducing leaf growth by removing some of the tops to see the effects on the crop?

- Graham Bower

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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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