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 50°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 12 - 16 inches 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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15 May 10, Debra (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anyone know where in West Aus I can get hold of seed potatoes of different varieties? Bunnings usually only has desiree, ruby lou or nicola, and I would like others if possible. Buying the potatoes from stores and letting them shoot is not always as successful as buying the certified seed potatoes (and trying to get the varieties in the shops isn't so easy either). Thanks to anyone who can help.
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04 Oct 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Debra , I am an avid potato grower, I like Ruby Lous personally, But Waldeks here in Perth stock about 10 diff varieties of seed potatoes fHope this helps, I lurvv my spuds :)
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16 May 10, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
Lena's Nursery in Wanneroo Road, Wangara has Delaware, Royal Blue, Ruby Lou, Norland, Eureka and Kestrel seed from "The Spud Factory" in stock at the moment.
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21 Aug 17, Patsy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have potatoes just coming through the top of a no-dig raised bed and they are being eaten off as they come through. Today I could see a multitude on tiny (1mm) little "flies". Maybe Thrips? Is this what is eating my plants, if so how do I control them? Thanks
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21 May 10, Jeff (Australia - temperate climate)
Waldecks on Manning Rd had a couple of varieties last weekend, Delaware, and something else I hadn't heard of.
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10 May 10, judy hayward (Australia - temperate climate)
hi could you please tell me what is eating my potato plant leaves which is eventually killing them i cant see any grubs i have sprayed with condifor but does not seem to help.thanks and cheers judy
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09 May 10, Stuart (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I was wondering if there was another name for sweet potato as it doesn't seem to be in the seed list, thanks
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06 Jul 10, Eccles (Australia - temperate climate)
Try "kumera".
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03 Jul 10, Tassy Michele (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hiya Stuart, Sweet Potato can also be known as Kumara and sometimes (depending on your cultural background) yams. For further information check Wikipedia. Cheers
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20 Apr 10, martin cook (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, im in townsville i had some good yield when i used potatoes sprout im trying to get seeds but im having no luck do you know how i get seeds hear thanks.
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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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