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 - temperate 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
28 Apr 20, Another gardener (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you live in an area with no frosts I would plant them. Leave them out of the ground for 3-4 days to let the cut edge dry up a bit. Plant them then water and don't water again until they shoot.
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Apr 20, Robin (Australia - temperate climate)
I have some saved potatoes in a box of sand in the bottom of my fridge which have sprouted. surely if they sprout at 4 degrees c. they will grow in our winter months ? Cheers Robin
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Apr 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I'm sub-tropical and they grow them from April/May here and in the spring also. You probably don't want frosts.
Reply or Post a new comment
17 Apr 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Commercial blokes here plant them in May, in good draining red soil that is above frost line, like on a high area not in low areas.
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Apr 20, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)
In very cold or wet soil potatoes are likely to rot. Frost will also burn them off. If you have an area where the soil is warmer and is protected from frost you could give them a go if you wish. Better to plant them about 3 weeks before the expected last frost so they will have emerged after the frosts have finished. If they come up early and a frost is expected just cover them with a box, a suitable sized flower pot or a layer of straw for protection.
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Apr 20, William Smith (Australia - temperate climate)
G'D Day I have grown Potato in a container from shooting potato bought from the Supermarket, planted 17 weeks ago the container is now 80 cm high 50 cm in diameter , however the plants have not started to die back when should I harvest ? Cheers William
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Apr 20, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Potatoes can normally be raided about a month after flowering. These are 'new' potatoes. Remove them carefully and replace the soil and the rest will mature as 'old' potatoes when the tops die off.
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
Feel around in the soil to see if you have any potatoes.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Apr 20, Danielle (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, I'm researching when to plant potato, Iknow they make good companion plants with broad beans... if braod beans are ready to be planted now (I live in Melbourne) can I also plant potatoes too? Please help, the internet is confusing... Many thanks in advance, Dan
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Check the pages here for broad beans - plant April-May and August - Sept. Potatoes plant Sept to Dec.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 81 - 90 of 563 comments
See comments for all plants

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

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.