Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P                 P P P

(Best months for growing Potato in New Zealand - cool/mountain 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 New Zealand | for all countries
14 Apr 20, Anon (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
The guide here says Jan to March - it is now April. I suggest you plant ASAP.
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
03 Apr 20, Genevieve (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Potatoes are normally planted in mid to late spring when the possibility of frost is over.
Reply or Post a new comment
29 Mar 20, Mkhacani (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Where can I buy the seeds; iam in Giyani What time to plant temperature is +_32 degrees
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Apr 20, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Buy from a nursery, farm produce agency, seed selling online store. Some hardware/garden store might have them.
Reply or Post a new comment
30 Mar 20, Another gardener (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Read the notes here the info is all there. One thing they say is to plant Aug/Sept etc, same as where I live in Australia. But here they plant April/May and also in Aug Sept.
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Mar 20, Gretta (USA - Zone 9b climate)
I have dense clay yard soil with rocks so I may need to get ALOT of mulch to grow potatoes in zone 9b. Right? I'm a total beginner so any tips or feedback for zone 9b would be appreciated
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Jun 20, Ross (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I like the idea from the gardener in Australia. G'Day to you. I also have soil like you with clay and rock so digging the trench allows a quick easy replacement but drainage can be a problem with the rocky clay soil. Potatoes love water but too much and they will rot. Try choosing a location with a higher elevation if possible. Sometimes rain pooling can be avoided at higher locations by digging a small trench as a drain. Avoid areas that are already wet or are typically wet. At my place the trench filled with water and took more that a week to drain. I back filled the trench and chose another location.
Reply or Post a new comment
24 Mar 20, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You could try digging a shallow trench, put the seed potatoes in this, and cover with straw/mulch and compost or rotted manure. Keep topping up the straw as the potatoes grow. You'll end up with potatoes and some good quality soil.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 191 - 200 of 830 comments
See comments for all plants

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

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 GardenGrow 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 GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | 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. GardenGrow 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.