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

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19 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It says Sept to Dec for cool climate. So probably Oct to Jan. If you look up your veg and put in the climate zone it tells you - then adjust it to your conditions.
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08 Dec 17, PATRICK FOLEY (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi I would love to get some of those Maori potatoes any chance ?
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18 Dec 17, Ann (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I bought some moi moi potatoes at the local organic supermarket Huckelberrys in the vege section. I tried planting 5 in a 20 litre and had quite good success. same with yams and kumara.
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08 Jan 18, JT (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Ann ... I'm interested in the yams, any chance can get more info on this - where I can get some and how you plant them in sub-tropical climate?
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06 Nov 17, stephen lavell (Australia - temperate climate)
all my potatoes are growing in the same soil mix sandy loam ,mushroom compost general mulch etc and ive followed your planting tips . Some are doing really well and some are stunted and look a bit sad. The best ones are producing some potatoes but im worried that the others are not going to be much good. Any ideas.?
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07 Nov 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I tried to keep hilling up with a 1/2 compost mulch and probably soil was too wet. I did get much of a crop. Use good soil with completely composted material. I would say you probably have some disease.
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26 Oct 17, Christine Thyne (Australia - temperate climate)
I've in Wheatbelt Wa can I grow potatos in tubs now as summer is so very hot in Merredin
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26 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Better to grow them into winter. Plant about May. The hot sun during winter sucks a lot of water out of the plants during the day. You would have to water them 2-3 times a day.
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14 Oct 17, Carol (Australia - temperate climate)
A friend was advising me when I was planting potatoes. He even dug the trench for me. He then told me to put the spuds on the pile of dirt, not in the trench, about a thumb length down. As I'd never planted potatoes before I duly followed his directions. I now read this info only to find that they should have gone in the trench! What now?
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15 Oct 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If the plants are quite small try transplanting them into the trench. Make sure you keep as much soil around the roots as possible. - like use a shovel and place them in the trench carefully so not to let the soil fall away.
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Showing 311 - 320 of 830 comments
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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. 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.
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