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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10 Oct 15, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We constantly find potatoes growing in our compost (usually green ones I've thrown in) so I have long since stopped buying seed potatoes! Potatoes that are just starting to green, I just peel til they're not green anymore and never had any side effects. That said, one of our dogs ate a rather green potato while she was a pup...the associated get bill made for a very expensive potato crop that year...!
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15 Aug 15, Lynda Rice (Australia - temperate climate)
How long should my Potatoes take to grow? I have just tried to dig up one plant and the potatoes are still really tiny so obviously not ready yet. How do I tell when to dig them up? Should I be fertilising and if so with what? Thanks
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16 Oct 15, Lachlan Turner (Australia - temperate climate)
Wait till the above ground foliage dies off.
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19 Aug 15, Sarah Johnstone (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Lynda, potatoes take about 5 months or so to grow to a good size. You'll get an assortment of sizes. They're ready to harvest when the vine starts to wither. The smaller potatoes are good to keep for next year's crop. If the vines aren't withering after 5-6 months, you can try to kill them off yourself, apparently that's what they do in Idaho (or so a friend tells me!)
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15 Aug 15, Sally (Australia - temperate climate)
Could some one please tell me when to plant potatoes in Melbourne, Victoria Cherrs
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20 Aug 15, Porto (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Sally, plant now if you want new spuds for Christmas. I have just put mine in, and I always plant on 15th August
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28 Jul 15, etelka. (Australia - tropical climate)
When is the best time to plant potatoes in gold coast ....
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01 Aug 15, kath (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted tubers on 1st july and they are already growing. My large potato tub is looking like trees at the moment as all the potato tubers have sprouted. I find this to be a good time of year to plant tubers. I'm located in Brissie.
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20 Jul 15, clark (Australia - temperate climate)
When do we plant potato seed Tasmania
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27 Jun 15, Rusty (Australia - temperate climate)
Now is a great time to plant spuds in SA.
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I'm not certain if the initial question is using the correct terminology or not... there are so many different ways to categorize things. If it is determinate verses indeterminate -- then it is like tomatoes -- the indeterminate are like a vine, and continue to grow - which means they CAN BE towered ( but don't have to be) and they will continue to put out "layers" of tubers as you hill up. However, indeterminate potatoes can be grown as determinate.... you DON'T HAVE TO tower or hill up -- so long as you plant the seed potato deep enough. You can get more potatoes per square foot of real estate out of the indeterminate type of potato, but it does take longer. So you need to think about - time verses space verses growing methods.

- 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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