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

24 Oct 11, Oziblueskies (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Rather than hilling up a few times when plants poke through, cant i just plant them deeper, make bigger mounds, & then put lots of straw on top? I mean cant i just do all the hilling & work in one go?
21 Jun 11, Arthur (Australia - temperate climate)
I put my sweet potatoes in a cardboard box in dry sand two weeks ago close to a heater inside the house.Checking I found little white shoots apearing.Ive planted some I.ll let you how the are going in about three weeks time'
14 Apr 11, stella (Australia - temperate climate)
i had thrown few potatoes that i didnt use in a make shift compost pot..but now there has been 2 potato plants growing they are like 15cm tall..will i be able to harvest potatoes from there???
30 Oct 11, Bruce (Australia - arid climate)
Yes
09 Jan 11, Laura Kidd (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi, We have planted some potatoes and they are almost ready to harvest. I'm not really sure of the variety as my husband planted some potatoes, not from seed. It looks like there are some seed pods forming whee the flowers are. Can we use these for our next crop? If so, what do er have to do?
08 Jan 11, dave (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
my potato vines are growing berrys that look like tiny tomatoes about the size of a marble is this normal ?
14 Jan 11, Grace (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes this is normal. They are not edible, so pick them off to encourage the plant to dedicate it's energy into producing tubers.
31 Dec 10, Di Dixon (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you please let me know if English New Jersey Potatoes can be grown here in Australia & if yes where can I get some from? Cheers Di
24 Oct 11, Julia (Australia - temperate climate)
Di - did you ever grow any New Jersey potatoes? I'm in Sydney and I'd love to try and grow some. Thanks so much.
12 Dec 10, Johnno (Australia - arid climate)
Put my spuds in truck tyres up to 3 levels now will stop at 4 high and let them grow out. Make sure you fill the tyre wells with hay or shreaded paper, the spuds will grow into the tyre wells To harvest just knock off a tyre at a time
Showing 671 - 680 of 832 comments

Hey timon, you do not grow potatoes from seed you use the tubers that have sprouted if you are looking for an online shop that will provide you with a specific kind of potato you would like to grow have a look at the following link: living seeds.co.za

- farmgrl

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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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