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

10 Aug 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
The difference between store potatoes and buying certified seed potatoes is disease. Store are more likely to be effected by disease. But if you have good fresh soil that hasn't had a lot of disease in it then you probably might be able to produce a good crop. You can grow a crop in the spring but also try planting late April early May.
18 Jul 20, Judy Osborne (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown potatoes before only to find the potato to be a clear waxy look when harvested. I waited for the plants to die down before harvesting but they have always looked like that and not the usual solid white like normal bought ones. What couild the problem be?
20 Jul 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up a company called NUTRIEN AG SOLUTIONS and call them and ask them.
12 Jul 20, Denese Schick (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hi potato growers! i have been married for 18 years, and all that time i have searched for Red Dakota seed potatoes. i see a few people on here mention them. cant get them up north here. my elderly husband grew them for many years, and i would really love to grow them too. i grow Maori, red deseri, Concord, Dragar, and a few others. i have saved my own seed for nearly 25 years. and would love to grow this special red dakota, which he says are different from other spuds. thand in advance. i would be keen to deposit a few $ in exchange for just 3 or 4 seed in good condition. please be sure of your variety
26 Jan 23, Hugh (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi - I believe Red Dakota is now on the u/a list. The last I ever bought/ate was in the 1980s, near Blenheim. A well-established market gardening family grew R-Ds, and I was forewarned by the senior man that they would be possibly the last I would get, as they were moving to more popular cultivars. R-Ds were notoriously difficult to clean properly for baking - all those craters - and peeling was a challenge, but they were ideal for roasting.
13 Jul 20, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Go on the internet and do some research. Look for small and large potato seed selling companies. I just looked at Morton Smith-Dawe but they don't have them, ring them and ask if they know of anyone growing them. Or ring the Potatoes New Zealand and ask.
12 Jul 20, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, we are going to try potatoes in bags and would like to grow indeterminate varieties, does anyone know which ones are, as there is no info on any of the seed bags I have read, thanks in advance.
12 Aug 20, alex (Australia - temperate climate)
The only indeterminate variety I can be sure of is Desiree. Kipfler and ruby Lou are terminate varieties. hope that helps .
18 Aug 20, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks Alex, we have gone for Nicola and Brake Light, we will see how they go. We are planting them this week, cheers.
13 Jul 20, (Australia - temperate climate)
I had never heard of indeterminate potatoes. There are thousands of varieties of potatoes but only about 6-8 are grown commercially in Australia. Ring a seed selling company like The Diggers Club to see if they can help you.
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