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 10°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 30 - 40 cm 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

17 Dec 17, Kym (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in a very cool part of the Barossa Valley where the growing cycle is out by 4 weeks so what would be the best time for me to grow tatties?
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.
08 Dec 17, PATRICK FOLEY (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi I would love to get some of those Maori potatoes any chance ?
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.
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?
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.?
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.
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
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.
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?
Showing 301 - 310 of 821 comments

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Potato

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.