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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27 Mar 16, Julia (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Can I get Dutch cream potatoes in NZ? I want to plant them.
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14 Mar 16, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have 1 long green cattle water trough with a plug for drainage. Have filled it with a mix of soul, compost and chicken manure. I will try and grow on row in that and see how we go. It is hot and humid here so will have to see how it goes. Also have a half small rainwater tank with a good mix of compost and soil and will also try to grow some in that. Fingers crossed.
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05 Mar 16, Alan (Australia - temperate climate)
We grow two crops a year, one through spring & the other through autumn storing them in the garage in a black 50lt container & lid we bought from Bunnings. Don't ever wash them before storage & always keep the lid on so they remain in the dark.
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02 Aug 16, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks, that is helpful. I will try this
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03 Mar 16, EMMANUEL (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
what is the best way of storing potatoes
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01 Mar 16, MOAGI EMMANUEL (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Hello, I want to ask what kind of potato seed can grow well in Limpopo area, it is summer rainfall and sometimes temperature rises up to 30 degress
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17 Mar 16, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I personally love Savannah cultivar. Mondial is also good.
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24 Feb 16, Carol (Australia - temperate climate)
I grew my potatoes in bags and pots and 90% died because of heat, humidity and triple rainfall than usual. Next I am trying beds and the no dig method. I'm getting seed potatoes in March and seeing how I go. I'm sticking to sweet potatoes in the hotter months.
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27 Feb 16, John (United Kingdom - cool/temperate climate)
We dhave bought our seed potatoes and will chitting them before planting out in March, Not sure how this equates to the growing season where you are. https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-your-own/vegetables/potatoes?type=v
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19 Feb 16, Rikie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
1)What kind of potatoes will grow best in East London, (Eastern Cape)? 2)Where can I buy these seed potatoes as hardware stores do not keep it anymore?
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Sorry for the late post -- I think I have the information you are looking for. First NOT ALL potatoes are suited for "tower" growth. So the first question would be how deep are your bags; if the bags are deep enough to be considered a tower, then you need to cross check this with the variety of potato you are growing. Second: when you plant a piece of potato (seed potato) this is your LOWEST POINT. Generally, a potato plant will not produce/store and tubers (potatoes) BELOW the level of the seed potato. This is why people plant the seed potatoes, wait for the green leaves to come up, and mound soil, always leaving enough leaves sticking out to collect light. You'll also note at harvest, that the lowest potato seems to have rotted; this was your seed potato that grew the plant. We plant the seed potato shallow, so the leaves get to the sun sooner/easier and start collecting light; then we mound the soil so there is room for the potato plant to set its tubers (potatoes) -- this means, that you plant you seed potatoes at the bottom of the sack, covering them with several inches of soil, and as the potato plant grows, you add soil.... always try to leave plenty of leaves sticking out of the soil so the plant can collect sun. Hope this help. From the Eagle Creek site (about their tower potato mix): Not all types of potatoes are suited for container growing, typically fingerling and late season varieties yield best. Bellanita, Bintje, Amarosa & German Butterball are the 4 varieties in this package.

- Celeste Archer

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