Your comments and tips

10 Dec 08, Jennie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I also am having trouble with my first crop of potatoes (in Sydney) I have planted most in vegie garden and some in pots. With the ones in the vegie garden two thirds have died off before flowering - one third are starting to flower but don't look too healthy. The ones in the pots haven't flowered yet. They were planted end of July. Any ideas greatly appreciated!

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14 Dec 08, John (Australia - temperate climate)

I am interested in growing spuds in a cage tower. Can anyone tell me if using pelleted fertilzer such as dynamic lifter be as successful as using one of the suggested animal manures? Also, has anyone tried growing spuds in summer and if so with what success?

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26 Dec 08, johnny Mornington penninsular vic. (Australia - temperate climate)

Help! I have about 16sqm of potato plants, all flowering like mad,but I have failed to cover them since they were 12 inches high.The tallest ones are now 1.5 metres high,can someone tell me if I can still cover them and what with?

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10 Dec 11, marie williams (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, just read your post, I have seen this before and what they did was to carefully lay the plant over on its side and start building up the earth over it. support it with some earth underneath whilst doing it, leaving the end out to continue to grow. As the plant settles and continues to grow continue mounding up the earth in the usual manner. You might get some more sprouts along the length of the growth your bury. Good luck.

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26 Dec 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)

Johnny, as long as you have plenty of earth over the roots, your potatoes will be fine. The idea of covering them as they grow is to increase the number of potatoes on each plant.

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29 Dec 08, John (Australia - temperate climate)

I wish to grow potatoes in a caged tower now, that is in late December. I live in the southern part of Victoria on the coast. Can someone please tell me if this is possible and any useful hints please.

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04 Jan 09, wayne (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I have a back triangle yard where my new veggie garden is. most of it has full sun all day. Have behind the bungaloo It starts seeing shade after 3pm. This is my first ever veggie garden (just finished my first vegie bed of 10 sq/mtrs. And plans for another 20 sq/mtrs. Would like to know what I can plant now and where in the garden to plant it. I also have a constant supply of 550mm sq gal box's by 900mm high I would like to use. In the full sun spot i would also like to know when I can grow spuds there so I can plan my compost there for future spud crops. I love potatoes like every body else. Want to grow all year round if possible. I live in melbourne northern suburbs

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18 Jan 09, Rene (Australia - temperate climate)

is it possible to plant a second crop of potatoes in Sydney in new year? My first crop, planted in late July, was very successful and I'd like to plant more.

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20 Jan 09, Ann (Australia - temperate climate)

I live near Bendigo in Victoria, it is hot and dry in summer. Am creating some new raised vegie gardens and wonder if it is too late to grow potatoes. I already have a good crop coming on planted in October in some sunny garden beds, but have just been given a lovely big bag of sprouting tubers (forgotten in the back of a friend's cupboard.

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23 Jan 09, Tobie-Jane (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Hi...I planted a potato in a huge black tub and it grew really well, had a huge, healthy plant in mid-December. Unfortunately we went away for 4 weeks and when we got back the plant has died completely. There are a heap of potatoes in the pot though, all still firm, look fine (a little small), and none are green. Would it still be okay to harvest and eat them, or is there a time limit after the plant dies off (I'm not sure when that happened)? Finally, do I need to do anything between harvesting and cooking, like letting them dry? Thank heaps!

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