Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P P                   P

(Best months for growing Potato in USA - Zone 11a 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

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15 May 10, Debra (Australia - temperate climate)
Does anyone know where in West Aus I can get hold of seed potatoes of different varieties? Bunnings usually only has desiree, ruby lou or nicola, and I would like others if possible. Buying the potatoes from stores and letting them shoot is not always as successful as buying the certified seed potatoes (and trying to get the varieties in the shops isn't so easy either). Thanks to anyone who can help.
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04 Oct 13, Kevin (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Debra , I am an avid potato grower, I like Ruby Lous personally, But Waldeks here in Perth stock about 10 diff varieties of seed potatoes fHope this helps, I lurvv my spuds :)
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16 May 10, Clive (Australia - temperate climate)
Lena's Nursery in Wanneroo Road, Wangara has Delaware, Royal Blue, Ruby Lou, Norland, Eureka and Kestrel seed from "The Spud Factory" in stock at the moment.
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21 Aug 17, Patsy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have potatoes just coming through the top of a no-dig raised bed and they are being eaten off as they come through. Today I could see a multitude on tiny (1mm) little "flies". Maybe Thrips? Is this what is eating my plants, if so how do I control them? Thanks
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21 May 10, Jeff (Australia - temperate climate)
Waldecks on Manning Rd had a couple of varieties last weekend, Delaware, and something else I hadn't heard of.
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10 May 10, judy hayward (Australia - temperate climate)
hi could you please tell me what is eating my potato plant leaves which is eventually killing them i cant see any grubs i have sprayed with condifor but does not seem to help.thanks and cheers judy
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09 May 10, Stuart (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I was wondering if there was another name for sweet potato as it doesn't seem to be in the seed list, thanks
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06 Jul 10, Eccles (Australia - temperate climate)
Try "kumera".
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03 Jul 10, Tassy Michele (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hiya Stuart, Sweet Potato can also be known as Kumara and sometimes (depending on your cultural background) yams. For further information check Wikipedia. Cheers
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20 Apr 10, martin cook (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, im in townsville i had some good yield when i used potatoes sprout im trying to get seeds but im having no luck do you know how i get seeds hear thanks.
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I forgot to mention -- and kept forgetting to post this additional part. When you are "hilling up" you are actually burying LEAVES. Leaves have specialized tissue to COLLECT LIGHT -- that is to say, they are NOT ROOTS -- so to me, burying leaves is NOT CORRECT. It may help to get the potatoes producing sooner, BUT somehow to me if a potato plant made leaves it wanted to collect light -- roots are different, they are sort of thin and round/tube like and are used to transport water and nutrients -- AGAIN: leaves are leaves and roots are roots -- and when I stop and think about it burying leaves doesn't seem right... and my gut instinct is saying that it is not correct. I have also noticed that roots are thinner, and are probably easier for the plant to make/grow -- leaves look like they take a lot of work/nutrition -- so why bury something that is specialized to be above the ground???....... again, the pros may say otherwise and have lots of data and past successes to prove their view point. I have done it both ways (not sure why I did- but I did) and really have not noticed any differences in OVERALL potato production.... so why bury the leaves and make all that extra work hilling up ??? Also, potato tubers seem to like lots of air flow... so make sure the soil is light or ir your in containers ensure lots of holes near the bottom sides to create updrafts..

- Celeste Archer

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