Growing Potato

Solanum tuberosum : Solanaceae / the nightshade family

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

(Best months for growing Potato in Australia - 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

20 Sep 23, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Just plant them and watch them grow.
13 Jun 22, Tedele (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I plant potato in June July or August I live in western cape south africa
21 Sep 22, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Yes, you can.
17 Jun 22, Anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Go to the blue tab above CLIMATE ZONE and work out your zone and the check planting times.
03 Feb 22, michelle (Australia - tropical climate)
How can I grow potatoes and carrots in year round tropical climate
04 Feb 22, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Check the planting guide here for these crops. Most vegetables are seasonal. Basically you need certain temperatures to grow different crops. Do some internet research about growing vegetables.
22 Jun 21, Phindile (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I grow Potatoes In july? I live in the eastern cape province in south Africa
29 Jun 21, Anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
It says Sept to Nov for summer rainfall so probably best not plant now.
20 Feb 21, Gerrie (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Can we plant patatoes in march in limpopo in south africa? We have irregation. Which cultvar? We didt get any frost. Thanks...
22 Feb 21, Anonymous (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Work out your climate zone from the BLUE TAB and then check the planting calendar for potatoes for your zone.
Showing 11 - 20 of 113 comments

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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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. Gardenate 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.
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