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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
24 Mar 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Have a look at this site https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-earth-up-potatoes/
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Dec 18, Steve (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Is it too cold to grow potatoes @350m above sea level on Mt Taranaki
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Dec 18, Mike (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Should be ok - as long as you harvest before next winter's frosts. Plenty of sun.
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Mar 18, Heather (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I grew potatoes this year for the first time. I planted 12 pots and all I got back was about nine or ten potatoes. I planted mustard over the winter, dug in etc. it was very dry and I didn't water much could this be the problem. I thought if I watered too much they might rot. What did I do wrong? Thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Sep 18, Mike (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Have good loose soil, not too rich in N. Dig a furrow 12 (?)
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Aug 18, Doug T (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I've had that happen a couple of times in containers - it seems they like warm conditions but cool roots or they just produce leaf growth. And yes plenty of water - about an inch a week. Soil should be sticky.
Reply or Post a new comment
08 Dec 17, PATRICK FOLEY (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi I would love to get some of those Maori potatoes any chance ?
Reply or Post a new comment
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.
Reply or Post a new comment
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?
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Sep 17, Heather (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi. I have never grown potatoes, I would like to try is it time now central north island, Jersey Bennie seem to be popular early potatoes? Heathet
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 21 - 30 of 68 comments
See comments for all plants

I live in Zone 7b in Arkansas. It's been an unusually cool and wet spring / summer. I planted four varieties in a prepared bed. (composted manure was tilled in.) The varieties were Pontiac red, Kenebek, Russet and Yukon Gold in roughly equal amounts, purchased prepackaged at a farm store. The seed potatoes were sown in rows 12 -18 inch spacing on Feb 28 by burying shallow, then covering with several inches of composted manure followed by several inches of straw, two bales on roughly 120 sq feet. I did not document when they sprouted but it seemed weak initially but success rate of sprouts was eventually good. The composted manure is weedy and so was the straw, eventually weed pressure was high so I covered with another layer of composted manure. ( I don't remember the date and the plants were 20 inches or so tall, some in blossom. ) Although at the time of harvest the bed was heavy with weeds again that worked long enough to bring in a harvest on June 4th. While harvesting the soil was still quite moist, only two or three potatoes had rotted and the yield was about 2 to 3 nice sized potatoes per plant with up to three small potatoes per plant too. I followed the harvest with a sweet corn. I contemplated a second potato planting but i think it will be too hot. I'm going to make a deep raised bed from pallets manure and straw out in a shady part of my homestead and try a few to see what happens. Hopefully that helps.

- Ross

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.