All About Growing Potatoes

Types of Potatoes by cooking purpose

How to Grow Potatoes

1. Choose Seed Potatoes

Use certified “seed potatoes” rather than supermarket potatoes because they are healthier and disease-resistant.

Popular types:

• Early potatoes — faster harvest (10-16 weeks) inc. small new potatoes, kipfler etc.
• Maincrop potatoes — bigger yield and longer storage (4-6 months) inc. Russet, Sebago etc

If seed potatoes are large:

• Cut into chunks with 1–2 “eyes” each
• Let cut surfaces dry for 1–2 days before planting

Optional:

• “Chit” them first by placing in a bright cool spot until sprouts appear.

2. Growing Timeline (Sydney)

onth	Growth Stage	Tasks
July	Preparation Stage	Choose sunny location. Improve soil with compost and aged manure. Buy certified seed potatoes. Prepare pots/grow bags if container growing.
August	Seed Preparation & Early Planting	Start “chitting” seed potatoes in bright cool place. Plant early potatoes late August if soil warms. Water lightly after planting.
September	Main Planting Month	Plant seed potatoes 10–15 cm deep. Space well. Apply mulch lightly. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged.
October	Sprouting & Early Growth	Shoots appear. Begin weeding carefully. Start hilling soil around stems once plants reach 15–20 cm tall. Watch for slugs/snails.
November	Strong Vegetative Growth	Continue hilling every 2–3 weeks. Feed with potassium-rich fertilizer. Water deeply during hot weather. Monitor for pests and fungal disease.
December	Tuber Development	Maintain even watering. Plants may flower. Harvest small “new potatoes” if desired. Avoid overwatering during humid weather.
January	Main Harvest Period	Foliage starts yellowing. Reduce watering. Harvest mature potatoes once tops die back. Dry potatoes in shade after harvest.
February	Storage & Optional Second Crop	Cure potatoes in cool dark place for 1–2 weeks. Store properly. Optional autumn crop planting can begin late February.
March	Autumn Crop Growth (Optional)	Continue watering and hilling autumn crop. Protect plants from excessive rain and humidity.
April	Autumn Tuber Formation	Maintain moisture evenly. Feed lightly with potassium fertilizer if needed. Watch for blight in cooler damp weather.
May	Autumn Harvest	Harvest autumn potatoes before heavy winter cold and wet conditions arrive. Cure and store potatoes.
June	Rest & Soil Recovery	Remove old plant debris. Rotate crops. Add compost or cover crop to refresh soil for next season.

3. Soil & Pots

• Soil: Loose, well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.0–6.5)
• Pots: Potatoes grow very well in Grow bags, Buckets and Raised beds

A simple container method:

1. Add 15 cm soil
2. Place seed potatoes
3. Cover lightly
4. Keep adding soil as plants grow

4. Planting

Plant:

• 10–15 cm deep
• 30 cm apart
• Rows about 60–75 cm apart

Place sprouts facing upward.

5. Sun & Watering

• Needs Full sun (6–8 hours daily) & Cool weather
• Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. More water during tuber formation. Reduce watering near harvest
• Mulch helps retain moisture.

6. Hill the Soil

As plants grow:

• Mound soil around stems every few weeks

This is important because it:

• Protects potatoes from sunlight
• Prevents green toxic potatoes
• Increases yield

7. Fertilizer

Potatoes prefer:

• Compost
• Potassium-rich fertilizer
• Lower nitrogen levels

Too much nitrogen = lots of leaves but fewer potatoes.

8. Common Problems

Watch for:

• Potato beetles
• Aphids
• Blight disease
• Rot from overwatering

Rotate crops yearly to reduce disease.

9. Harvesting

New potatoes

Harvest about:

• 10–12 weeks after planting

Mature potatoes

Harvest when:

• Leaves turn yellow and die back

Leave potatoes in soil for a few dry days if possible before storing.

10. Storage

Store in:

• Cool
• Dark
• Dry place
• Ventilated

Do not refrigerate.

Storage time:

Type	Typical Storage Life
New potatoes	1–2 weeks
Thin-skinned potatoes	Few weeks
Main crop potatoes	Several months

(Source: chatGPT)