Growing guide

Best time to plant potato in Australia

Solanum tuberosum

Potatoes are starchy underground stem tubers, eaten as a staple across much of the world. The plant, a nightshade and a perennial, was first domesticated thousands of years ago around what is now southern Peru and north-western Bolivia. Breeding has since produced more than 5,000 varieties.

On a shared plot: suits a plot

Finishes in a season and stays within its space, so it suits most plots.

When to sow

ZoneMonthsHow well checked
CoolAug to DecMatches local guides
TemperateJul to OctBroadly matches local guides, with some differences
SubtropicalMay to SepBroadly matches local guides, with some differences
TropicalApr to MayNot yet checked against a local guide
AridAug to DecBroadly matches local guides, with some differences

Your local conditions can shift any months shown here, so treat them as a guide.

Growing details

How to start
Sow directly in the bed
Sowing depth
10-15cm
Plant spacing
30cm
Row spacing
90cm
Height
60cm
Time to harvest
85-105 days
Frost
Semi-hardy, protect from hard frost
Sun
Full sun
Life cycle
annual

These are typical figures, and varieties differ. Your seed packet takes priority.

Further reading on this plant