How to Grow Potatoes in Australia

Region-by-region planting times, variety picks, and harvest tips for every climate

Potatoes are one of the most satisfying crops you can grow at home. They're generous with yields, forgiving of beginners, and produce something genuinely useful in the kitchen. But getting the timing right matters, and Australia's climates are so varied that a planting date that works in Melbourne will fail completely in Darwin.

This guide covers when to plant potatoes in every major Australian region, which varieties suit which climates, and how to get the best harvest from your space.

When to Plant Potatoes in Your Region

Potatoes need cool-to-mild soil temperatures (around 15 to 20 degrees Celsius) for tuber formation. In warm and tropical regions, this limits you to autumn and winter planting. In cool-temperate regions, spring through early summer is the main window.

Best Potato Varieties for Australia

Australian gardeners have access to excellent seed potato varieties bred for local conditions. Here are the proven performers across different climates.

Planting Method: Step by Step

1. Source certified seed potatoes. Don't plant supermarket potatoes. They may carry diseases and are often treated to prevent sprouting. Buy certified seed potatoes from a nursery or online supplier.
2. Chit your seed potatoes. Place them in a cool, light spot for 2 to 3 weeks until short green sprouts appear. This gives them a head start once planted.
3. Prepare the soil. Potatoes need loose, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Heavy clay soils cause misshapen tubers. Dig through compost and aged manure at least 2 weeks before planting.
4. Plant 10 to 15 cm deep, 30 cm apart. Place each seed potato with sprouts facing up in a trench or hole. Space rows 60 to 75 cm apart to allow for hilling.
5. Hill up as they grow. When shoots reach 15 to 20 cm tall, mound soil around the stems, leaving just the top leaves exposed. Repeat 2 to 3 times during the season. This protects developing tubers from sunlight (which turns them green and toxic).
6. Water consistently but don't waterlog. Potatoes need even moisture, especially during flowering when tubers are forming. Overwatering causes rot. Underwatering causes small, cracked tubers.

Growing in Containers

Potatoes grow surprisingly well in large pots, grow bags, or even hessian sacks. Use at least a 40-litre container with drainage holes. Fill the bottom third with potting mix, place 3 to 4 seed potatoes on top, then cover with 10 cm of mix. Add more mix as the plants grow (the same hilling principle).

Container growing works especially well in warmer regions where in-ground soil temperatures get too hot. Move pots to shadier spots during heat waves. Ruby Lou and other early-maturing varieties are the best picks for containers.

Common Problems

Green tubers

Caused by exposure to sunlight. Hill up regularly and mulch well. Green potatoes contain solanine and should not be eaten.

Potato scab

Rough, corky patches on the skin. More common in alkaline soils. Keep soil pH between 5.0 and 6.0 and avoid adding lime near your potato patch. The tubers are still edible underneath the scab.

Late blight

Dark patches on leaves that spread quickly in wet, humid weather. Remove affected foliage immediately. Avoid overhead watering. In humid regions (SEQ, Northern Rivers, Darwin, North QLD), choose disease-resistant varieties and time planting to avoid the wettest months.

28-spotted ladybird

This is not the beneficial ladybird. The 28-spotted variety eats potato leaves, creating a lace-like pattern. Handpick adults and crush orange egg clusters on leaf undersides. Neem oil spray helps control heavy infestations.

Harvesting and Storage

Potatoes are ready when the foliage yellows and dies back, usually 14 to 20 weeks after planting depending on variety. For new potatoes (small, thin-skinned), dig a few out when the plants are still flowering.

For storage potatoes, wait until all foliage has died, then leave tubers in the ground for another 2 weeks. This lets the skins toughen up for longer storage. Dig carefully with a fork (not a spade) to avoid cutting tubers.

Cure harvested potatoes in a cool, dark, dry spot for a week before storing. Store in hessian or paper bags in a dark cupboard. Never refrigerate or store with onions. Well-cured potatoes store for 2 to 4 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

See also: Potato in the Plant Library

Related Guides

How to Grow Carrots

Composting Guide

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed