Growing Potatoes

Today we hear Keith’s top tips on growing potatoes! Keith assures us that potatoes are the easiest of all vegetables to grow!

• Potatoes can be grown at any time but they are frost tender so should be planted after the last frost (in Southern States or frost prone areas)
• Use certified ‘seed potatoes’ - this will ensure they are free from disease. Most non-organic potatoes found in supermarkets etc are sprayed with glyphosate 360 so should be avoided
• There are a number of different methods for growing potatoes:
  • Grown in your garden - Keith warns, you will have these together as they nearly impossible to get rid of
  • Use a designated garden bed - you will harvest approx 8-10 potatoes per plant
  • Grow in a potato bag using a good quality potting mix- Several on the market including Bunnings Potato Bag
  • Wire frame can be used by layering compost and straw
• Potatoes need consistent water but avoid being too wet to ensure potatoes don’t rot
• To ensure a good yield, add plenty of compost and other organic matter
• Keith recommends planting whole seed potato (not cut) covered with 200mm soil/compost as plants shoots cover with additional soil/compost or straw (indeterminate potatoes only)
• Indeterminate potatoes include - Brownell, Dutch Cream, Nicola, Up To Date, King Edward, Salad Rose, Pink Fir Apple, Potato Sapphire
• Determinate potatoes include - Spunta, Kennebec, Purple Congo, Pink Eye, Carlingford, Red Pontiac
• once potato plant’s flowers have died off, feel through to the stem where you will find ‘new potatoes’ (indeterminate varieties only). Once the plant has completely died off, leave for approx 2 weeks before harvesting.
• Store in cool dry place in hessian bag or wire basket away from sunlight.
• Pests include earwigs

Good luck with your home grown taties!

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