edenhana

Potato

Traditionally planted around Labour Weekend in most regions; mound soil up around stems as they grow to protect developing tubers from light.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
30cm
Harvest
Ready in 90-120 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
1-2kg per seed potato planted
Cost to grow
~$15 NZD
Grocery value
~$60 NZD
Companion plants
Beans, Cabbages, Eggplants, Peas, Sweetcorn
Plants to avoid nearby
Cucumber, Pumpkin, Squash, Sunflower, Tomatoes
Common diseases
Late blight, Potato scab
Common pests
Potato tuber moth, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: August-December. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: August-November. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: September-November.

Growing stages

  1. Planting & shoot emergence

    • Traditionally planted around Labour Weekend once soil has warmed
    • Chitted (pre-sprouted) seed potatoes emerge faster and more evenly than unsprouted ones
    • Slugs can attack emerging shoots in wet soil

  2. Foliage growth & mounding

    • Mound soil up around stems as they grow to protect developing tubers from light
    • Aphids can target foliage
    • Late blight can appear on leaves in warm, humid, wet weather

  3. Tuber development

    • Keep mounding soil as tubers form to stop them greening (green tubers are toxic)
    • Potato scab risk increases in dry, alkaline soil during this stage
    • Consistent moderate watering helps tubers size up evenly

  4. Harvest90-120 days from planting

    • Ready from about 90-120 days; foliage dying back signals maturity
    • Potato tuber moth can damage exposed tubers, so lift promptly once ready
    • Cut back dying foliage before lifting to limit late blight spreading down to the tubers

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