Your comments and tips

03 Jan 10, Janet (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks Chris. It's got very hot here and all the plants have died down so I've been "bandicooting"! around and had some good feeds so far. I now trying to decide whether to dig all up and store, or leave some in the ground for a while - any thoughts? Also, if leaving in do I continue to water?

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02 Jan 10, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Matthew, you are best to buy 'seed potato' from a nursery or an online seed provider - that way they are certified free of disease. These are potatoes with sprouts, and they usually come with instructions.

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03 Aug 13, Baz (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi does anyone know where I can but Kestrel seed potatoes from

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02 Jan 10, courtney (Australia - temperate climate)

Matthew, you can go to a nursery and buy potatoes that are called seed potatoes but they still look like potatoes, they are just a healthier version of what you get in the super market. they will grow a plant no matter which one you use just sprout them or use ones that already sprouted in your cupboard like the instructions above suggest.

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01 Jan 10, Matthew (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I am about to start potatoes for the first time. I know this may sound stupid but do I use a patato that sprouts to plant or can I get seeds?? Just starting this vegie thing now.

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30 Dec 09, gwen kerr (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

when do you know when to harvest potatoes

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29 Dec 09, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Janet, those fruit on the potatoes are potato berries - they are poisonous and should just be left. You shouldn't need to stake the plants, but you might have fed them a bit much nitrogen if they are growing tons of leaf. You've probably got new potatoes you can harvest now if you feel around ('bandicoot') under the plants, otherwise just leave until the plants die off to harvest full-sized potatoes.

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14 Dec 09, Janet (Australia - temperate climate)

I've not had much success with potatoes in the past. My present crop seems to be OK but should I stake the plants as they are falling all over the place even though I've been adding more soil and straw. Also little bunches of green"fruit" have appeared on some plants. Anyone know what these are?

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02 Dec 09, Graeme (Australia - temperate climate)

Mary, I'm growing potatoes for the first time this year and the heat knocked mine around as well. However, with plenty of watering and the cool change we've had this week, they have come back.

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26 Nov 09, adam synnott (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Teashy, potatoes often resprout after a shock like that, have faith, and they could be okay. In my climate, they often get frosted off completely, but then come back from the dead. Mary, potatoes have a really hard time in the tropics/sub tropics. I think there will be some years when there is just too much against them. This year seems to be a bit hotter than normal, so maybe they have a few too many bugs this year, combined with the unusual heat, it could just be a year to concentrate on other crops. If you plant them in the shade, they will do a lot better. It isn't too late to plant some fresh ones, and don't put them in direct sunlight. They are quite tenacious, and will grow in quite low light. The reason they didn't develop more taters is, as you rightly point out, that they just didn't have the time to grow to their full potential.

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