Grow Well Guides

Potatoes

The humble potato is staple vegetable that is used in many New Zealand dishes and is extremely versatile. Plant early season varieties in September to enjoy home-grown potatoes for Christmas.

Planting Calendar

Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring

Potatoes can be planted from July until February, depending on the type and variety of potato.

Harvest In

60 - 150 Days

Potatoes are classified into two main crops, early and main. Early varieties are ready to harvest when the flowers are fully open, usually around 3 months after planting. Main crop varieties are ready when the foliage dies off all together, which is often twice that of long as early croppers. Using a garden fork carefully lift your Potatoes from the ground. If the skin can easily be rubbed off, then although they may be ready to eat, they are not ready if you are wanting to store them. If so, leave them for a little longer in the ground while the skins cure. They can be stored in a cool, dark place, just make sure they are dry, and they can last up to six months.

Prepare

As soon as you purchase your seed potatoes, place them in a warm spot for up to four weeks until their ‘eyes’ have produced 20mm sprouts, which is also known as ‘chitting’.

Position

Potatoes need plenty of sunlight and a free draining soil to grow effectively.

Soil

When planted into the ground Potatoes like a deep free draining soil that is rich in organic matter. To improve the organic content in your soil, break up the soil and add Kings Compost and Kings Sheep Pellets then mix together well. Before planting your potatoes add a 20cm layer of Living Earth Organic Veggie mix to plant your potatoes into. When growing in containers, plant into Living Earth Organic Veggie Mix.

Plant

When planting, work lots of Kings Organic Compost and Kings Potato Food into your soil – the richer the soil the bigger the crop will be. Plant Kings Seed Potatoes at 30cm apart in 5cm deep trenches, with each trench being 60cm apart. Cover the trenches with soil and as sprouts emerge, mound extra soil up around the stems as they grow. Do this mounding several times until at least 30cm of soil has been added, as this will encourage more tubers to form up the stems.

Care

Watering

Plants need to be kept well watered for the development of good potatoes, especially when the plant is flowering. Deeply water each plant individually, as this is more beneficial than a light watering with a sprinkler.

Feeding

Potatoes are heavy feeders, so apply an application of Kings Potato Food once every six weeks as the tubers are developing.

Protecting

Crop rotation is important as growing potatoes (and other vegetables) in the same place year after year can cause a build up of soil insect pests and a lack in key nutrients. Protect against slugs and snails with Tui quash.

Spraying

If weather conditions are wet and humid then preventative spraying with a fungicide such as FreeFlo Copper is advisable to keep blight at bay. Spray with Success Ultra to keep Potato Psyllid under control.

General Care

When using sprays, chemicals or fertilisers always read the label and follow the instructions. Apply sprays in the evening to avoid harming beneficial insects.

Expert Tip

Crop rotation is the technique of planting crops in a different area of the garden so that no single crop will be planted in the same place two—or more—years in a row.

Tip

If space is an issue in your veggie garden, or even if you want to give potatoes a try on your deck or balcony, potatoes can be grown in pots or bags, specifically designed to grow Potatoes. Plant in Organic Veggie Mix and be sure to feed and water well during hot periods.

Top Varieties

Early Crop

Early Crop

Early Crop varieties include Rocket, Cliff Kidney, Jersey Bennes.

Main Crop

Main Crop

Main Crop varieties include Agria, Desiree, Nadine, Rua and can take up to 100-140 days to mature.

Late Crop

Late Crop

Late Crop varieties include Moonlight and Desire.

Second Early

Second Early crops takes up to 80-140 days to mature. These include Allura, Ilham Hardy, Karaka

What you need to Grow Well

Frequently Asked Questions