Absolutely. But the reason for planting potatoes in autumn will differ greatly depending on where you live. If you live where winters are mild, you probably want to plant potatoes in fall so that you can take advantage of the cooler season and harvest in winter.
Potatoes are not hardy plants, so in general they are planted in spring from mid March to late April and can be harvested anywhere between June and October.
Planting and harvesting potatoes in Australia
In cool climates, plant potatoes between July-August. Potatoes can be harvested between 90-120 days from planting. In warm climates, harvest potatoes between June-August and in cool climates harvest between December-February.
Most gardeners plant in March, April or May, and expect a harvest about four months later, starting to dig new potatoes about two to three weeks after plants flower.
They usually take 12 to 20 weeks to grow depending on the potatoes you choose, so if you want to eat potatoes in the summer, plant them in early spring. Did you know? Unlike other plants, potatoes grow downwards so the part we eat is at the bottom with the roots.
Sowing Seed
In South Australia, potatoes can be planted at almost any time of the year. They tend to do best when planted in in late winter/ early spring or late summer/autumn. Potatoes grow better in the cooler weather of spring and autumn and may become stressed during the hottest parts of summer.
After the greenery has died back, potatoes can stay in the ground for several days, if the conditions are right. As long as the soil is dry, and the temperature is above freezing, you don't have to harvest potatoes immediately. But it is best to dig them up within a few days to prevent rotting.
You can leave them in the ground until needed, and they will keep growing larger, but the longer they're in the soil, the more likely they are to get damaged by slugs. Dig up potatoes carefully, inserting your fork at least 30cm (1ft) away from the base of the plant to avoid spearing the tubers.
A: If the potatoes are still firm and the skin is not green, yes, then you may certainly eat them. When you harvest them, inspect them for diseased looking tubers. If the potatoes appear fine, then yes, you can also use them to start new potatoes.
It takes about three to four months until Potatoes are ready for harvesting. A few weeks after flowering, plants will start to die down.
Rocket is the fastest producing of early varieties and provides a good yield. Great for growing in containers. Rocket is a good boiling potato with waxy texture.
In regions with mild winters, potatoes can be grown outdoors and planted at the end of summer or the beginning of fall. However, hard freezes or heavy snow can damage or kill potatoes. In regions with harsher winters, you should avoid growing potatoes outdoors during winter.
As a general rule, if the plant is healthy, you can expect to dig up about five or six full-size potatoes. Every potato plant will most likely have a bunch of smaller, baby-size potatoes as well.
Radish. Radishes are probably the fastest growing vegetable in your garden, being ready to pick in as little as 30 days from planting the seeds. Their peppery flavor is a hit on the vegetable tray or added to a fresh lettuce salad.
Potatoes always do best in full sun. They are aggressively rooting plants, and we find that they will produce the best crop when planted in a light, loose, well-drained soil. Potatoes prefer a slightly acid soil with a PH of 5.0 to 7.0.
Leave time between tillage and planting to allow green matter to break down; 2-6 weeks is a good time frame. 2 Weeks Before Planting: In the southeast, we typically plant our potatoes in March. Consider waking up your potatoes in mid-February by green-sprouting them for several weeks before planting.
Potatoes grow best in well-drained, sandy soil. A poorly drained soil is more likely to produce diseased tubers. Have your soil tested. The ideal soil pH level for potatoes is somewhat acidic, between 6 and 6.5, but they will tolerate soil with pH as low as 5.
In northern NSW and QLD one of the best planting times is March-April, as the soil is warm, growth is rapid and there are generally less pests. For frosty areas, potatoes can be planted in early spring, shortly before the last expected frost.
When stored in a cool, dark place, (warmer than the fridge but colder than the average temperature of your kitchen) whole, uncooked potatoes can last up to two months. At room temperature, on the counter, for example, potatoes will last up to two weeks.
Growing with tyres is simple. Place a tyre on a sheet of cardboard, put in a few chitted potatoes and cover with earth. When the plants grow high enough, add more earth and another tyre and so on, until you get a stack of tyres bursting with spuds.
In moderate or cold climates, potatoes can stay in the ground until the soil freezes in late fall or early winter. Some folks have success heavily mulching (with mulch like straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves) the patch to keep the soil from freezing and dig potatoes all winter long.
Early and maincrop potatoes can be sprouted inside before planting in the garden, this is known as 'chitting'
Cure potatoes at a temperature of 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and high relative humidity (85 to 95 percent) for two weeks. Healing of minor cuts and bruises and thickening of the skin occurs during the curing process. Once cured, sort through the potatoes and discard any soft, shriveled, or blemished tubers.