When to Plant Potato in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow July to November. Right now in September you can sow.

Also called spud.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This Potato guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

Potato

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Potatoes are Australia's most important vegetable crop and one of the most rewarding to grow at home. They are grown from certified seed potatoes (not true seed), produce generous yields in most climates, and store well. Planting times vary dramatically by zone, with subtropical growers planting in autumn/winter and temperate growers in spring.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
- - - - - - D D D D D -

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

Want a nudge when it is Potato sowing time in Melbourne?

One email a week with what is worth planting in the Cool Temperate zone right now, Potato included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.

Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 8–25°C) ✓ Ready to plant

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

How to Grow Potato in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

Plant September-December. Main planting October-November after frost risk passes. Harvest January-April.

Soil
Well-drained, loose, fertile loam enriched with compost. Slightly acidic soil reduces scab. Avoid waterlogged or compacted soil. Do not lime potato beds.
pH Range
5.0-6.0
Sunlight
Full sun (minimum 6 hours)
Spacing
35cm apart, 70cm between rows
Watering
Consistent moisture is critical during tuber formation (flowering stage). Water deeply 2-3 times per week during dry periods. Reduce watering as foliage yellows and dies back. Irregular watering cause

Companion plants: Beans, Peas, Horseradish, Marigold, Basil

Avoid planting near: Tomato, Eggplant, Capsicum (shares diseases), Pumpkin

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for Potato

Recommended Varieties

  • Kipfler
  • Dutch Cream
  • Desiree
  • Nicola
  • Pink Eye

Key Challenges

  • Frost damage to early plantings
  • Late blight in wet years
  • Short growing season for late varieties

Pro Tips

  • Melbourne's climate is ideal for potatoes. This is Australia's potato heartland
  • Plant after last frost (typically mid-October)
  • Grow in bags, raised beds, or traditional rows

Harvesting Potato

When ready: Foliage yellows and dies back naturally. For 'new' potatoes, harvest when plants are flowering (about 10-12 weeks). For storage potatoes, wait 2-3 weeks after foliage has completely died to allow skins to set.

How to harvest: Use a garden fork inserted 30cm from the stem to avoid spearing tubers. Lift carefully and remove tubers by hand. Leave harvested potatoes on the soil surface for 1-2 hours to dry (no longer or they will green). Brush off soil but do not wash until ready to use.

Worth growing?

A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 12 plants, about $26 worth at today’s Aldi, Coles, IGA and Woolworths prices, checked today.

That is roughly 12 kg at $2.16 a kilo.

Draw your potato bed → No account needed.

Common Potato Pests in Cool Temperate Zones

Late Blight, risk: MODERATE (score: 45/100)

Organic prevention: Remove crop debris after harvest. Check seedlings daily in spring for early detection. Encourage parasitic wasps (Pediobius foveolatus). Avoid growing near other solanaceous crops.

View all pest alerts →

Where to next

What potato costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

The pest most likely to find your potato: Late Blight.

Supermarket Price

Current average retail: $2.16/kg (12-month range: $0.80–$5.33)

Grow your own and save on grocery bills.

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Common Questions About Potato

When do you plant potato in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does potato grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jul to Nov. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

What else is potato called?

Potato is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it spud. Same plant, same growing advice.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.