Description
Important Shipping Information
Seed potatoes cannot be sent to WA, TAS, or NT due to quarantine restrictions.
Potato ‘Nadine’ (Solanum tuberosum)
Potato ‘Nadine’ is an early maincrop, determinate variety that produces smooth, round, cream-skinned tubers with pale yellow flesh, offering a firm yet velvety texture and a mild, creamy flavour. Nadine holds its shape well when cooked, making it ideal for boiling, mashing, microwaving, salads, and roasting. As a determinate type, it produces tubers in a single layer and does not require hilling or mounding during growth. Thriving in vegetable beds, raised beds, and containers, it is a reliable, productive variety that performs well in a wide range of climates. Nadine typically matures in 90–120 days.
Best Planting Times by Climate
Potatoes are suitable for a wide range of climates and perform reliably when planted during the cooler months. Typically planted from autumn through to spring, they benefit from growing in cooler soil before summer heat arrives. For optimal growth, plant within the recommended windows below. Alternative planting times are possible, but may result in smaller yields.
• Cool Climates – August to February | Alternative: July, March–May
• Temperate Climates – August to October | Alternative: April–July, January
• Arid Climates – August to December | Alternative: May–July
• Subtropical Climates – August to October | Alternative: March–May
• Tropical Climates – March-May | Alternative: August–October
Frost Considerations
Potatoes prefer cool to warm conditions but are sensitive to frost. In areas with light frost, you can plant 2–3 weeks before the last expected frost, as sprouting takes time. In heavy frost zones, wait until conditions warm or pre-sprout seed potatoes indoors to get a head start. For early crops, use frost cloths, mulch, or grow bags in sheltered areas.
Chitting and Cutting Seed Potatoes
Chitting is the process of encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting. This helps them develop stronger shoots and begin growing faster once they are in the soil. While not essential, chitting is especially helpful for gardeners in frost-prone areas, as it gives the potatoes a head start.
Larger seed potatoes can be cut into pieces to increase the number of plants, but smaller potatoes should be planted whole to maintain strong yields. Always let cut pieces dry for 24 to 48 hours before planting to form a protective layer that lowers the risk of rot and disease. After chitting, some sprouts can be removed to focus the plant’s energy on fewer, larger potatoes, or left intact for a higher yield of smaller tubers. If cutting out sprouts, let the cut surface dry for 24 hours before planting to prevent rot.
How to Chit and Prepare:
• Place seed potatoes with the eyes facing up in a cool, dry, bright spot for 4–6 weeks until short, sturdy sprouts develop.
• Cut tubers after chitting, ensuring each piece has 1–2 eyes. Leave small potatoes whole.
• Once sprouts are about 1–2 cm long, either leave them intact or remove a few.
• Plant the seed potatoes once soil conditions are suitable.
Soil Requirements
Use loose, well-draining soil enriched with compost. For containers, use a quality potting mix blended 1:1 with compost. Containers should be at least 40 cm deep.
Location: Plant in full sun, ensuring they receive 6–8 hours of sunlight daily. In very hot climates or during periods of extreme heat, provide the plant with some afternoon shade to protect it from heat stress and sunburn.
How to Plant Potatoes
• Trenches: Dig 20–30 cm deep and 20 cm wide, spaced at least 50 cm apart. Add 10 cm of compost and scatter a complete fertiliser along the trench. Place seed potatoes 10–20 cm deep with the eyes facing up, spaced 30–45 cm apart. Cover with soil, water in well, and apply a light mulch.
• Raised Beds: Use the trench method, placing seed potatoes 10–20 cm deep and 20–30 cm apart. Adjust row spacing to fit your bed. Cover with soil, water in, and mulch.
• Containers/Grow Bags: Add 10 cm of blended potting mix and compost with fertiliser. Plant 1–2 seed potatoes per layer, spaced apart. Cover with 10 cm of soil, add a second layer if desired, and then top up with 10–15 cm of soil to fill the pot. Water them in well after planting and apply mulch.
Fertilising
Incorporate a complete fertiliser, such as blood and bone or a vegetable blend, into the soil at planting. Determinate potatoes grown in the ground often won’t need additional feeding, though a light mid-season top-up can be beneficial. In containers, nutrients deplete more quickly, so an extra feed may be required. Avoid over-fertilising, as it can lead to excessive leafy growth instead of tubers.
Mounding & Mulching
Determinate varieties produce all their tubers in a single layer. After shoots reach 5–10 cm, mound just enough soil or mulch, such as straw or hay, to cover any exposed tubers. No repeated mounding is typically needed, but check regularly to ensure tubers are not exposed, especially in wet conditions. Mulching helps retain moisture, suppresses weeds, and protects developing tubers from sunlight, promoting healthy growth.
Watering
Keep soil consistently moist. Dry spells can toughen the skins and increase the chance of scab. In hot or dry conditions, check the soil regularly, especially in pots. Stop watering 2–3 weeks before harvest to help firm the skins.
Harvesting
Potato ‘Nadine’ matures in 90–120 days, depending on the climate. For the main crop, stop watering when the foliage begins to yellow and die back. Leave the tubers in the soil for a further 2–3 weeks to allow the skins to firm. By this time, the foliage should have completely died back, and the crop will be ready to harvest. After lifting, dry the potatoes in a cool, shaded, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Store in mesh bags or breathable containers in a cool, dark, ventilated place, and use within a few months.
Bandicooting for Early Potatoes
Potatoes can be harvested as fresh new potatoes with thin skins and tender flesh before they reach full maturity. This process is called bandicooting. To harvest, gently dig around the base of the plant and remove a few young tubers. This can be done about two to three weeks after flowering, or from eight weeks onwards if the plants do not flower. These new potatoes are best eaten soon after harvesting, as they do not store well. Harvesting at this stage may slightly reduce the overall yield.
Pests & Diseases
• Common pests: Aphids, slugs, and wireworms.
• Diseases: Susceptible to blight and rot from poor drainage.
• Prevention: Rotate crops every 3–4 years, ensure good drainage, water at the base and remove infected plants promptly.
Green Potatoes
Exposed tubers can turn green due to exposure to sunlight and develop solanine, a naturally occurring toxin. To prevent this, ensure tubers are fully covered with soil or mulch during growth.
Caution: Do not eat green potatoes – they are toxic.
Supplied as dormant tubers.

