Potatoes Growing your own spuds is easier than you think with these unusual potato varieties. They are hardy and easy to grow, with a wonderful flavour whether eaten 'old' or 'new'. Expect a yield of approximately ten times the amount you plant. In order to achieve your own year-round planting stock, save tubers from your harvest in a cool, dark, dry place and replant as suits your climate zone. We will automatically substitute a different variety when sold out, unless you indicate otherwise.
Important Recommended planting time: Potatoes can be grown in many months of the year, depending on whether the garden receives frost, as potatoes are frost-tender. Potatoes need 60 to 90 days frost-free to be successfully harvested; potatoes harvested early as 'new' potatoes do not store well. 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.

Potato varieties can be either determinate or indeterminate, just as tomato plants are. The big difference between the two types is whether you need to mound the soil or not. Having said that, the majority of types available to the home gardener are indeterminate and so do need mounding.

Determinate Varieties
These types produce tubers in one layer just below the soil surface and so do not require mounding of the soil around them. They are usually less productive than indeterminate types but do produce spuds earlier, in about 70 to 90 days. If you live in a very cold climate these are the best choice. Plant determinate seed potatoes about 10 cm deep and mulch well. Available: 'Kipfler', 'Purple Congo'.

Indeterminate Varieties
These grow in multiple layers, so it is important to keep mounding soil around the plants, to give you the best yield. Indeterminate potatoes can take longer to produce a crop, about 80 to 120 days. Best preparation is to dig a shallow 20 cm x 20 cm trench, then plant indeterminate seed potatoes about 10 cm deep and progressively fill in the trench with the soil as they grow. Only mound spuds to a maximum of 30 cm above the original soil level. These are also the best choice if you are growing spuds in a tyre tower or potato bag.
Indeterminate types include: 'Desiree', 'Dutch Cream' 'Sebago'.

Determinate Varieties
These types produce tubers in one layer just below the soil surface and so do not require mounding of the soil around them. They are usually less productive than indeterminate types but do produce spuds earlier, in about 70 to 90 days. If you live in a very cold climate these are the best choice. Plant determinate seed potatoes about 10 cm deep and mulch well. Available: 'Kennebec', 'Kipfler', 'Purple Congo'.

Indeterminate Varieties
These grow in multiple layers, so it is important to keep mounding soil around the plants, to give you the best yield. Indeterminate potatoes can take longer to produce a crop, about 80 to 120 days. Best preparation is to dig a shallow 20 cm x 20 cm trench, then plant indeterminate seed potatoes about 10 cm deep and progressively fill in the trench with the soil as they grow. Only mound spuds to a maximum of 30 cm above the original soil level. These are also the best choice if you are growing spuds in a tyre tower or potato bag.
Indeterminate types include: 'Desiree', 'Dutch Cream', 'Nicola', 'Pontiac', 'Sebago'.

Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
If you live in an area that will grow raspberries then why wouldn't you? Raspberries are a luscious fruit for eating fresh or preparing as a wonderful dessert.
Raspberries are a berry fruit that grow as a herbaceous perennial. The fruit are produced on prickly stems (canes) on a shallow-rooted bush. Raspberries are grouped into two types, floricanes and primocanes.
Summer Fruiting varieties bear fruit on floricanes and include cultivars such as 'Willamette', 'Everbearer', 'Nootka', 'Chilcotin' and 'Tulameen'. These types of raspberries are better suited to cooler areas with low humidity. Fruit is produced from late November to early January on canes that grew the year before.
Autumn Fruiting varieties such as 'Heritage' and 'Autumn Bliss' produce fruit on current season's canes in autumn and are tolerant of a warmer climate.

Raspberries require a sunny position, sheltered from hot winds, but with good air drainage to reduce fungal problems. A deep, well-drained soil that is slightly acid, rich in organic is preferred. Keep the plants well mulched to prevent roots drying out and competing weed growth. Spray regularly with seaweed fertiliser to strengthen the plant and reduce fungal problems. A trellis should be erected at the time of planting to keep the canes and fruit off the ground. When tying plants to the trellis an open well-spaced arrangement will reduce fungal problems. Keep in mind bird and possum protection as absolutely everything loves raspberries!

Rhubarb tolerates partial shade and prefers a rich, well-drained soil. It is suitable for VIC, NSW and cooler areas of QLD. In humid areas, plant your rhubarb in a planter bag and move under an eave during the wet season. Contrary to popular belief 'red' is not a sign of sweetness in rhubarb, green stems are not only perfectly edible but can also be sweeter than red stems.
Rhubarb seeds are available.