Potatoes Planting Guide

Potatoes are a versatile staple crop that produces tubers underground. They come in hundreds of varieties with varying colors, textures, and maturity dates.

Solanum tuberosum · Vegetable · Solanaceae family · 70–120 days to maturity

Get Your Personalized Potatoes Planting Dates

Enter your ZIP code to see exact planting dates, soil compatibility, and growing tips specific to your county.

Where Can You Grow Potatoes?

Zone Compatibility for Potatoes Zones 3a – 10b

1a 1b 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b 13a 13b

Ideal (data available) Suitable Marginal Not recommended

Planting Dates by Zone

Zone	Start Indoors	Direct Sow	Transplant	Harvest
Zone 3a	Mar 13	May 29	Jun 5	Aug 14 – Oct 9
Zone 3b	Mar 8	May 24	May 31	Aug 9 – Oct 4
Zone 4a	Mar 4	May 20	May 27	Aug 5 – Oct 14
Zone 4b	Feb 27	May 15	May 22	Jul 31 – Oct 9
Zone 5a	Feb 28	May 2	May 9	Jul 18 – Sep 26
Zone 5b	Feb 21	Apr 25	May 2	Jul 11 – Sep 19
Zone 6a	Feb 13	Apr 17	Apr 24	Jul 3 – Sep 11
Zone 6b	Feb 6	Apr 10	Apr 17	Jun 26 – Sep 4
Zone 7a	Feb 4	Apr 1	Apr 8	Jun 17 – Aug 26
Zone 7b	Jan 28	Mar 25	Apr 1	Jun 10 – Aug 19
Zone 8a	Jan 18	Mar 15	Mar 22	May 31 – Aug 9
Zone 8b	Jan 7	Mar 4	Mar 11	May 20 – Jul 29
Zone 9a	Dec 30	Feb 10	Feb 17	Apr 28 – Jul 7
Zone 9b	Dec 14	Jan 25	Feb 1	Apr 12 – Jun 21
Zone 10a	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 28
Zone 10b	Nov 20	Jan 1	Jan 8	Mar 19 – May 28

How to Plant Potatoes

Planting Depth

15"

Between Plants

24"

Between Rows

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.

🧪 Soil pH

5 – 6.5

Prefers slightly acidic soil. Most garden soils work well.

🗺️ Hardiness Zones

Zone 3a – 10b

📅 Days to Maturity

70–120 days

Medium-season crop. Start early for best results in shorter seasons.

👪 Plant Family

Solanaceae

Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Solanaceae family crops grew last year.

Succession Planting Potatoes

Potatoes matures in just 70–120 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 2 successive plantings by sowing every 8 weeks.

Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.

Companion Planting for Potatoes

✅ Good Companions

Green Beans Corn Cabbage Horseradish

❌ Keep Away From

Tomatoes Cucumber Squash Summer

Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Growing Tips for Potatoes

Plant seed potatoes (not grocery store potatoes) 4 inches deep in spring. Hill soil around stems as plants grow to prevent greening. Stop watering when plants die back.

💧 Watering: Potatoes needs approximately 1 inches of water per week during active growth. Adjust based on your local rainfall — check your county page for a monthly watering guide specific to your area.

Saving Potatoes Seeds

Recommended for Your Garden

🌱

Seed Starting Trays $8-20

Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.

🧪

Soil Test Kit $12-25

Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.

🏷️

Garden Plant Markers $6-12

Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.

Level Up Your Garden

Seed Saving & Storage Guide

Learn when to harvest, how to dry, and how to store seeds from 200 plants. Never buy seeds again.

Learn More →

Potatoes by State

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to grow Potatoes?

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) takes 70 to 120 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.

What zones can Potatoes grow in?

Potatoes can be grown in USDA zones 3a through 10b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.

How much sun does Potatoes need?

Growing Potatoes requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 5 to 6.5.

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