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When to Plant Potatoes in Bollinger County, MO

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

Bollinger County, Missouri is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 1,095 feet, Bollinger County receives approximately 37.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Potatoes during the growing season.

Bollinger County, MO (Zone 6b) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

Bollinger County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Sep 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (48 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 11 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (50 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 24

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Bollinger County

How your county's soil matches Potatoes's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4โ€“7.1) overlaps with Potatoes's range (5.0โ€“6.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Bollinger County is excellent for Potatoes โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Potatoes.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.8%). Annual compost additions will help Potatoes.

How to Plant Potatoes

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Potatoes

3
successive plantings in your 202-day season

Sow every 8 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 29 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Potatoes needs ~1,591 GDD — county provides 3,383 GDD Excellent fit

Potatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Bollinger County, MO

Potatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 11 Feb 11 โ€“ Feb 25
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 โ€“ May 6
Direct Sow April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ May 6
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Sep 9

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

70โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 5โ€“6.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

202 days in Bollinger County

Growing Tips for Potatoes in Bollinger County

Direct sow Potatoes outdoors after April 08 in Bollinger County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Potatoes in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Tomatoes
  • Cucumber
  • Squash Summer

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Potatoes in Bollinger County, MO?

Bollinger County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Potatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bollinger County, MO?

Bollinger County, Missouri is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bollinger County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Bollinger County, MO. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.