Root Vegetable

When to Plant Potatoes

Incredibly satisfying to grow. There's nothing quite like digging up your own potatoes — it's like buried treasure.

Sun

Full sun (6-8 hours)

Water

1-2 inches per week

Days to Harvest

70-120

Difficulty

beginner

Spacing

12"

Frost Tolerance

low

The Short Answer

Potatoes are best direct sown when soil temperature reaches at least 45°F. Plant 2 weeks before your average last frost date. Enter your zip code on our homepage tool for exact dates.

How to Grow Potatoes

Potatoes are the most calorie-efficient crop you can grow — more calories per square foot than any other vegetable. The 'hilling' technique (mounding soil around stems as they grow) increases yield by creating more underground stem surface for tuber formation. Green patches on potatoes contain solanine (toxic) — they're caused by light exposure, which hilling prevents. Seed potatoes from a garden center are certified disease-free; grocery store potatoes may carry diseases and are often treated with sprout inhibitors.

Direct Sowing

Potatoes can be direct sown 2 weeks before your last frost date. Plant seeds 4" deep, spaced 12" apart.

Growing Tips

Plant seed potatoes (not grocery store potatoes) 2-3 weeks before last frost. Hill soil around stems as they grow to increase yield.

Companion Planting

Good companions:

Beans Corn Cabbage Marigolds

Keep away from:

Tomatoes Squash Sunflowers

Potatoes Planting Dates by State

Click your state for potatoes planting dates specific to your location:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Planting dates are based on average frost dates from NOAA Climate Normals (30-year averages). Actual conditions vary year to year. Always check your local forecast before planting frost-sensitive crops.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026