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Growing Potatoes: Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Potatoes

The taste and texture of homegrown potatoes are far superior to those of store-bought spuds! Garden “taters” also provide a bounty of nutrients. Here’s how to grow and harvest potatoes in your home garden.

About Potatoes

The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a member of the nightshade family, which includes tomato, pepper, and eggplant. This cool-weather vegetable typically yields bigger crops in the northern portion of the U.S., however, they can be grown as a winter crop in warmer climates.

The edible part of the potato is the underground “tuber” which is an enlarged underground storage portion of the potato plant. The tuber develops from underground stems called stolons once the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall, or around 5 to 7 weeks after planting.

Potatoes are an ancient vegetable that was first documented by the Incas in Peru. According to the Maine Potato Board, this vegetable arrived in the American Colonies in 1621 when the Governor of Bermuda sent potatoes to the Governor of Virginia at Jamestown.

Now America’s #1 vegetable, potatoes are a fat-free, cholesterol-free source of carbohydrates (energy). But it’s the skin that you should not discard; the skin provides 45% of your daily vitamin C and 18% of potassium, as well as thiamin, riboflavin, folate, niacin, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.

Learn more about planting potatoes below. 

Planting

Plant potatoes in a sunny place with at least 6 hours of directly sunlight each day. The tubers need to grow in fertile, loose, well-drained soil; hard or compacted soil leads to misshapen tubers. Ideally, soil is slightly acid (pH 5.8 to 6.5) and the soil temperature is at least 45º to 55ºF  (7° to 13°C). Before planting (preferably in the fall), mix compost or organic matter into the soil. Learn more about compost, soil amendments, and preparing soil for planting.)

When to Plant Potatoes

Garden potatoes can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked. For many gardeners, this is about 2 weeks after the last spring frost. But aware that early crops may be ruined by soil that’s too wet as the potato seeds will rot. Pay more attention to the soil than the calendar to determine planting time. The soil should not be so wet that it sticks together and is hard to work. Let it dry out a bit first. If you have a late and wet spring, you can plant later—through April (depending on location) or even June, especially in containers. 

In cooler regions, some gardeners will plant the first crop of “early-maturing” potatoes in early to mid-April, 6 to 8 weeks before the average last frost date. These varieties can withstand frost.

In warmer regions, potatoes can be grown as a winter crop and planting times range from September to February. Where winters are relatively mild, you can plant a fall crop in September. For example, in central Florida, gardeners plant potatoes in January, and in Georgia they plant in February.

See our Planting Guide for the best dates to plant by zip code or postal code.

How to Plant Potatoes

Note: Potatoes are usually planted in the ground, but they also can be grown in large containers or baskets. The same planting information applies.

Use certified (disease-resistant) seed potatoes from which eyes (buds) protrude. (Do not confuse seed potatoes with potato seeds or grocery produce.

Preparing seed potatoes for planting. Photo by tanyss/Getty Images.

How and When to Harvest Potatoes

All garden potatoes are harvested late in the growing season, but exactly when to harvest depends on how you will use them. Potatoes that you will  eat immediately, called new potatoes, are harvested sooner than potatoes that you plan to cure for storage over the winter.

Potatoes, like all root crops, are harvested most efficiently by digging them up. They can be bruised with rough handling so a little extra care is needed if you plan to store your spuds.

Here's how and when to harvest both kinds of potatoes.

When to Harvest Potatoes

Once you've planted your seed potatoes in cool but mostly frost-free weather (they can tolerate a very light frost), they'll need as many cool days as possible before harvesting. The flowers and foliage determine when to best harvest your crop. Harvest baby potatoes (new potatoes) two to three weeks after they've finished flowering, and harvest potatoes for storing (mature potatoes) two to three weeks after the plant's foliage has died back.

Harvesting New Potatoes

New potatoes are small, tender potatoes that are harvested and eaten right away. They do not store well. When the plants finish flowering, dig around the edges of the plant with a garden fork and lever up the bundle of potatoes to expose them. (You're less likely to cut the tubers if you use a garden fork instead of a shovel.) Typically, the potatoes are about 4 inches to 6 inches deep in the soil. If you are careful, smaller potatoes can be left in place and gently replanted to allow them to continue growing.

While they are normally eaten right away, new potatoes can be stored for several months, but they won't keep as long as fully ripened and cured potatoes. Store new potatoes in a dark location at a temperature of 38 to 40 degrees.

The Spruce / K. Dave

Harvesting Ripened Potatoes for Storage

To harvest large, mature potatoes for storage, let the plant continue to grow after blooming. Keep hilling up the soil or add mulch around the plants so the tubers aren't exposed to sunlight. Once the foliage has died back at the top dig up your tubers with a garden fork. The proper month for harvest will depend on the potato type and your particular growing region, but it is usually August or September. Don't worry if the plants have been killed by hard frost, as the first aboveground frost won't affect the tubers. However, keeping them in the cold ground too long can cause the potatoes to freeze so harvest soon after the foliage dies back.

Potatoes grown in containers may be ready for harvest somewhat earlier than in-ground potatoes, due to the fact that the soil tends to be somewhat warmer. But the signal for beginning the harvest is the same—wait until the foliage dies back.

Check the potatoes for ripeness by rubbing the skins with your thumb. If they are fully ripe and suitable for long-term storage, the skins won't rub off under thumb pressure. If you harvest them too early, they will not be fully ripe and should be regarded as "new" and eaten soon.

Mature potatoes can be washed and eaten immediately, but if you plan to store them, don't wash the potatoes; just let them sit out in a shaded location in single layer for a couple of weeks to fully cure. Then, brush off any dry soil, and store in a dark, cool place at 38 to 40 degrees. Stored potatoes should also be kept dry, so the refrigerator is not a good option. Discard any potatoes that have damaged skins (or eat them right away). Damaged potatoes won't keep as long in storage. Potatoes that have been fully cured and ripened in the ground may keep for several months. Avoid exposing them to light during curing and storage as this will turn the potatoes green.

Warning

Potato tubers and sprouts that are green in color contain solanine, which is highly toxic and can cause intestinal distress and even central nervous system problems if eaten in large quantities. Never eat the potato skins that are green in color or green eyes and shoots.

Keep Some Potatoes for Replanting

If desired, keep some as "seeds" for replanting potatoes in the spring. Three to four weeks before planting time, bring your seed potatoes out into a warm, sunny area, and cover them with moist burlap or moistened paper towels. Soon, the eyes will begin to grow green shoots. When planting time comes, cut large potatoes into 2-ounce segments so that each segment contains a sprout. Let the potato pieces sit out for a few days, cut side up. This allows a protective skin to form on the exposed flesh and helps to prevent disease. Once the cut side has turned dark, plant the pieces with the eye or sprout pointing up. Each potato segment will produce an entire hill of potatoes in a few months.

The Spruce / K. Dave

Why potatoes dream: interpretation of dreams about potatoes

Potato in Miller's dream book

This vegetable symbolizes not only unforeseen, but also unpleasant events. If the tubers were rotten, then the negativity that came into your life will be protracted, you can say goodbye to the previous positive and happy period in life. But this is where the negative interpretations of dreams about potatoes end. Planting and digging potatoes promise success and fulfillment of dreams, cooking a dish promises a new good job, eating in any form indicates a solid benefit received. nine0005

Potato in Vanga's dream book

The appearance of potatoes in a dream should be associated with an improvement in financial situation. If you yourself dug up the tubers with a shovel, then you have a chance to move to a more profitable position, but this will require a lot of effort. If you didn’t see any details of the digging process, you may be lucky and you will get a promotion at work or an increase in salary.

Potato in the Islamic dream book

It does not matter in what context you dreamed about this vegetable. In any case, it symbolizes that serious troubles and hard work are ahead of you, while the return will be scanty, and fate will not spoil you. nine0015 Why do potatoes dream according to Freud's dream book
Potato tuber symbolizes the female body, and the tops, respectively, craving for it. For women, both the first and the second images speak of an internal interest in same-sex relationships.

A raw root crop reflects a fear of intimacy. Planting potatoes also signals this. Most often, such a dream comes to people who have only recently reached puberty, and this explains fears and worries.

Rotten potatoes warn of future diseases (up to infertility). nine0005 Be careful: a rotten potato in your dream is a sign of trouble! Photo: globallookpress.com

Potato in Loff's dream book

It is very difficult to generalize what potatoes are dreaming of. What matters is its appearance, taste, quality, as well as what actions were performed with the root crop.

So, a good harvest of large potatoes, packaged in nets or bags, portends a well-fed and cloudless life, if not luxurious. But small tubers are a symbol of tears and troubles. One reassures - they will not have serious consequences for you. nine0005

If in a dream you find yourself in a potato field and realize that it is time to harvest it, then be careful - someone else can take advantage of the successful results of your labors. To get a better idea of ​​what field of activity we are talking about (for example, related to work or a large purchase), analyze the details: who owned the field, whether you planned to work there, were there any obstacles - bad weather, lack of assistants or equipment, etc. similar.

If it turns out that the field is someone else's, but you still dig it up, then your labors will be in vain, despite all efforts. Also, such a dream may inform that you risk making a mistake when choosing a job (if you have not already made it). nine0005

Did you peel the potatoes? Rejoice - pleasant changes will occur in your life, though not immediately. The cleaner and larger the tubers, the faster this will happen. A rotten potato, on the contrary, postpones the improvement of the life situation until at least next year.

Did you cook or eat potatoes? Appearance and taste are important. A beautiful dish (and it doesn’t matter what it is, even if it’s a banal fry) is a good sign. Maybe not right away, but life will get better.

Potato in the dream book of Nostradamus

Spaniards were the first Europeans to learn about potatoes. In 1565, they sailed to South America to look for gold, and instead they found powdery, very tasty roots. This vegetable began to penetrate other countries in the middle of the 17th century. So the French soothsayer could not talk about potatoes, since he died in 1566.

If you most of all trust Nostradamus's dream book, then look for interpretations of dreams about other vegetables and see what information correlates with what is happening in your life. nine0005

Potato in Tsvetkov's dream book

If you were digging potatoes in a dream, then you will have a thankless job that will take a lot of strength, both physical and moral. And if you ate dishes from it, then this is a reflection of your dissatisfaction with something.

Potato in the Esoteric dream book

Just seeing a potato is a sign that you will not need anything. You should prepare for the arrival of guests from afar after you dream that you cooked this vegetable or cooked it in any other way. But work in the field or garden, during which you planted or dug potatoes, are harbingers of large amounts of work. nine0005

Dream Interpretation to collect Potatoes 😴 dreamed of why you dream of collecting Potatoes in a dream?

AND B AT G D E AND W And To L M H O P R With T At F X C H W SCH E YU I AM

→ Dream interpretation №❶ → K → ➨ Potatoes, potatoes

Dream interpretation to collect Potatoes

What does sleep from Tuesday to Wednesday mean?

Felomen's dream book

Why dream of picking Potatoes in a dream from a dream book?

Dream Interpretation considers the collection of potatoes as a profit or other reward for work. Now is the time to evaluate the merit, you deserve the benefits you receive. nine0005

Your efforts and efforts will not go unnoticed. Everything that you have done for the public good will receive recognition and a well-deserved reward.

How did you pick potatoes?

What kind of potatoes did you pick?

Where did you pick potatoes?

SLEEP DETAILS

How did you pick potatoes?

Why dream of picking potatoes with your hands▼

Dreaming of picking potatoes with your hands is a favorable sign. You can safely take on a long-cherished idea or plan - good luck will accompany any endeavors. nine0005

What kind of potatoes did you pick?

I dreamed that I was picking large potatoes▼

A dream in which you are picking large potatoes is extremely positive. Prosperity will reign in all spheres of life. All started cases will be able to bring to the intended result.

Harvest potatoes in a dream▼

Harvest potatoes in a dream - in reality rest on our laurels after the work done. All efforts will be rewarded and noticed by both others and management. The present and the future will be presented in warm colors. nine0005

Where did you pick potatoes?

Collecting potatoes from the ground in a dream▼

Why dream of collecting potatoes from the ground? Dreaming is a good sign. Soon you will be able to make a profit and start enjoying life.

Why dream of picking potatoes in the field▼

If you dreamed that you were picking potatoes in the field, be more attentive to your health. It can soon seriously fail, the development of the disease is not excluded. nine0005

Read more full interpretation of sleep Potatoes, potatoes →

Sleep theme: Vegetables

Tatyana Miller

AUTHOR OF THE DREAM BOOK

The ability to interpret dreams is a valuable gift, because sometimes it is in a dream that consciousness gives us the deepest and most important clues.

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