🥔When to Plant Potato (2026)
Plant seed potatoes a couple weeks before the last frost.
- Type: Cool-season
- Method: Direct sow
- Days to harvest: 90
- Spacing: 12" apart
- Sun: Full sun
- Companions: beans, corn, cabbage
Is Potato right for your USDA zone?
Potato is a cool-season crop, which means it thrives in the mild temperatures of spring and fall. Gardeners in zones 3a through 7b get the longest potato season — you can plant in early spring and again in late summer for a fall harvest. In warmer zones (8a-10b), grow potato as a winter crop from October through February when temperatures are coolest.
Potato needs about 90 days from sowing to harvest, so any zone with at least 104frost-free days can grow it successfully. Check your zone's specific dates in the table below.
How to grow potato
Potato grows best when direct-sown right where it will mature, because it dislikes having its roots disturbed. Give each plant 12 inches of room in full sun, and keep the soil consistently moist while seeds germinate and plants establish.
Expect roughly 90 days to your first harvest. Watch for colorado potato beetle, blight, the most common pests of potato, and scout plants weekly so you can act early. Hill soil around stems when plants reach 6 inches tall—buried stem sections produce more tubers via stolons. Repeat every 2-3 weeks until the mound is 8-10 inches high. This can double your yield.
Troubleshooting potato
Colorado potato beetles (yellow-and-black striped) strip foliage rapidly. Hand-pick adults daily and crush orange egg clusters on leaf undersides. Rotate planting areas yearly—beetles overwinter in soil.
Growing potato in containers
Grow bags or 15-gallon fabric pots are ideal—fill with 6 inches of soil, plant seed potatoes, and add soil as plants grow. Harvest by simply dumping the bag out. No digging required.
Potato planting dates by zone (2026)
| Zone | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3a | — | May 1 | Jul 30 |
| Zone 3b | — | May 1 | Jul 30 |
| Zone 4a | — | Apr 26 | Jul 25 |
| Zone 4b | — | Apr 21 | Jul 20 |
| Zone 5a | — | Apr 16 | Jul 15 |
| Zone 5b | — | Apr 11 | Jul 10 |
| Zone 6a | — | Apr 6 | Jul 5 |
| Zone 6b | — | Apr 1 | Jun 30 |
| Zone 7a | — | Mar 27 | Jun 25 |
| Zone 7b | — | Mar 22 | Jun 20 |
| Zone 8a | — | Mar 11 | Jun 9 |
| Zone 8b | — | Mar 1 | May 30 |
| Zone 9a | — | Feb 11 | May 12 |
| Zone 9b | — | Jan 27 | Apr 27 |
| Zone 10a | — | Jan 17 | Apr 17 |
| Zone 10b | — | Jan 1 | Apr 1 |
Potato planting FAQ
When is the best time to plant potato?
Potato is a cool-season crop. Plant it in early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, and again in late summer for a fall harvest. It tolerates light frost. Find the exact date for your USDA zone in the table below.
How long does potato take to grow?
Potato takes about 90 days from sowing to first harvest. It is best direct-sown rather than transplanted.
How far apart should I space potato?
Space potato about 12 inches apart in full sun. Proper spacing gives roots room to spread and improves airflow, which reduces disease.
What is the best growing tip for potato?
Hill soil around stems when plants reach 6 inches tall—buried stem sections produce more tubers via stolons. Repeat every 2-3 weeks until the mound is 8-10 inches high. This can double your yield.
What are common problems with potato?
Colorado potato beetles (yellow-and-black striped) strip foliage rapidly. Hand-pick adults daily and crush orange egg clusters on leaf undersides. Rotate planting areas yearly—beetles overwinter in soil.
Can I grow potato in a container?
Grow bags or 15-gallon fabric pots are ideal—fill with 6 inches of soil, plant seed potatoes, and add soil as plants grow. Harvest by simply dumping the bag out. No digging required.
Can I plant potato for a second harvest?
Not typical—one crop per season. But you can plant early varieties (70-day) in spring and late varieties (100+ day) simultaneously for a staggered harvest from July through September.
What grows well with potato?
Good companion plants for potato are beans, corn, cabbage. Companion planting can deter pests and make better use of garden space. Rotate where you plant potato each year to keep soil healthy.