When to Plant Potatoes: How to Grow Potatoes in the US
Updated October 2026
A cool-season root crop for the home garden.
Potato is a rewarding cool-season crop for backyard growers.
What it looks like as it grows
🌱 Plant profile: Potato, with sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.
When to Plant Potatoes in Your Region
Potatoes are a cool-season crop that dislikes both hard frost and summer heat, so planting time swings widely across the country: late winter in North and Central Florida and the Gulf South, fall and winter in South Florida and the low desert, and spring, from April to June, in the North and the Mountain West. The Mid-Atlantic, the Southern Plains and the Pacific Northwest can also plant a second crop in late summer. These are the planting months for each of our 18 regions, with each region's frost window. Each region links to its full vegetable planting calendar, and the Potato plant page shows the calendar for any region you pick.
| Region | Plant seed potatoes | Frost window and local note |
|---|---|---|
| North Florida | January to February | February 15 to December 5 |
| Central Florida | January to February | Effectively frost free |
| South Florida | September to January | Effectively frost free |
| Gulf South | January to February | February 25 to December 1 |
| Desert Southwest | January and September to November | February 5 to December 5 |
| Texas | February and September to October | March 1 to November 28 |
| Southern California | January to February and September to November | Effectively frost free |
| Mid-South | February to March and August to September | April 10 to October 25 |
| Pacific Northwest | February to April and July to September | March 25 to November 15 |
| Northeast & New England | April to May | May 10 to October 15 |
| Mid-Atlantic | February to April and July to October | April 15 to October 25 |
| Midwest & Great Lakes | April to May | April 30 to October 15 |
| Upper Midwest & Northern Plains | May to June | May 15 to September 25 |
| Mountain West | April to May | May 5 to September 30 |
| Southern Plains | February to April and July to October | April 10 to October 30 |
| Northern California & Central Valley | August to March | February 28 to November 17 |
| Hawaii | October to March | Effectively frost free |
| Alaska | May to June | May 15 to September 10 |
North Florida, Central Florida and the Gulf South plant potatoes in January and February. The Northeast and New England, the Midwest and the Mountain West plant potatoes in April and May. The Mid-Atlantic and the Southern Plains plant potatoes in February to April and July to October. The Upper Midwest and Alaska plant potatoes in May and June.
When to plant
Potato is a cool-season crop. In the South and Southwest, plant in fall through winter when the heat eases. See your region on the potato page for exact timing.
Varieties
- Red Pontiac, Heat-tolerant red, widely grown in FL (local seed potato suppliers)
- Yukon Gold, Versatile yellow flesh (local seed potato suppliers)
How to grow it
- Sun & soil: full sun, rich well-drained soil with even moisture.
- Spacing: about 12 in between plants.
- Sowing: sow about 4 in deep.
- Water: roughly 2.1 gal per plant every 2 days in hot weather.
- Containers: grows well in a pot of 20 in+ deep (burlap bag or potato bag).
Pests & problems
Watch for Aphids, Wireworm, Loopers and Colorado potato beetle. In humid regions, Early blight and Late blight can appear, so space for airflow and water at the roots in the morning.
Harvest
Potato is usually ready to harvest in about 3 months. Pick regularly to keep plants productive.
Potatoes at a glance
The planting figures for potato from our plant data, converted to inches and Fahrenheit.
| Planting depth | 4 inches |
|---|---|
| Spacing | 12 inches |
| Days to come up | About 14 days |
| Soil temperature for sprouting | 50 to 75°F |
| Days to harvest | About 90 days |
| Frost | Half-hardy |
| Container | At least 20 inches |
Planting seed potatoes
Potatoes grow from seed potatoes, not from true seed. Plant each piece with its sprouts facing up, about 4 inches deep and about 12 inches apart. Cut large seed potatoes into pieces with a couple of eyes each and let the cut surfaces dry before planting. Our plant data gives a soil temperature range of 50 to 75°F, and shoots usually appear in about 14 days.
As the stems grow, hill soil up around them so the developing tubers stay covered and out of the light. Avoid fresh manure and heavy nitrogen, which favor leaves over tubers, and water steadily once the tubers start to form.
Growing potatoes in containers
Potatoes grow well in a deep container. Our plant data suggests a grow bag or container at least 20 inches deep. Plant the seed potatoes near the bottom and add soil as the stems lengthen, the same way you would hill them in the ground. See how to grow potatoes in containers.
How long do potatoes take to grow?
Our plant data allows about 90 days from planting to the main harvest. New potatoes are ready once the plants flower, and the main crop is ready once the tops yellow and die back. Loosen the soil with a fork and lift the tubers, working out from the stem so you do not spear them.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant potatoes?
North Florida, Central Florida and the Gulf South plant potatoes in January and February. The Northeast and New England, the Midwest and the Mountain West plant potatoes in April and May. The Mid-Atlantic and the Southern Plains plant potatoes in February to April and July to October. The Upper Midwest and Alaska plant potatoes in May and June. The table on this page lists all 18 regions with their months.
How long do potatoes take to grow?
Our plant data allows about 90 days from planting to the main harvest, with shoots up in about 14 days. New potatoes can be dug earlier, once the plants flower.
Can I plant potatoes in October?
Yes, in 8 of our 18 regions: South Florida, the Desert Southwest, Texas, Southern California, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southern Plains, Northern California and Hawaii. Everywhere else our calendar has no October planting for potatoes; the table on this page shows each region's months.
How deep do you plant seed potatoes?
Plant them about 4 inches deep with the sprouts facing up and about 12 inches between pieces, then hill soil up around the stems as they grow so the tubers stay covered.
When to plant in your region
Pick your region to see exactly when to plant potato where you garden.
See also: Potato in the plant library →
Related guides
See what to plant this month
Pick your region for a month-by-month calendar tuned to your climate.
Find your region →Plant profile
The potato profile has sowing times for your region, companion plants and common pests.