Growing Potatoes: From Seed Potatoes to Harvest and Storage

Potato Planting Basics

Potatoes are a nutritious, versatile staple—and surprisingly easy to grow. Forget the "plant on Good Friday" myth; that date varies from March to April, often when northern soils are still frozen.

When to Plant

• Early March to late April, depending on climate.
• Soil should be workable and not icy cold/wet. Cool soil delays sprouting; light frost is tolerated.

Seed Potatoes

• Not true seeds—use whole or cut pieces of potato with at least one "eye."
• Choose blemish-free, healthy tubers. More eyes = more but smaller potatoes; fewer eyes = fewer but larger potatoes.
• If cutting, do so 1 day before planting to let cuts callous (reduces disease).

Planting Method

• Depth: 2–3 inches in rich, well-drained soil.
• Spacing: Rows 3 ft apart; plants 12 inches apart in row.
• Scab prevention: Add a handful of dry pine needles to each planting hole; rotate crops yearly.

Hilling: Critical for Quality

When plants are ~12 inches tall, mound 6–8 inches of soil along the row. This buries developing tubers, preventing greening (which causes bitterness and toxicity). Repeat as needed.

Watering & Pest Management

• Keep soil evenly moist. Dry-wet cycles cause hollow heart (especially in Yukon Gold).
• Colorado potato beetle: Crush yellow egg clusters on leaf undersides. Hand-pick larvae (orange with black spots) and adults (pale orange with black stripes). Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for infestations.

Harvest & Storage

• New potatoes: Harvest ~8 weeks after planting, after flowering begins.
• Main crop: In fall, after foliage dies back. Dig carefully.
• Curing: Spread in a dry, shaded, airy place (garage/shed) for 1–2 days to dry skins.
• Storage: Cool, dark, dry place. Do not wash before storing.

Quick Reference

Task	Timing/Details
Plant	Early spring (soil 45°F+)
Hill	When plants 12" tall; repeat 2–3×
Water	Consistent moisture; avoid wet-dry cycles
Scout for beetles	Weekly; crush eggs, hand-pick, Bt if needed
Harvest new	~8 weeks after planting
Harvest main	Fall, after foliage dies
Store	Cure 1–2 days; cool, dark, dry

Homegrown potatoes offer unmatched flavor and the satisfaction of producing a staple crop yourself.