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Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Plant seed potatoes 1–4 weeks before your last spring frost, once the soil can be worked and has warmed to about 45°F. Shoots that come up before a late frost can be nipped back, but the plant regrows from the tuber, so a little early is fine.
- Frost tolerance
- Semi-hardy: light frost
- Soil temperature
- Plant when soil is 45°F+
- Days to harvest
- 90–120 days (early types sooner)
The rule we use
- Plant seed potatoes: 1–4 weeks before the last spring frost
Getting seed potatoes ready
Buy certified seed potatoes rather than planting grocery-store potatoes, which may carry disease or be treated to stop sprouting. Cut large tubers into pieces about the size of a hen's egg, each with at least one or two eyes. Let the cut pieces dry for a day or two so the cut surface seals before planting.
Many gardeners “chit” their potatoes first: set them in a bright, cool room for 2–3 weeks so short, sturdy green sprouts form. Chitted potatoes come up faster and are ready a little sooner, which helps in short-season areas.
Planting and hilling
Plant pieces cut side down, about 3–4 inches deep and 10–12 inches apart, in rows 2–3 feet apart. Cold, wet soil rots seed pieces, so wait for ground that crumbles in your hand rather than one that sticks.
When the stems are 6–8 inches tall, pull soil or straw up around them, leaving the top few leaves showing. Repeat once or twice. New potatoes form above the seed piece, and hilling keeps them covered so they don't turn green and bitter in the light.
Frost and harvest
If frost is forecast after shoots are up, cover them with soil, straw or frost cloth for the night. Damaged leaves usually grow back within a week or two.
Dig a few new potatoes about 2–3 weeks after flowering. For storage potatoes, wait until the vines die back, then leave the tubers in the ground another 2 weeks so the skins toughen. Dig on a dry day and cure them somewhere dark and cool.
Seeds and supplies for potatoes
- Seed potatoes at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- Potato grow bags for growing on a patio or where soil is poor.
- Frost cloth to cover plants if a late cold night is forecast.
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Questions about planting potatoes
What month do you plant potatoes?
Usually February or March in the South, March or April in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, and April or May in the North and mountains. Enter your ZIP above for dates from your own frost records.
Can potatoes go in before the last frost?
Yes. Potatoes are planted a few weeks before the last frost because the tubers sit safely underground. Only the leaves are at risk, and you can cover them on a cold night.
How deep should I plant potatoes?
About 3–4 inches deep, then hill soil or straw up around the stems as they grow so the new tubers stay covered.
Can I plant potatoes from the grocery store?
It's better not to. Store potatoes may carry disease or be treated to stop sprouting. Certified seed potatoes are clean and sprout reliably.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah, Utah State University Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension
- Extension Gardener Handbook, Ch. 16: Vegetable Gardening, NC State Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)