How to grow potato
Solanum tuberosum · Solanaceae · Vegetable
When to plant potatoes: the short answer
Sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F, fastest near 65°F.
Zone 5: sow Apr 11 – Apr 30. Zone 7: sow Mar 17 – Apr 5. Zone 9: sow Feb 1 – Feb 20. See every zone.
Potato is a cool-season vegetable in the Solanaceae family, almost always sown straight into the ground where it will grow. It wants full sun (six or more hours of direct light) and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 70–120 days. It shrugs off a light frost but a hard freeze will damage it.
Grower’s note: Plant certified seed potatoes, not grocery-store ones. Hill soil or mulch over the stems as they grow to stop greening. New potatoes ~10 weeks in; storage potatoes after the tops die back.
Sowing
Sow about 4″ deep, into soil between 45–80°F — germination is quickest near 65°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (14–28 days). It does not transplant well, so sow it in its final position rather than starting it in pots.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 12″ along the row with roughly 32″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is one plant per 4 square feet. Allow at least 18″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 16″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
As a cool-season crop, potato does its best growing in the mild weather of spring and fall and tends to bolt or turn bitter in summer heat.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long potatoes take to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 70-120 days (10-17 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 14-28 days in soil around 65°F.
When to plant potato
When to plant potatoes by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | - | Apr 26 – May 15 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | - | Apr 21 – May 10 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | - | Apr 11 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | - | Mar 27 – Apr 15 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | - | Mar 17 – Apr 5 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | - | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | - | Feb 1 – Feb 20 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | - | Jan 11 – Jan 30 |
Or browse potato planting dates for every state as static pages.
Companions
Bush Bean, Sweet Corn, Cabbage, Horseradish
Tomato, Cucumber, Winter Squash, Pumpkin
Common problems
Pests: Colorado potato beetle, flea beetle, wireworm, aphids.
Diseases & disorders: late blight, early blight, common scab, blackleg.
Same family (Solanaceae)
Rotate these so they don’t follow each other in the same bed year to year.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant potatoes?
Sow outdoors about 2 weeks before the last frost. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long do potatoes take to grow?
About 70-120 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 14-28 days, fastest in soil around 65°F.
How much sun do potatoes need?
They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day.
What soil pH do potatoes need?
A soil pH between 4.8 and 6.5. It tolerates fairly acidic soil better than most vegetables. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant potatoes?
Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 32 inches apart, or one plant per 4 square feet in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about 4 inches deep.
Can I grow potatoes in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 16 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.