When to plant potatoes in Alabama
Alabama’s average last spring frost is March 25, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 5 — about 225 frost-free days (USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a). Potato needs 70–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Alabama's growing season.
When to plant potatoes in Alabama: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 6 – Mar 25. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow potatoes in Alabama, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 4.8 and 6.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Mar 6 – Mar 25). Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 32 inches apart, sowing seed 4 inches deep. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Alabama.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: Colorado potato beetle, flea beetle, wireworm, aphids. Diseases and disorders: late blight, early blight, common scab, blackleg.
- Harvest (from about May 20 – Jul 9). Potato takes 70-120 days to reach harvest. 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.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Alabama’s average frost dates. More in the full potato growing guide.
Potato planting dates by USDA zone in Alabama
Alabama spans USDA zones 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the potato dates shift with them.
When to plant potatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama (this page) | March 25 | Mar 6 – Mar 25 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 14 – Mar 5 |
| Florida | February 12 | Jan 24 – Feb 12 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 15 – Apr 3 |
Questions gardeners in Alabama ask
When is the best time to plant potatoes in Alabama?
Sow potatoes in Alabama between March 6 and March 25. That timing is set by Alabama's average last spring frost of March 25.
When will potatoes planted in Alabama be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, potatoes are usually ready from about May 20 to July 9, 70-120 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Alabama?
On average around March 25, with the first fall frost around November 5 - about 225 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.