When to plant potatoes in Florida
Florida’s average last spring frost is February 12, and the first fall frost typically arrives around December 10 — about 301 frost-free days (USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a). Potato needs 70–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Florida's growing season.
Florida covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant potatoes in Florida: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Jan 24 – Feb 12. 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 Florida, 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 (Jan 24 – Feb 12). 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 Florida.
- 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 Apr 9 – May 29). 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 Florida’s average frost dates. More in the full potato growing guide.
Potato planting dates by USDA zone in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Florida (this page) | February 12 | Jan 24 – Feb 12 |
| Alabama | March 25 | Mar 6 – Mar 25 |
| Mississippi | March 20 | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Louisiana | March 5 | Feb 14 – Mar 5 |
| Arkansas | April 3 | Mar 15 – Apr 3 |
Questions gardeners in Florida ask
When is the best time to plant potatoes in Florida?
Sow potatoes in Florida between January 24 and February 12. That timing is set by Florida's average last spring frost of February 12; Florida spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will potatoes planted in Florida be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, potatoes are usually ready from about April 9 to May 29, 70-120 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Florida?
On average around February 12, with the first fall frost around December 10 - about 301 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.