When to plant potatoes in Maryland
Maryland’s average last spring frost is April 14, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 20 — about 189 frost-free days (USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a). Potato needs 70–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Maryland's growing season.
Maryland 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 Maryland: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Mar 26 – Apr 14. 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 Maryland, 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 26 – Apr 14). 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 Maryland.
- 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 Jun 9 – Jul 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 Maryland’s average frost dates. More in the full potato growing guide.
Potato planting dates by USDA zone in Maryland
Maryland spans USDA zones 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland (this page) | April 14 | Mar 26 – Apr 14 |
| New Jersey | April 20 | Apr 1 – Apr 20 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Apr 12 – May 1 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 26 – Apr 14 |
| District of Columbia | April 10 | Mar 22 – Apr 10 |
| Virginia | April 15 | Mar 27 – Apr 15 |
| West Virginia | May 5 | Apr 16 – May 5 |
Questions gardeners in Maryland ask
When is the best time to plant potatoes in Maryland?
Sow potatoes in Maryland between March 26 and April 14. That timing is set by Maryland's average last spring frost of April 14; Maryland spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will potatoes planted in Maryland be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, potatoes are usually ready from about June 9 to July 29, 70-120 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Maryland?
On average around April 14, with the first fall frost around October 20 - about 189 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.