When to plant potatoes in New Jersey
New Jersey’s average last spring frost is April 20, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 15 — about 178 frost-free days (USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b). Potato needs 70–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within New Jersey's growing season.
When to plant potatoes in New Jersey: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 1 – Apr 20. 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 New Jersey, 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 (Apr 1 – Apr 20). 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 New Jersey.
- 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 15 – Aug 4). 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 New Jersey’s average frost dates. More in the full potato growing guide.
Potato planting dates by USDA zone in New Jersey
New Jersey spans USDA zones 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey (this page) | April 20 | Apr 1 – Apr 20 |
| Pennsylvania | May 1 | Apr 12 – May 1 |
| Delaware | April 14 | Mar 26 – Apr 14 |
| Maryland | 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 New Jersey ask
When is the best time to plant potatoes in New Jersey?
Sow potatoes in New Jersey between April 1 and April 20. That timing is set by New Jersey's average last spring frost of April 20.
When will potatoes planted in New Jersey be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, potatoes are usually ready from about June 15 to August 4, 70-120 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in New Jersey?
On average around April 20, with the first fall frost around October 15 - about 178 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.