Garden Tempo

Potato planting guide

When to plant potatoes

Plant potatoes in spring when the bed is workable and warming, using a local guide for the calendar window. Potatoes tolerate cool conditions better than tomatoes, but cold, wet soil can rot seed pieces. Start with seed potatoes, not grocery-store potatoes.

Watch the soil, not a national dateRegional springs differ. A suitable date in one climate can be too wet, cold or late in another.

Use a local spring window

Minnesota
As soil warmsUMN gives early April for the Twin Cities, with earlier and later timing elsewhere in the state.
Illinois
March or early AprilIllinois Extension warns that cold, damp soil can rot seed pieces.
Oregon
Separate regional seasonsOSU lists different spring ranges for Central/Eastern Oregon, the Willamette Valley and the Coast.

A calendar is only the first check

Use it with the condition of your own bed. If soil remains wet or cold, do not force a seed piece into it simply because a distant state has started planting.

Choose a local route

Garden Tempo has separate potato guides for these locations. Their dates and regional distinctions stay on their own pages.

Georgia potato guideUse the Georgia regional planting plan. Texas potato guideUse the Texas regional planting plan. Open the planting calendarCompare supported state calendars before choosing a date.

Start with seed potatoes

UMN and OSU distinguish seed potatoes from potatoes sold for eating. Use small whole certified seed potatoes or properly prepared pieces with eyes, then follow the depth and spacing from the Extension source for your region.

Plan for hilling after emergence

Potatoes need more than an initial planting date. UMN and OSU both describe adding soil or straw around growing plants. Put a follow-up reminder in your plan instead of treating planting day as the whole job.

Quick questions

Can I use grocery potatoes?
Use seed potatoes insteadExtension guidance warns that food potatoes may be treated for dormancy or carry disease.
Can I plant in cold, wet soil?
Wait for a workable bedCold, damp soil raises the risk that seed pieces rot before they grow.