Potatoes are planted a week or two before your last spring frost, once the soil reaches about 50 °F. They grow best in cool weather, so the farther south you are, the earlier you plant. Find your zone below, or enter your ZIP code for dates based on the weather station closest to you.
Potato dates for your ZIP code
Planting times based on university extension guidance (UNH, Cornell, Purdue, Minnesota, Nebraska and UMass Extension). Frost dates from NOAA 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest weather station. Zones derived from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map data (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). This is not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Potato planting dates by zone
| USDA zone | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 9 – May 16 |
| Zone 4 | May 2 – May 9 |
| Zone 5 | April 24 – May 1 |
| Zone 6 | April 17 – April 24 |
| Zone 7 | April 3 – April 10 |
| Zone 8 | March 17 – March 24 |
| Zone 9 | February 17 – February 24 |
Not sure of your zone? Look it up by ZIP code.
Why potatoes go in before the last frost
Potatoes are a cool-season crop. They form tubers best in cool weather, so they are planted early, a week or two before the last spring frost, once the soil reaches about 50 °F. The shoots take one to three weeks to come up, and by then the frost risk has usually passed.
How to plant potatoes
- Prepare seed pieces. Plant small potatoes whole, or cut large ones into pieces about the size of an egg (1½–2 ounces), each with at least one good eye.
- Let cut pieces heal for a couple of days before planting. The cut surface forms a skin that helps prevent rot.
- Plant about 3 inches deep and 10–12 inches apart, in rows about 3 feet apart.
- Hill as they grow. When plants are about a foot tall, mound 6–8 inches of soil along the row, or add a thick layer of mulch.
- Water evenly throughout the season.
Harvesting and storing potatoes
For new potatoes, dig gently after the plants bloom, about eight weeks after planting. For storage, wait until the vines have died back and the skins are firm: rub one with your thumb, and if the skin doesn’t scrape off, they are ready. Let the potatoes dry for a day or two out of direct sun, then store them in a cool, dark, dry place.
Frequently asked questions
Should I cut seed potatoes before planting?
Large seed potatoes can be cut into pieces of about 1½–2 ounces, each with at least one eye. Let the cuts heal for a couple of days first. Small potatoes can be planted whole.
How deep should I plant potatoes?
About 3 inches deep. Deeper planting slows emergence and raises the risk of disease. You add soil around the plants later by hilling.
Why do potatoes turn green?
Sunlight turns the skin green and bitter. Hill soil or mulch around the plants so the tubers stay covered.
Sources. Planting dates use the median frost dates of each USDA zone, calculated from NOAA climate data for every ZIP code in the zone.