When to Plant Potatoes in Zone 8

Potato timing in zone 8

Most of zone 8 sees its last spring frost between March 25 and April 6, with a typical date of March 31. Potato shoots take one to three weeks to come up, so plants usually emerge after the frost risk has passed. The tool above uses the weather station closest to your 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.

Best potato varieties for zone 8

In zone 8, potatoes are a late-winter crop: plant early so they form tubers before the heat. Varieties that do well in the South include:

• Red potatoes: Red LaSoda, Dark Red Norland and Viking.
• White potatoes: Kennebec, Superior and Atlantic.
• Yellow potatoes: Yukon Gold.
• Russets: Century Russet and Russet Norkotah.

Always plant certified seed potatoes from a garden supplier.

How to plant potatoes

1. 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.
2. Let cut pieces heal for a couple of days before planting. The cut surface forms a skin that helps prevent rot.
3. Plant about 3 inches deep and 10–12 inches apart, in rows about 3 feet apart.
4. 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.
5. Water evenly throughout the season.

Zone 8 potato tips

• Plant early. Set seed pieces as soon as the soil 4 inches down reaches about 50 °F, which in the South can be a few weeks before the last frost.
• Cure cut seed pieces. Let them heal for several days before planting so they resist rot in cold, wet or very hot soil.
• Mulch heavily. A thick layer of mulch when plants are 8–10 inches tall keeps sun off the tubers and the soil cooler.
• Harvest before summer. Hot weather plus rain can make tubers sprout in the ground, so dig the crop once the tops start to die.
• Try a fall crop. Plant small whole seed potatoes about 110 days before your first frost, around mid-August in much of the South. Whole potatoes resist rot in hot soil better than cut pieces.

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.

Potato planting dates in nearby zones

• Zone 7April 3 – April 10
• Zone 9February 17 – February 24

See dates for every zone on the potatoes planting guide, or build a full schedule with the planting calendar.