When to Plant and When to Harvest Potatoes? Planting Methods and Storage Tips

Growing your own crops is a fun and healthy family activity. Learning how to grow new potatoes provides you with seasonal fresh baby potatoes and a tuber crop that can be stored after the season. Potatoes can be grown in the ground or in containers. Growing new potatoes is easy, with just a few special care tips to keep your plants healthy.

When to Plant New Potatoes
Potatoes do best when started in a cool season. Tuber formation is best when soil temperature is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit (16-21 degrees Celsius). The two periods for planting new potatoes are spring and summer. Plant early-season potatoes in July or early April, and start late-season crops in July. Early plantings that have sprouted may be damaged by rogue freezes, but will bounce back as long as the soil stays warm.

Planting New Potatoes
Potatoes can be started from seed or from seed potatoes. Seed potatoes are recommended because they have been bred to resist disease and are certified. Compared with starting plants from seed, they will also give you the earliest and most abundant harvest. The method for how to grow new potatoes varies slightly by variety. As a general rule, planting new potatoes requires well-drained soil amended with plenty of organic matter. Planting new potatoes requires plenty of water to fuel tuber production.

The planting bed needs to be worked well and amended with organic nutrients. Dig trenches 3 inches deep, 24 to 36 inches apart. Cut seed potatoes into pieces with at least two to three eyes or growth points. Space these pieces 12 inches apart, with most of the eyes facing up. When planting new potatoes, gently cover the seed pieces with soil. As they sprout, add more soil to cover the green growth until it is level with the soil. The trench will be filled in and the potatoes grown until ready to harvest.

When to Harvest New Potatoes
Young tubers are sweet and tender and can be dug from the underground stems that layer near the soil surface and produce soil. Harvest new potatoes at the end of the season with a digging fork. Dig 4 to 6 inches around the plant and pull out the potatoes. When growing new potatoes, remember that most of the potatoes will be near the surface, and digging should be as careful as possible to avoid damage.

Storing New Potatoes
Rinse or wipe the dirt off the tubers and let them dry. Store them in a dry, dark room at 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (3-4 degrees Celsius). Under these conditions, potatoes can be stored for several months. Put them in a box or open container, and check often for rotting potatoes, because rot spreads and can quickly ruin the whole batch.