When to Plant Potatoes: Spring and Fall Planting by Zone
The best time to plant potatoes in each USDA zone, soil temperature, frost risk, planting for a fall harvest, and timing in the Southern Hemisphere.
Plant potatoes in spring when the soil is at least 7 °C (45 °F) and no longer waterlogged, typically 2–4 weeks before your last frost date. Shoots take 2–3 weeks to emerge, so they usually appear after the hardest frosts; cover them with soil or fleece if a late frost threatens.
Planting Times by Zone
| USDA zone | Spring planting | Fall / winter crop |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4 | May | — |
| 5 | late April – May | — |
| 6 | April | July (short season) |
| 7 | March – April | late July – August |
| 8 | February – March | August – September |
| 9–10 | January – February | September – November |
Early, Second Early and Main Crop
- Early (first early): plant first; harvest after about 60–90 days.
- Second early: 2 weeks later; harvest after about 90–110 days.
- Main crop: last; harvest after 110–130 days for storage.
Southern Hemisphere
Plant in late winter to spring (August–October) and, in warm regions, again in late summer (February–March).
More Potato Guides
- How to Grow Potatoes: The Complete Guide
- Seed potatoes and chitting
- Planting and hilling potatoes
- When to harvest potatoes
Frequently Asked Questions
Can potatoes be planted in the fall?
In zones 7–10, yes, for a fall or winter harvest; in colder zones, the season is too short.
Will frost kill potato plants?
Frost damages leaves, but plants usually regrow from below ground if covered or hilled.
TarlaTapan guides focus on practical, field-tested growing advice. Corrections and suggestions are welcome at info@tarlatapan.tr.