Potato Growing Guide | Gardeningist

Growing profiles

Choose how this crop will be grown. Dimensions, spacing and timing belong to the selected profile—not to the species as a single universal value.

First early potato

Early-maturing potato occupying the bed for a shorter season.

Typical mature height: 16–31 in (40–80 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Mature canopy: 12–24 in (30–60 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Plant spacing: 9–14 in (23–35 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Row spacing: 24–35 in (60–90 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Planting arrangement: single row · open ground Editorial synthesisbasis
Support: Usually unnecessary
Optional container: At least 10 US gal (38 L) · 1 plant Editorial synthesisbasis
Best germination range: Not established Editorial synthesisbasis

Climate-relative calendar

Frost and transplant rules become local dates when climate data is available. Cultivar maturity and crop condition are never replaced by a fabricated date.

Plant Potato28 days before last spring frost to last spring frost Direct sourceEditorial synthesisbasisRecommended: Soil temperature at least 39 °F (4 °C) for 3 consecutive days. Editorial synthesisbasis

Earth up potato plants28 days after plant potato to 35 days after plant potato Direct source

Begin harvesting Potato70 days after sowing to 100 days after sowing Planning estimatebasis

Finish harvesting Potato14 days after first harvest to 28 days after first harvest

Remove Potato cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Maincrop potato

Longer-season potato grown for larger yield and storage.

Typical mature height: 24–39 in (60–100 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Mature canopy: 18–30 in (45–75 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Plant spacing: 12–18 in (30–45 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Row spacing: 30–39 in (75–100 cm) Editorial synthesisbasis
Planting arrangement: single row · open ground Editorial synthesisbasis
Support: Usually unnecessary
Optional container: At least 15.1 US gal (57 L) · 1 plant Editorial synthesisbasis
Best germination range: Not established Editorial synthesisbasis

Climate-relative calendar

Frost and transplant rules become local dates when climate data is available. Cultivar maturity and crop condition are never replaced by a fabricated date.

Plant Potato21 days before last spring frost to 7 days after last spring frost Direct sourceEditorial synthesisbasisRecommended: Soil temperature at least 39 °F (4 °C) for 3 consecutive days. Editorial synthesisbasis

Earth up potato plants28 days after plant potato to 35 days after plant potato Direct source

Begin harvesting Potato100 days after sowing to 130 days after sowing Planning estimatebasis

Finish harvesting Potato14 days after first harvest to 28 days after first harvest

Remove Potato cropthe expected end of harvest to 7 days after the expected end of harvest

Agronomy release agronomy-2026-07-11-r1 · reviewed 2026-07-11 by Gardeningist agronomic research synthesis. Direct-source links indicate close source support; synthesis and planning estimates are labeled separately.

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