A quick answer from the garden notebook
When to Plant Potatoes
By David Choi · Updated · How we source and review advice
Short answer
Plant potatoes in early spring, from about 3 weeks before your last spring frost up to the frost date itself. Wait until the soil is at least 45°F. Potatoes can handle a light frost but not a hard freeze, and seed pieces can rot in a long cold spell.
Potato planting dates
The timing rule our potato guide uses:
- Sow outdoors: 0 to 3 weeks before your last spring frost
Your dates
Enter a U.S. ZIP code or a town to see these dates for your garden.
A U.S. ZIP uses official NOAA frost records. Other countries use weather-station records, or a climate reconstruction where stations are missing. Coordinates are used once and not stored. We save only a place label and climate summary in a private browser cookie. You can clear it anytime.
Example dates for the 2027 season
| Place | Dates |
|---|---|
| Seattle, WALast frost Mar 13 |
|
| Minneapolis, MNLast frost Apr 23 |
|
| Chicago, ILLast frost Apr 10 |
|
| Denver, COLast frost Apr 30 |
|
| New York, NYLast frost Mar 30 |
|
| Atlanta, GALast frost Mar 24 |
|
| Dallas, TXLast frost Mar 2 |
|
Frost dates are the usual (median) dates from NOAA climate normals for 1991 to 2020. In about half of years the last frost comes later than the usual date, so check the forecast before planting. Where frost is rare, as in much of Florida and the Arizona desert, frost dates do not set planting times.
Soil temperature comes first
Maryland Extension says the soil should be at least 45°F at planting. Cool spring weather helps potatoes grow, but hard frosts slow them down. Plant too early, into a long cold spell, and the seed pieces can sit still or rot. In Maryland, that adds up to planting between March 15 and May 1, depending on where you live.
Get the seed potatoes ready
- Buy certified disease-free seed potatoes that are firm and not yet sprouted.
- Cut large ones into pieces, each with at least one good eye. A 6-ounce potato makes about four pieces.
- Let the cut pieces dry for a few days before planting to help prevent rot.
- Plant them cut side down, 3 to 5 inches deep.
Planting later in the season
Maryland Extension says early varieties can go in as late as June 1 there, to spread out the harvest. Plant these later crops a bit deeper, 5 to 6 inches. Do not leave it too late, though. Soil warmer than 80°F holds back the growth of new potatoes.
Places with mild winters
Potatoes are a cool-season crop. UC Master Gardeners say cool-season crops grow best when the average temperature is 55°F to 75°F. In California's desert valleys, their chart lists potato planting from December to February.
Sources
- Growing Potatoes in a Home Garden (University of Maryland Extension)
- Time of planting (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Master Gardener Program)
The full growing guide
Potato
A cool-season vegetable grown from small seed potatoes or pieces, with the harvest forming out of sight under loose soil.
- Harvest
- 90 to 120 days
- Effort
- Season
- Cool
Your next useful step
- How to Start a Garden
A small, realistic plan for growing food in a yard, raised bed, patio, or balcony.
- Vegetable Planting Calendar by ZIP Code
A vegetable planting calendar by ZIP code with month-by-month planting, growing and harvest actions from your usual frost dates.