When to plant potatoes
Short answer
Plant potatoes about 2 weeks before your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 1. Enter your ZIP for your exact dates.
| Climate zone | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | Jan 1 | Apr 1 |
| Zone 2 | — | Feb 1 | May 2 |
| Zone 3 | — | Feb 24 | May 25 |
| Zone 4 | — | Mar 16 | Jun 14 |
| Zone 5 | — | Apr 1 | Jun 30 |
| Zone 6 | — | Apr 16 | Jul 15 |
| Zone 7 | — | May 1 | Jul 30 |
| Zone 8 | — | May 18 | Aug 16 |
Higher climate-zone numbers are colder, so planting shifts later. Potatoes is a semi-hardy crop. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for your exact zone and dates.
What sets the timing for potatoes
When to plant potatoes comes down to one date: your last spring frost. Potatoes is a semi-hardy crop, so it goes in about 2 weeks before your last spring frost. In a mid climate (zone 5) that's around Apr 1.
Potatoes is usually sown straight into the ground — no indoor start needed. From there it's roughly 90 days to harvest.
Because that anchor date moves with climate, plant-out for potatoes ranges from about Feb 24 in warm zone 3 to May 1 in cold zone 7. Enter your ZIP in the calculator for the exact dates in your zone.
What sets the timing
| Factor | Effect on timing |
|---|---|
| Frost anchor | Timing counts from your last spring frost |
| Hardiness | Potatoes is semi-hardy — it goes in before the last frost |
| Indoor start | Direct-sow — no indoor start needed |
| Days to harvest | About 90 days from planting to harvest |
| Climate zone | Higher (colder) zones push plant-out later; warmer zones let you start sooner |
| Soil & weather | Tolerates cool soil and light frost |
How potatoes compares
Plant-out date in a mid climate (zone 5), against an early hardy crop and a late tender one.
| Crop | Plant outside (zone 5) |
|---|---|
| Peas (hardy · plants early) | Mar 11 |
| Potatoes | Apr 1 |
| Tomatoes (tender · plants late) | Apr 29 |
Tips for growing potatoes
- Start potatoes early — it tolerates cool soil and a light frost, so you can plant before your last spring frost.
- Count roughly 90 days from planting to harvest, and stagger sowings a few weeks apart for a longer picking window.
- Enter your ZIP in the calculator for potatoes dates tuned to your exact climate zone.
Your exact dates
Open the planting calendarOther crops
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant potatoes?
Plant potatoes about 2 weeks before your last spring frost. In a warmer zone 4 that's around Mar 16; in a colder zone 6, Apr 16.
Can I direct sow potatoes?
Yes — potatoes is usually sown directly in the garden rather than started indoors.
How long until potatoes is ready to harvest?
About 90 days from planting until first harvest. In zone 6, potatoes planted around Apr 16 is typically ready near Jul 15.