How Long Does It Take to Grow Potatoes?

Quick Answer

Potatoes take 70–120 days from planting to harvest, depending on the variety. Early-season potatoes like Yukon Gold are ready in 70–90 days, while late-season storage potatoes like Russet Burbank need 100–120 days. Most gardeners plant in early to mid-spring and harvest from midsummer through early fall.

Growing Time by Variety Type

Variety Type	Days to Harvest	Popular Varieties	Best For
Early season	70–90 days	Yukon Gold, Red Norland, Irish Cobbler	Fresh eating, boiling, salads
Mid-season	90–100 days	Kennebec, Gold Rush, Red Pontiac	All-purpose cooking
Late season	100–120 days	Russet Burbank, Katahdin, German Butterball	Baking, frying, long-term storage
Fingerling	90–110 days	Russian Banana, French Fingerling, AuRora	Roasting, specialty dishes

Planting to Harvest Timeline

Here's what to expect week by week after planting seed potatoes:

• Week 1–2: Seed potatoes sit dormant underground. Roots begin to develop from the eyes
• Week 3–4: Sprouts emerge above the soil surface. First leaves unfurl
• Week 5–8: Vigorous top growth. Plants reach 8–12 inches tall. Begin hilling (mounding soil around stems) when plants are 6 inches tall
• Week 8–10: Flowers appear on many varieties, signaling that tubers are forming underground
• Week 10–12: Tubers swell rapidly. This is the critical watering period — consistent moisture produces larger, smoother potatoes
• Week 12–14 (early varieties): Foliage begins to yellow and die back. New potatoes can be harvested once flowers appear
• Week 14–17 (late varieties): Full die-back of foliage. Wait 2 weeks after tops die before digging for storage potatoes to let skins toughen

When to Harvest

Look for these signs that your potatoes are ready:

• New potatoes (small, thin-skinned): Harvest any time after flowering begins — about 2–3 weeks after flowers appear. Gently dig around the base of one plant to check size
• Storage potatoes (full-sized, thick-skinned): Wait until the foliage has completely yellowed and died back. Then wait an additional 2 weeks for the skins to cure and toughen underground

To harvest, use a garden fork inserted 12–18 inches from the plant stem. Lift gently to avoid piercing tubers. Brush off soil but don't wash potatoes intended for storage.

Growing Potatoes in Containers

Containers work well for small spaces and make harvesting easy:

• Container size: At least 10–15 gallons per plant (a large grow bag, half-barrel, or fabric pot)
• Soil: Use a loose, well-draining mix of compost and potting soil
• Planting depth: Start with 4–6 inches of soil, place seed potato, cover with 4 inches of soil
• Hilling: Add more soil as stems grow, always leaving the top few inches of foliage exposed
• Watering: Containers dry out faster — check daily and water when the top inch is dry
• Timeline: Same as in-ground, but yields are typically smaller (2–5 pounds per plant vs. 3–8 pounds in-ground)

Key Growing Tips

• Soil temperature: Plant when soil reaches 45°F. Potatoes won't sprout in cold soil and seed pieces can rot
• Chitting (pre-sprouting): Set seed potatoes in a cool, bright spot 2–4 weeks before planting to encourage strong sprouts
• Hilling: Mound soil 4–6 inches around stems when plants reach 6 inches tall. Repeat once more as they grow. This prevents green potatoes (which contain toxic solanine)
• Watering: Provide 1–2 inches per week, especially during tuber formation. Irregular watering causes knobby, cracked tubers
• Don't plant near tomatoes — they share the same diseases, including late blight

Common Problems

• Green skin: Caused by sun exposure. Hill thoroughly and mulch with straw
• Scab: Rough, corky patches from alkaline soil. Keep soil pH between 5.0–6.0
• Late blight: The disease that caused the Irish Potato Famine. Watch for dark spots on leaves in humid weather. Remove and destroy affected plants immediately
• Colorado potato beetle: Hand-pick adults and larvae, or use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for organic control