How Long Can You Leave Potatoes in the Ground?

Potatoes are a classic staple crop that can be grown easily in home gardens. Knowing when and how to harvest potatoes is important for getting the best yields. A common question is how long you can leave potatoes in the ground after the foliage dies back. Here’s what you need to know.

When Are Potatoes Ready to Harvest?

Potatoes are typically ready to harvest around 2-3 months after planting, depending on the variety. Early potato varieties can be ready in as little as 60 days. Main crop potatoes usually take 100-120 days to reach full maturity.

The easiest way to tell when potatoes are ready is to check the foliage. Once the plants start dying back naturally, the potatoes are reaching maturity. The leaves will yellow and wilt. The stems will fall over and turn brown. The potatoes stop growing once the vines die back.

Some gardeners also use potato flowers to gauge harvest time. Once the blooms drop off, tubers are starting to size up. However, not all potato varieties flower, so vine dieback is a more reliable indicator.

How Long to Leave Potatoes After Vines Die

Potatoes can stay in the ground for 2-3 weeks after the foliage has completely died back. Leaving potatoes to sit after the vines die allows the skins to thicken up. This is called “curing” and helps potatoes store better.

Cured potatoes will have tougher thicker skins. The extra time in ground also converts more starches to sugars, improving flavor. Potatoes left for the curing period tend to be less prone to bruising and skinning injuries during harvest and handling.

Dangers of Leaving Potatoes Too Long

While a short curing period is beneficial, leaving potatoes in the ground too long can cause them to rot. Once the plant dies, the tubers are cut off from nutrients and water. Extended exposure to excess moisture increases decay risk.

Cool, damp soil conditions also raise the chances of fungal or bacterial rots attacking tubers. Common culprits include late blight, pink rot, and soft rot. Leaving potatoes in cold, wet ground makes them more susceptible to rotting.

If you live in an area with intensely hot summers, potatoes can also start to decompose if left too long As organic matter breaks down in the soil, temperatures surrounding the tubers rise, causing them to cook underground

Ideal Curing Duration

Two weeks is usually the ideal potato curing window for most gardeners. Early varieties may only need 5-7 days of curing before harvest. Main crop potatoes can stay in the ground for 10-14 days post-vine death with no ill effects.

If hard frosts threaten before vines are completely dead, go ahead and dig potatoes rather than risk tuber damage from freezing. Likewise, harvest immediately if heavy rains are expected, to avoid drowned and rotting potatoes.

Watching Weather and Soil

Keep a close eye on both the weather forecast and current soil moisture when deciding how long to cure potatoes in the ground. Schedule your harvest based on predicted temperatures and precipitation.

If cool, dry conditions prevail after vines die back, potatoes can potentially stay in the ground for 3-4 weeks. But err on the side of caution if rain or warmer weather is imminent. Digging too early is better than leaving tubers to decay underground.

Checking Tuber Condition

There’s no set rule for precisely how many days potatoes can stay in the ground post-vine death. Soil type, weather fluctuations, and other factors all play a role. To be sure your taters are still in good shape, dig up a plant or two early and check tuber condition before clearing the entire row or bed.

Use a garden fork to gently unearth potatoes without puncturing or bruising them. Immediately sort through and discard any diseased or damaged tubers, then return the rest to the ground if they need more time. Leaving tested, healthy spuds for an extra week or two is fine as long as weather permits.

Storing vs. Immediate Use

Your intended use of the potato crop also determines ideal harvest timing. Potatoes being stored for winter keep best when left to cure underground until skins set. But if you want to enjoy fresh new potatoes right away, go ahead and harvest as soon as tubers reach edible size, even if vines are still half-green.

To enjoy both fresh new potatoes and stored crops, stagger planting times. You can start stealingnew potatoes about two weeks after plants flower. Then leave the bulk of the plants intact to mature for long-term storage.

Finding the Sweet Spot

Determining the perfect window for gathering your potato harvest involves balancing weather, soil conditions, and crop maturity. With a little trial and error, you’ll find the sweet spot for your garden that maximizes flavor and storage potential. Just don’t leave them out in the ground indefinitely!

The ideal potato curing period is usually 1-2 weeks after the vines completely die off. But keep a close watch on the weather and dig accordingly to avoid rotting your tubers. With good timing, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful harvest of beautiful spuds.