Can you plant potatoes in fall? Absolutely. But the reason for planting potatoes in autumn will differ greatly depending on where you live.
Should you live in a place where winters are mild, you should plant potatoes in the fall so that you can harvest them in the winter.
It’s for people who want to plant potatoes in the fall and let them grow over the winter to get a head start on the growing season in the spring.
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It never fails. The beds where I planted potatoes last year always have potato plants grow on their own after I turn the cover crop. These plants seem to know exactly when to start growing based on the weather that season. They grow vigorously in the moist spring soil, getting the jump on weeds and many pests like cutworms. Certified seed potatoes are available online.
This made me think: why not plant potatoes in the fall instead of the spring? These weeds do really well when it’s cool outside. I would rather not have to plant another vegetable in the middle of spring, when everything is busy. Potatoes do better in cool, moist soil.
In fact, there are many reasons why you might want to plant in fall. These include:
Get a head start on the growing season. Potatoes that you plant in autumn will start growing their roots during the winter. Plus, they will start growing above ground as soon as the soil warms up. This lets your plants get going before insect pests arrive.
Weather in spring is unpredictable. Potatoes like cool weather and moist soil. Spring is the best time of year to get these conditions. Cool and moist is not good for the person planting, but good for potato growing.
Your plants will be able to take advantage of the conditions right from the start. More to the point, heavy rain or even snow may prevent you from planting. This is rarely a problem in fall.
Harvest sooner. Start sooner, harvest sooner. Plus, potatoes that grow the longest will still be ready for winter because they have all spring, summer, and fall to grow.
If you grow the right kind of potatoes and the growing season lasts long enough, you might be able to get two harvests out of one season.
No planting in bug season. Around here, the bug season is in spring. You’ll avoid planting when the bugs are thick and bothersome.
No chitting. You shouldn’t chit your autumn planting potatoes. Your potatoes will have plenty of time to grow without chitting.
Underground growth when it’s cold. During the off-season, your potatoes will grow roots. When the weather changes, they will grow quickly above ground.
More compost available in fall. Typically, I have a lot more compost and other soil amendments in autumn. I bet you do, too.
As the dog days of summer wind down, autumn brings crisp air and renewed energy for planting projects One immensely satisfying endeavor is planting potatoes in the fall for an early spring harvest. This comprehensive guide will illuminate everything you need to know to get robust fall-planted spuds off to the right start
Why Plant Potatoes in Fall?
You may be wondering — why go through the trouble of planting potatoes in autumn? Truthfully, fall planting offers multiple advantages over spring planting
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Earlier harvests – Fall-planted potatoes mature earlier in spring, allowing you to enjoy fresh spuds weeks before a spring crop.
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Bigger yields – With extra months of growth before summer heat fall plantings generally yield higher than quick-growing spring plantings.
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Fewer pests – Emerging earlier than spring plantings, fall spuds tend to avoid peak populations of pests like potato beetles.
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Soil preparation – Fall planting gives you a head start on amending and prepping soil for peak quality come spring.
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Weed suppression – Emerged fall potato plants help suppress early spring weeds.
In short, fall-planted potatoes get a head start on growth, maturity, and pest avoidance — all resulting in higher yields. Now let’s look at how to select the right seed potatoes for fall planting success.
Choosing Seed Potatoes for Fall Planting
The most fundamental factor in a prolific fall potato harvest is starting with high-quality seed potatoes. Here’s what to look for:
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Certified disease-free – Seek certified seed potatoes guaranteed free of viruses and bacterial/fungal diseases. Avoid sacrificing quality by planting diseased potatoes saved from summer crops.
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Proper size – Pick smaller potato tubers, approx. 1-2 inches, which establish faster than large tubers. Avoid spuds over 4 inches wide.
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Good skin set – Select firm, blemish-free tubers that have cured 2-3 weeks after harvest. Soft, wrinkling, damaged potatoes often decay and rot.
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Vigorous sprouts – Ideal tubers will have short, thick sprouts indicating health and vigor. Avoid excessively long, thin sprouts prone to breaking off.
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Climate match – Match potato varieties to your growing region’s climate and season length. Consult regional growing guides for perfect choices.
Pro tip: When possible, choose certified organic seed potatoes to reap bigger yields free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers!
Now that we’ve covered how to pick ideal seed tubers, let’s explore actually planting spuds in the ground this fall.
Planting Potatoes in the Fall
Here is a simple step-by-step guide to successfully planting your seed potatoes in autumn:
Site Selection
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Choose a site with full sunlight to maximize growing time before winter.
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Pick a spot sheltered from wind to prevent soil drying.
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For drainage, plant in raised hills/beds rather than flat ground.
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Rotate crop sites annually to prevent disease buildup. Avoid areas where potatoes grew previously.
Soil Preparation
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Loosen soil 10-12 inches deep via double-digging to break up compaction.
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Work 2-4 inches of compost into the soil to enrich nutrition and moisture retention.
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Adjust pH to 5.8-6.5 range. Potatoes thrive in slightly acidic soil.
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Mix in balanced organic fertilizer to provide the nutrients potatoes crave.
Planting
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Dig 8-10 inch deep trenches spaced 12-18 inches apart.
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Place seed potatoes 10-12 inches apart in the trench, sprouts facing up.
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Cover tubers with 4 inches of soil. As sprouts emerge, keep backfilling the trench with loose soil until level with bed.
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Water newly planted spuds well and continue ample water as plants establish.
Follow-Up Care
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Monitor for pest problems and apply organic remedies promptly. Be vigilant for Colorado potato beetles.
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Hill up soil around stems or mulch heavily as plants grow to prevent sunlight hitting and greening tubers.
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Side dress extra compost or organic fertilizer when plants reach 12-18 inches tall to fuel growth through harvest.
Get your fall potato crop off on the right foot by following these simple planting guidelines. Avoid pitfalls like overwatering, planting too deep, or choosing diseased seed tubers. Now let’s examine optimal potato varieties for fall planting.
Best Potato Varieties for Fall Planting
With thousands of potato types available, choosing the best fall-friendly varieties for your climate can seem daunting. Keep these tips in mind:
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Maturity length – Early and mid-season potatoes fare better in fall than late-maturing long season varieties.
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Purpose – Pick varieties suited for your desired use – baking, mashing, roasting etc.
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Adaptability – Opt for varieties capable of handling your winter conditions and emerging unfazed in spring.
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Disease resistance – Seek out varieties bred with tolerance to prevalent potato diseases in your area.
Here are some terrific options for robust fall potato plantings:
Early Season
- Red Gold – Reliable all-purpose red spud.
- Dark Red Norland – Nutty flavor, great boiled.
- Yukon Gold – Buttery yellow skin, white flesh.
Midseason
- Katahdin – Oval shape, excellent mashed or fried.
- Purple Viking – Purple skin, white interior, great roasted.
- Carola – Yellow, round potatoes, high yielding.
Fingerlings
- Ruby Crescent – Waxy red skin, creamy inside.
- French Fingerling – Oblong shape, smooth texture.
- Austrian Crescent – Excellent grilled or roasted.
Talk to local gardeners to pinpoint fall-friendly varieties that thrive in your growing zone. Now that you’ve chosen your spud varieties, let’s get these tubers in the ground!
Step-by-Step Guide to Fall Planting Potatoes
Follow this simple 7 step process for planting robust fall potatoes:
1. Pick Site
- Choose a sunny, wind-sheltered spot with well-draining soil.
2. Prep Soil
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Loosen top 12 inches of soil via double-digging.
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Mix 2-4 inches of rich compost into the soil.
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Test and amend pH to optimal 5.8-6.5 range.
3. Dig Trenches
- Dig 8-10 inch deep trenches spaced 12-18 inches apart.
4. Plant Seed Potatoes
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Place tubers 10-12 inches apart with sprouts facing up.
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Cover with 4 inches of soil.
5. Hill Soil
- As sprouts emerge, keep hilling loose soil until bed is level.
6. Follow Up Care
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Maintain even moisture.
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Control pests immediately with organic remedies.
7. Hill Stems
- Once plants are 12+ inches tall, mound soil/mulch around stems to protect tubers from light.
Key Tips for Planting Potatoes in Fall
You’re on your way to growing a stellar fall potato harvest! Here are some final tips:
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Handle seed potatoes gently to prevent bruising/damaging sprouts.
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For early emergence, pre-sprout tubers indoors 2-3 weeks before planting.
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Intercrop fast-maturing cool season veggies like lettuce and spinach with potatoes.
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Stay on top of weeds until plants are 12+ inches tall and hilled up. Weeds compete for nutrients.
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Side dress plants with extra compost/fertilizer at 12-18 inch height to maximize yields.
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Monitor closely for Colorado potato beetles – hand pick adults & larvae ASAP to prevent defoliation.
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Provide consistent moisture to prevent hollow heart in tubers – keep soil moist but not saturated.
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Hilling stems with soil/mulch prevents tubers from greening when exposed to sunlight.
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Delay harvesting 2-3 weeks after vines die back for ideal curing and skin set of tubers.
How to plant potatoes in the fall
Planting potatoes in the autumn is a lot like planting in the spring. Here’s how to do it:
Like always, plant your potatoes, but plant them right before the first frost of the fall or winter. For me, this is typically the middle of September.
Do NOT cut up your potatoes to extend the number of plants. You should plant your potatoes whole. This helps prevent rotting of your seed potatoes over winter.
Also, you should plant below ground and NOT in bags or towers or even raised beds. Seed potatoes need the insulation from the cold that underground provides. In fact, you should plant eight to ten inches deep. This will help keep the potatoes warm. Furthermore, you should add mulch, leaves, grass clippings or other organic matter to the bottom of the trench. The organic matter will warm the dirt as it breaks down, giving your potatoes a head start.
One last thing: if you have some Coop Poop fertilizer, mix it in with the dirt. This is the best fertilizer I’ve found for potatoes.
Put in a small potato patch in the fall if you have more than one. You can see how it works.
Planting Potatoes in Fall // Any Climate!
FAQ
How late in the fall can you plant potatoes?
Can I leave potatoes in the ground over winter?
Can I plant potatoes in August?
What not to do when planting potatoes?
Should you plant potatoes in the fall?
By planting potatoes in the fall you don’t need to worry about working the soil for planting in the spring. The spring rains will help to get your potatoes off to a good start instead of slowing down planting. 3. Earlier Potato Harvests Potatoes planted in the fall start to get off to a better start and grow faster than spring-planted potatoes.
Can you plant potatoes late in the summer?
If you live in a warm climate, mid-season and late-season varieties can be planted in July or even August for a second harvest later in the year.In colder climates, extend the growing season with greenhouses,
How to plant potatoes in autumn?
Planting potatoes in the autumn is a lot like planting in the spring. Here’s how to do it: Time it takes to plant in autumn: About 30 minutes. — shovel. Step #1: Buy seed potatoes. You may save your own seed potatoes. If this is the case, you are golden. Otherwise, you will have to buy them online because few local stores have them in the fall.
When should I plant potatoes?
By planting the potato tubers in the fall they will start to grow roots as soon as the soil is the right temperature. This gives them at least a 2-week head start over spring-planted potatoes. 2. Planting Isn’t Held Up By Weather In our zone 5b growing area the spring weather is unpredictable.