Okay, I have a question for you. Do you think it’s better to plant potatoes in the Spring or Fall?
Judging by the size and quality of these late fall potatoes, I almost think it might be better to plant potatoes in the fall up here in Washington state. I have never purposely tried growing potatoes in late August before, but this summer when the local nursery had their sacks of Spring potato starts on clearance, I grabbed 2 bags and planted them.
Yukon Gold and Red potatoes for fall and winter storage? Heck ya! I’m totally pumped with the size of these babies. I thought for sure I’d totally end up with teensy tiny potatoes because they were not going to have enough time to grow.
Well apparently I was wrong.
Not only do fall potatoes rock in my book, planting potatoes in trenches is 1 million and 52 times better than planting them in those stinkin’ potato towers.
Now we will have plenty of taters for Crock Pot Corn Chowder, Fried Potatoes with Peppers and Zucchini, and Scalloped Potatoes all winter long. Giddy Up!
I’d like to here what you think about Spring vs. Fall potatoes.
Have YOU tried growing potatoes in the Spring and Fall before? Which season do you think is best? Do you think this was a fluke, or is it possible to plant fall potatoes every year and have success?
~ Mavis
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Kathy says
Have done both in NE Ohio and while baby taters are great from the spring planting, fall potatoes rock. Bigger, better, lots for winter use. And yes, trench planting is the bomb.
Sara says
I also live in NE Ohio. But never have planted potatoes but was wondering the same thing. You have me sold Kathy Fall it is.
Sakura says
Have you ever tried Jerusalem Artichokes? I planted 4 plants this year. They are supposed to be like a tuber but with a lower glycemic index. Hubby is a T2 Diabetic so I thought I’d give it a try. They grow like a tall sunflower with small flowers all over the branches. I’m digging them up today to see what I have. Just thought I’d ask.
HappyCamper says
Yes Sakura, you will like this delicacy. It makes every recipe taste better. They go with breakfast, lunch, dinner, salads, dessert, smoothies, you name it. Sate’d gently or raw. Go for it! Its easy to control spreading too far with mowing. It grows in different soil types. Keep in mind, your 4 plants will take a couple years before they mature large enough and multiply enough to start using. Sow bugs will take their toll. Groundhogs like the younger stalks/leaves. One hit my bed for only a week and I had to wait 2 years for it to recover. If this might be an issue, fence it in.
Also, get some more. You will be able to eat some while they multiply and get established. Wild are a little smaller but more flavorful. Domesticated, store bought, are larger and mild. Both are good. I prefer wild.
Hope this helps and encourages you!
(John 3:18,16)
Carol says
Another NE Ohio person here! So you’re saying that it’s best to plant potatoes in the Fall and then harvest them the following Fall?
Sara says
No you plant in August and harvest late fall
Carol says
Thanks Sara!
Dayla says
I tried the potato towers after following your blog…they are HIDIOUS! Six tiny potatoes, not much bigger than what I planted! Only going to plant in the ground from here on out!
Kimberly R says
Coastal Ga here and we’ve planted in both seasons.
on a side note: I was thinking about having a large enough garden to support my family of 5 (not having to buy produce) but how many hours a day/week do you work in the garden? I’m thinking of trying to grow at least 1000 lbs for next year (which is much larger then ever for us) but worry about it being too time consuming.
Kelsey says
This is what I am thinking too. We have a tiny yard and we are going to put in three raised beds. (maybe more) I think for a family of 4 we could do 100lbs but I think it would atleast be an hour a day for clean up and harvesting.
Nora says
How big of a plot did you plant your fall potatoes in? And how many pounds did you end up with total?
Mari says
Calling in from the other side of the world…….
Potatoes are planted in spring and up until late summer.
They are lifted before winter – before the ground freezes or snow arrives and stored somewhere dry and dark.
Potatoes freeze in the ground and it makes them inedibe and they turn to a soggy stinking mess. Those that survive go green and produce inferior spuds in the next season. Green spuds are not safe to eat. If u plant now they will either rot, freeze or go green. This is not just here but all over the world. Plant once the worst frosts are over in spring (like now for us here in Kiwiland.) and the ground is drying out and warming up. Even trenching won’t protect them.
Keep your seed potatoes in a paper bag, wrapped in an old towel, somewhere cool and dar and they may last till next season, but if u have already had them a few months, it might be best to start with fresh seed potatoes in spring.
You may be able to grow some in big tub in your greenhouse over winter but outside is just a waste of your time and energy.
Hope this helps.
Roy says
Mari is incorrect. We live in the Texas Hill Country and our ground NEVER freezes as the cold here does not last long enough for it to be able to go deep. We grow potatoes year round. Often we have tomatoes until Christmas and peppers winter over in pots just inside our back door
deana says
I am in North Texas just outside Justin. So Roy I am able to plant Potato’s now for are region and harvest them after Christmas? I have not grown potato’s before so thought I was to late to plant some.
I would love to plant Garlic to, do we have a time window for that as well or No?
deana in Rhome
bonnie fuentevilla says
I’m in southern Cali. I do both. I had incredibly large yields when grown in the ground but once that crop is done they still continue to grow ( I guess ones that I’ve missed ) and they say to rotate your crops, so, I now grow in large pots with air holes I drilled and seems to be working out well.OMG ! Mavis, your broc and bruss look so rocking. I’m trying again. This time I will be armed with constant waterboarding for those dang aphids.
jolanta says
My grandma never planted potatoes in the fall. The climate where she lives is similar to New England.
carrie says
we already have snow – early sping for saskatoon, sk Canada
The Prudent Homemaker says
95 pounds will last all of you all winter?
I’m going to need a BIG place to grow potatoes for my family. We eat at LEAST 1300 pounds a year right now.
Zac says
Just ordered potatoes today and they should be in stock in a week.
Live here in the East Bay area of SFO and going to try to grow potatoes in a raised garden bed as well as a few grow bags.
Thought it would be a good idea to add some spuds to the Fall/Winter garden that’s starting to take shape now that our last Indian summer spell has passed.
Alex says
Glad I found your blog! Just yesterday I opened up my potato tower because it looked pathetic. I planted in the spring and I suspect the deer got to the leaves. Anyway, I was wondering if I could try again but thought it was too late. Now, I’m going to try again tomorrow.