When To Plant Potatoes? The Best Time For Your Zone Or State

To be honest with you, I’m not the biggest fan of potatoes. While some fries and mashed potatoes with gravy are nice every now and then, I recognize the global love for potatoes, though unfortunately, I don’t share that same love.

I know this might ruffle some feathers, but the internet today makes simple things more complicated rather than simplifying them, especially when it comes to gardening-related subjects.

If you’re unsure when the right time to plant your potatoes is, I’m here to help simplify that decision by using your zone or state to determine the ideal planting time for you.

When Is The Best Time To Plant Potatoes?

The best time to plant potatoes is typically when the temperature is mild and the risk of frost has passed.

Yes, they can tolerate some light frosts here and there but any more than that would straight up damage the young potatoes.

Best Time To Plant Potatoes By State/Zone

Virginia (Zone 6-8)

Since Virginia tends to be slightly on the cooler side in terms of overall climate, mid-March or early April potato planting is ideal here. Just be careful of longer-lasting cold snaps as they can damage your potatoes. Allow the soil to sufficiently warm up before you begin planting.

Oregon (Zones 7–9)

The best time to plant potatoes in Oregon would be anywhere between April and May. The soil temperature should be warm enough (15-22°C) and the risk of frost would have passed by then. Frost can kill your potato plants so avoid planting too early.

Texas (Zones 6–9)

Texas generally offers slightly warmer temperature conditions, meaning anywhere between mid to late February should be a good time to begin growing your potatoes.

Just wait for the risk of frost to pass, but be sure to plant your potatoes soon after, as delayed planting can expose them to summer heat, which may hinder their growth.

Georgia (Zones 7–9)

Georgia, which falls under zones 7-9, will allow you to grow the best potatoes in early February. It’s when the soil temperature begins turning slightly mild but there’s still 3-4 weeks left for the last frost.

Missouri (Zones 5–7)

If you’re a resident of beautiful Missouri, the best time to get potatoes into the ground for you would be between early and late March. Simply let the soil temperature rise above 10°C consistently for a few weeks and you’re good to go.

Michigan (Zones 4–6)

In Michigan, you can plant potatoes as soon as the risk of frost passes in mid-March or late April. Although you don’t necessarily have to plant early, planting 2-3 weeks before the last frost date will give you a slight headstart.

Don’t worry about cold damage since it takes potato plants a while to grow above the surface.

Tips For Success When Planting Potatoes

Avoid planting potatoes too early or too late as both extremely low and high temperatures can affect yields.
For the best growth, ensure the soil is slightly on the acidic side.
When fertilizing, avoid nitrogen-heavy fertilizers and go for balanced blends. Excessive nitrogen can encourage foliage growth at the expense of tuber development which isn’t what you want.
Hill your potatoes as they grow. Hilling involves piling up soil around the base of your potato plants and it acts like a cozy blanket protecting them from sunburn while also reducing weeds.

Final Words

Although I’m not the biggest fan of potatoes, I’ve still experimented with them in my garden quite many times.

When it comes to planting potatoes, just keep two simple things in mind.

First, give them plenty of room to grow and spread underground. Second, they’re very thirsty plants, so you’ll need to hydrate them consistently for the best growth and yield.

Other than these two important factors, growing potatoes is just like growing any other vegetable.