When to plant potatoes

Plant potato seed pieces directly in the garden 14-21 days before your last frost date, once the soil is at least 50°F.

The window: Plant 14-21 days before the last frost date, when soils are at least 50°F; in some regions this works out to a window from March 15 to May 1 depending on location.

Soil temperature should be at least 50°F (one source notes at least 45°F).
Potatoes will resist light frost, but hard frosts retard growth.
Potatoes grow rapidly with cool spring weather.
Plant 1½ to 2 oz. seed pieces (1½-inch cubes) with 1 to 3 buds, or small whole seed potatoes.

The mistake to avoid: Don't plant during prolonged cold weather, because seed pieces will languish or rot.

Timing varies by region and year; your local extension office is the closest authority.

Grounded in: extension.umd.edu, extension.usu.edu. Every window and number follows sentences verified verbatim on those pages.

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