When to plant potatoes
Direct-sow potatoes 1 weeks before your last spring frost.. Enter your ZIP below for exact dates.
The rule
Plant seed potatoes 1–2 weeks before the last frost. [src]Cited: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”
Days to maturity: 70–90 days [src]
Method: Direct-sow in the garden. Frost tolerance: half-hardy (derived from the planting timing above).
Potatoes is half-hardy; it's grown as a spring/summer crop.
Potatoes planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Direct-sow | Sow for fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 10a | — | December 29 – January 12 | — |
| Zone 10b | — | January 3 – January 17 | — |
| Zone 2a | — | April 30 – May 14 | — |
| Zone 2b | — | May 8 – May 22 | — |
| Zone 3b | — | May 3 – May 17 | — |
| Zone 4a | — | April 27 – May 11 | — |
| Zone 4b | — | April 23 – May 7 | — |
| Zone 5a | — | April 25 – May 9 | — |
| Zone 5b | — | April 17 – May 1 | — |
| Zone 6a | — | April 13 – April 27 | — |
| Zone 6b | — | April 6 – April 20 | — |
| Zone 7a | — | March 29 – April 12 | — |
| Zone 7b | — | March 20 – April 3 | — |
| Zone 8a | — | March 9 – March 23 | — |
| Zone 8b | — | February 27 – March 13 | — |
| Zone 9a | — | February 13 – February 27 | — |
| Zone 9b | — | January 16 – January 30 | — |
What you'll need
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Last verified 2026-07-16. Sources: University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension — “Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden”; University of Georgia Extension (days to maturity); NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 Climate Normals (frost); USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map.