When to plant potato by zone
Solanum tuberosum is a cool-season crop that is semi-hardy to frost. Rule of thumb: plant out from 4 weeks before to 1 week before the last frost.
Potato planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Jan 1 – Feb 28; Sep 1 – Oct 15.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | May 1 – May 22 | — | — |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | May 1 – May 22 | — | — |
| 2a | May 21 | — | Apr 23 – May 14 | — | — |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | Apr 22 – May 13 | — | — |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | May 7 – May 28 | — | — |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | Apr 26 – May 17 | — | — |
| 4a | May 12 | — | Apr 14 – May 5 | — | — |
| 4b | May 5 | — | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | — | — |
| 5a | May 4 | — | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | — | — |
| 5b | May 4 | — | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | — | — |
| 6a | May 4 | — | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | — | — |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | — | — |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | — | — |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | Mar 13 – Apr 3 | — | — |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | Mar 4 – Mar 25 | — | — |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | Feb 22 – Mar 15 | — | — |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | Feb 11 – Mar 4 | — | — |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | Jan 15 – Feb 5 | — | — |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | Dec 29 – Jan 19 | — | — |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | Dec 30 – Jan 20 | — | — |
| 11a | Rare | Jan 1 – Feb 28; Sep 1 – Oct 15 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Jan 1 – Feb 28; Sep 1 – Oct 15 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Jan 1 – Feb 28; Sep 1 – Oct 15 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Jan 1 – Feb 28; Sep 1 – Oct 15 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Jan 1 – Feb 28; Sep 1 – Oct 15 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Jan 1 – Feb 28; Sep 1 – Oct 15 | |||
Growing tips
- Plant certified seed potatoes, not grocery potatoes.
- Hill soil over the stems as they grow to keep tubers out of the light.
- Emerging shoots can be nipped by frost; cover them if a late frost is forecast.
Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Green Beans, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets
Potato planting questions
When can I plant potato outside?
Set out transplants from 4 weeks before to 1 week before the last frost, once the soil reaches about 45°F (7.2°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): Apr 6 – Apr 27; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): Mar 29 – Apr 19; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Mar 4 – Mar 25.
How long does potato take to grow?
70–120 days from planting. As a semi-hardy cool-season crop it grows best in cool weather, so spring plantings should mature before summer heat, and fall plantings need about two extra weeks because days are shorter.
What soil temperature does potato need?
At least 45°F (7.2°C) at planting depth. Cold soil slows root growth more than a short delay in planting does, so in a cold spring it pays to wait a week past the usual date. As a semi-hardy crop, potato tolerates light frost.
How far apart should I plant potato?
Recommended in-row spacing: 12 in. Plant certified seed potatoes, not grocery potatoes.
When do you plant potato where frost is rare?
In frost-free climates, plant potato Jan 1 – Feb 28 and Sep 1 – Oct 15, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.