Potatoes – Planting In Fall?

Q: We would like to grow potatoes in the fall as well as spring, but we can never find seed potatoes in the fall.

A: Fall potato planting isn’t nearly as successful as planting in early spring. The soil is very warm in early fall and if you wait to plant until it cools you run the risk of freeze damage on the plants. If you want to experiment, get potatoes from an organic grocery in very early August. Plant at the bottom of a six inch deep furrow in a sunny spot that can be watered regularly. As sprouts emerge, hill soil around them. Fertilize regularly. Continue to early November. Harvest before the first frost, which occurs in mid-November on average. Most white potatoes need 110 days of frost-free weather, so that’s why adhering to planting dates is important.