When To Plant Potatoes In Maryland

If you’re planning your Maryland vegetable garden, knowing when to plant potatoes is key for a successful spring. Getting the timing right for when to plant potatoes in Maryland means you’ll harvest plentiful, healthy tubers before the summer heat arrives.

Potatoes are a rewarding crop that thrive in our state’s climate. Planting them at the correct moment protects them from late frosts and gives them the long, cool growing season they prefer. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to get it right.

The classic rule for planting potatoes is to get them in the ground around the time of the last spring frost. In Maryland, this date varies significantly from the mountains to the coast.

For most of the state, including the Central Maryland region around Baltimore, the target window is late March to mid-April. You should aim to plant your seed potatoes about 2-4 weeks before your area’s average last frost date.

Here’s a quick regional breakdown:

Western Maryland (Frost Zone 5-6): Plant from mid to late April. Frosts linger longer in the higher elevations.
Central Maryland (Frost Zone 7): Plant from late March through mid-April. This is the most common timing.
Southern Maryland & Eastern Shore (Frost Zone 7-8): You can often start as early as late March. The coastal areas warm up a bit sooner.

A great natural sign to watch for is the blooming of dandelions or the forsythia bushes. When you see those bright yellow flowers, it’s usually a safe bet that soil conditions are becoming favorable.

Understanding Soil Temperature and Condition

Date are a guide, but soil condition is the real ruler. Potatoes need cool—not cold—soil to begin growing.

Ideal Soil Temp: A consistent 45-50°F is perfect. You can use a simple soil thermometer to check.
Soil Texture: The ground should be workable, not frozen or soggy. If soil clumps in your hand, it’s too wet. Waiting for it to dry prevents rot.

Planting in cold, wet soil is a common mistake. It can cause seed pieces to decay instead of sprout. A little patience for the sun to warm and dry the soil pays off.

Choosing the Right Potato Varieties for Maryland

Selecting varieties suited to our climate improves your harvest. Potatoes are categorized by their days to maturity and harvest time.

Early Season (70-90 days): Like ‘Yukon Gold’ or ‘Red Norland’. These are excellent for an early summer harvest and escape some pest pressures.
Mid-Season (90-110 days): Like ‘Kennebec’ or ‘Purple Majesty’. A reliable choice for a main crop.
Late Season (110+ days): Like ‘Russet Burbank’. Require a longer, cooler season, best for Western MD.

For a spring planting targeting a summer harvest, early and mid-season types perform very well across Maryland.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Follow these steps to plant your potatoes correctly.

1. Sourcing and Preparing Seed Potatoes

Always use certified disease-free seed potatoes from a garden center, not grocery store potatoes. About a week before planting, “chit” or sprout them.

Place them in a cool, bright spot.
Let the eyes form short, sturdy sprouts about ¼ to ½ inch long.

On planting day, cut larger seed potatoes into pieces, ensuring each piece has at least 1-2 strong sprouts. Let the cut pieces air-dry for a day to form a callus, which prevents rot.

2. Preparing Your Garden Bed

Potatoes need loose, well-draining soil with lots of organic matter. Choose a spot that gets full sun.

Loosen the soil to a depth of 12 inches.
Mix in several inches of compost or aged manure. Avoid fresh manure, as it can promote scab disease.
Ensure the soil pH is slightly acidic, between 5.0 and 6.5.

3. The Planting Process

Plant your seed potato pieces with the sprouts facing upward.

Dig a trench about 6 inches deep.
Space pieces 12 inches apart within the row.
Space rows about 2-3 feet apart to allow for hilling.
Cover the seed pieces with 4 inches of soil.

As the plants grow to about 6-8 inches tall, you’ll “hill” them by mounding soil around the stems, leaving just the top leaves exposed. This repeated hilling is crucial for protecting tubers from sunlight and encouraging more potato formation.

Caring for Your Growing Potatoes

Consistent care through the season leads to a better yield.

Watering: Provide 1-2 inches of water per week, especially after flowers appear and tubers are forming. Even moisture is key, but avoid waterlogging.
Weeding: Weed carefully, especially early on. Hilling helps smother weeds.
Pest Watch: Keep an eye out for Colorado potato beetles. Hand-pick them off plants if you see them.

If you’re leaves turn yellow and die back later in summer, that’s normal maturation. But early yellowing could signal a watering issue or disease.

Harvesting Your Spring-Planted Potatoes

You can harvest “new” potatoes about 2-3 weeks after the plants finish flowering. For mature, storage potatoes, wait until the plant vines have completely died back.

Use a digging fork on a dry day, starting far from the plant center to avoid spearing tubers.
Gently lift the soil and sift through for potatoes.
Let them cure in a dark, well-ventilated place for 1-2 weeks before storing.

This curing process thickens the skins so they’ll last longer in storage. Always store your harvested potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Steering clear of these errors will save you alot of trouble.

Planting Too Early: Cold soil = slow growth or rot.
Using Grocery Potatoes: They are often treated to prevent sprouting and can carry disease.
Skimping on Hilling: Exposed tubers turn green and become toxic.
Overwatering: Leads to rot, especially in heavy clay soils common in parts of Maryland.

FAQ: Planting Potatoes in Maryland

Can I plant potatoes in the fall in Maryland?

It’s possible in some warmer parts of Southern Maryland for a very late fall or early winter harvest, but spring planting is much more reliable and recommended for a main crop.

What if a late frost comes after my potatoes have sprouted?

If green foliage emerges and a frost is forecast, gently cover the plants with row cover, straw, or even newspaper overnight. They are somewhat resilient from a light frost, especially if protected.

Can I grow potatoes in containers?

Absolutely. Use a large container (like a 15-gallon pot) with drainage holes. The process is similar: plant, and hill by adding more soil mix as the plants grow. This is a great option for small spaces or difficult soil.

How do I rotate my potato crops?

Don’t plant potatoes in the same spot more than once every three to four years. Rotate them with unrelated crops like beans or leafy greens to prevent soil-borne diseases from building up.

Following these guidelines for timing and care will set you up for a productive potato patch. The satisfying dig for your own homegrown potatoes in early summer is a highlight of the gardening year. With proper planning, you’ll enjoy that bounty right from your own Maryland backyard.