Knowing when to harvest your potatoes is one of the most satisfying parts of growing them. You want to pick them at their peak, and how do you know when potatoes are ready to pick is a question every gardener faces. Getting the timing right means a bounty of tasty, well-storing tubers instead of a disappointing crop.
This guide will walk you through the clear signs, from foliage clues to a simple hands-on test. We’ll cover the differences for new potatoes versus storage spuds, and give you the best techniques for digging them up without damage.
How Do You Know When Potatoes Are Ready to Pick
The perfect harvest time depends on what type of potato you planted and how you plan to use them. But generally, there are universal signals your plants send. Paying attention to these signs is more reliable than just counting days on a calendar.
The Top Signs Your Potatoes Are Ready
First, look up. The condition of the plant above ground tells you a lot about whats happening below.
Flowering is a Early Clue: When your potato plants flower, it’s a signal that tubers are starting to form. This is not the time to harvest for storage, but it’s a good heads-up that the process has begun. For many varieties, the main harvest comes weeks after blooming.
* Foliage Dies Back: This is the biggest and most reliable sign. The leaves and stems will start to turn yellow, then brown, and finally wilt and die. This natural process means the plant has finished its work sending energy down to the tubers. Once about half to two-thirds of the top growth has died back, your main crop potatoes are likely ready.
* Skin Set: This is a below-ground sign. Gently dig around the edge of a plant and feel a potato or two. Immature potatoes have thin, flaky skin that rubs off easily. Potatoes ready for storage will have a thicker, firmer skin that doesn’t scrub off with your thumb. This tougher skin is essential for long-term keeping.
New Potatoes vs. Storage Potatoes
Your harvest timing changes based on your goal.
For New Potatoes (Early Harvest):
These are the tender, thin-skinned treats. You can start harvesting these as soon as the plants begin to flower. Just gently feel around in the soil for smaller tubers and take a few, leaving the plant to produce more. This gives you a early taste of your crop.
For Storage Potatoes (Main Harvest):
This is your bulk harvest for keeping over winter. For these, you must wait for the full process. Let the plant’s foliage completely die back. Then, wait another 2-3 weeks. This crucial waiting period allows the skins to fully thicken and cure on the plant, which massively extends their storage life.
A Step-by-Step Harvest Test
Not sure if it’s time? Do this simple test.
1. Choose a single potato plant that looks mostly died back.
2. Using your hands or a garden fork, carefully dig from the side of the hill, about a foot away from the main stem.
3. Unearth a few potatoes and examine them.
4. Check the skin firmness. If it’s set, and the tubers are a size you’re happy with, the rest of the plant is ready.
5. If skins are still papery, gently rebury them and check again in a week.
How to Harvest Without Hurting Your Spuds
Careful harvesting prevents bruises and cuts that lead to rot.
* Pick a Dry Day: Never harvest when the soil is soggy wet. Wait for a dry period of several days. Wet soil clings more and wet potatoes don’t store well initially.
* Cut Back Foliage: If the tops haven’t fully died, cut them off a few days before you dig. This helps harden the skins and makes digging easier.
* Loosen the Soil: Use a digging or spading fork, not a shovel. Insert it deep into the soil well away from where you think the potatoes are, and lever the soil up.
* Dig Wide and Hand-Sift: Start from the outside of the plant mound and work in. After forking, use your hands to sift through the soil so you don’t miss any tubers and don’t spear them.
* Handle Gently: Treat potatoes like eggs. Don’t drop them into a bucket. Place them gently to avoid damaging there delicate skin.
Curing and Storing Your Harvest
What you do after picking is just as important.
1. Cure First: Don’t wash potatoes right away. Brush off big clumps of soil. Let them cure in a single layer in a dark, well-ventilated, cool place (about 60-65°F) for 10-14 days. This further toughens the skin and heals minor nicks.
2. Sort and Store: After curing, sort out any damaged potatoes (use these first) and remove any remaining dirt. Store perfect, unblemished tubers in complete darkness in a cool, humid place (ideally 38-45°F). Cardboard boxes, paper bags, or breathable baskets work well. Never store in sealed plastic bags.
Common Problems That Affect Harvest Time
Sometimes, nature interveens.
* Early Blight or Frost: If disease or an early frost kills the foliage prematurely, your potatoes may be smaller and not fully matured. You should still harvest them about 2-3 weeks after the tops die, but they might not store as long.
* Green Potatoes: Any tuber exposed to sunlight will turn green and produce a bitter, toxic substance called solanine. If you find green potatoes during harvest, cut away the green parts completely before cooking, or discard small ones entirely. This is why hilling your plants during the growing season is so vital.
FAQ: Your Potato Harvest Questions Answered
Q: Can you leave potatoes in the ground too long?
A: Generally, yes. If the soil is wet, they can start to rot or be eaten by pests. In very cold climates, they can freeze. It’s best to dig them up within a few weeks of the tops dying back for optimal quality.
Q: What if my potatoes plants never flowered?
A: Don’t worry! Not all varieties flower reliably, especially in hot weather. Rely on the foliage die-back and the skin-set test as your main indicators instead.
Q: How long do potatoes take to grow?
A: It varies by type. ‘Early’ varieties can be ready in 70-90 days. ‘Maincrop’ varieties need 100-130 days or more. Always check the days to maturity for your specific seed potato.
Q: Can I eat potatoes right after harvest?
A: Absolutely, and they’ll taste amazing! Just make sure to cook any that have thin skins (new potatoes) soon. For thicker-skinned storage types, they’ll be fine to eat immediately but will store better if cured first.
Q: Why are my harvested potatoes so small?
A: Several factors can cause this: overcrowded plants, not enough water during tuber formation, soil that’s too compacted, or harvesting too early before the plant reached full maturity.
Harvesting potatoes is like a treasure hunt in your own garden. By watching for the yellowing leaves, waiting for those skins to toughen, and using a gentle hand when you dig, you’ll be rewarded with a homegrown crop that lasts for months. The simple satisfaction of pulling up a hill full of clean, healthy tubers is worth the wait. Remember, patience in those final few weeks makes all the difference between a good harvest and a great one.