When Do You Plant Potatoes In Ohio – Best Planting Times For

If you’re planning your garden in the Buckeye State, knowing when do you plant potatoes in Ohio is the first step to a great harvest. Getting the timing right makes all the difference between a bumper crop and disappointing yield.

Ohio’s climate varies from north to south, but a few simple rules apply everywhere. This guide will walk you through the best dates, soil tips, and varieties for success.

When Do You Plant Potatoes In Ohio

For most of Ohio, the ideal potato planting window is from late March to mid-April. You aim to get seed potatoes in the ground about 2-4 weeks before your last expected spring frost.

This early start gives them time to establish roots in cool soil. Planting too early in cold, wet ground can cause rot. Planting too late exposes the plants to Ohio’s summer heat, which can halt tuber growth.

Key Factors for Ohio’s Planting Dates

Two main things determine your best planting day: your location and the soil conditions.

Ohio is split into USDA hardiness zones 5b through 7a. This means last frost dates shift significantly.

• Northern Ohio (Zones 5b-6a): Plant from early to late April. The last frost is typically around May 1-15.
• Central Ohio (Zone 6b): Plant from late March to mid-April. Last frost is usually around April 15-30.
• Southern Ohio (Zones 6b-7a): You can often plant earliest, from late March to early April. Last frost can be as early as April 7-20.

Always check your local frost dates as a starting point. A good rule is to plant when soil temperatures reach a consistent 45°F (7°C). You can measure this with a simple soil thermometer.

How to Prepare Your Seed Potatoes

Don’t just plant store-bought eating potatoes. Buy certified disease-free seed potatoes from a garden center. Here’s how to get them ready.

1. Chitting (Pre-sprouting): About 2-4 weeks before planting, set your seed potatoes in a cool, bright place. Let the “eyes” develop short, sturdy sprouts. This gives them a head start.
2. Cutting: A day or two before planting, cut larger seed potatoes into pieces. Each piece should be about the size of a golf ball and have at least 1-2 strong sprouts.
3. Curing: Let the cut pieces dry and form a callus over the cut surface. This helps prevent rot when they’re planted. Lay them out cut-side up in a single layer.

Choosing the Right Potato Varieties for Ohio

Selecting types that suit Ohio’s season is crucial. You have three main categories.

• Early Season (70-90 days): These mature before peak summer heat. Great for Northern Ohio. Try ‘Yukon Gold’, ‘Red Norland’, or ‘Irish Cobbler’.
• Mid-Season (90-110 days): A reliable choice for most of the state. Includes favorites like ‘Kennebec’, ‘Viking Purple’, and ‘Gold Rush’.
• Late Season (110-135 days): Best for Southern Ohio’s longer season. These store well. Examples are ‘Russet Burbank’ and ‘German Butterball’.

Step-by-Step Planting Guide

Follow these steps for a successful planting day.

1. Site Selection: Pick a spot with full sun (at least 6 hours). Potatoes need well-drained soil to prevent disease.
2. Soil Preparation: Work the soil to a depth of 8-12 inches. Mix in compost or aged manure. Avoid fresh manure, as it can cause scab. The soil should be loose, not soggy.
3. Planting Depth & Spacing: Dig a trench or individual holes about 4-6 inches deep. Place seed pieces cut-side down, sprouts facing up. Space them 10-12 inches apart in rows spaced 2-3 feet apart.
4. Covering: Gently cover the seed pieces with 3-4 inches of soil. Don’t pack it down to hard.

Post-Planting Care: Hilling and Watering

Care after planting is just as important. The key practice is “hilling.”

When plants are about 6-8 inches tall, mound soil around the stems, leaving a few inches of leaves exposed. Repeat this every few weeks. Hilling protects developing tubers from sunlight, which turns them green and toxic, and encourages more potatoes to form.

Water consistently, providing about 1-2 inches per week. Even moisture is vital, especially when tubers are forming. Inconsistent watering leads to misshapen potatoes. Try to water at the base of plants to keep foliage dry and prevent disease.

Common Problems and Solutions in Ohio

Watch out for these typical issues.

• Colorado Potato Beetle: Hand-pick the orange larvae and adults. Use row covers early in the season.
• Early/Late Blight: This fungal disease thrives in humid Ohio summers. Ensure good airflow, water at the soil level, and rotate your crops each year.
• Poor Drainage: Heavy clay soil common in parts of Ohio can cause rot. Raised beds are a excellent solution for improving drainage.

When and How to Harvest

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 and turned brown.

Use a garden fork to carefully loosen the soil beside the plant. Gently lift the tubers. Let them cure on the soil surface for a few hours, then move them to a dark, cool place for longer storage.

FAQ: Planting Potatoes in Ohio

Can I plant potatoes in July in Ohio?
Only if you’re planting a very early-season variety for a fall harvest, and even then it’s risky. Summer heat stresses the plants. It’s generally not recommended for a main crop.

What happens if I plant potatoes too early?
Seed pieces can rot in cold, saturated soil. They may also be damaged by a late frost that kills the young foliage, setting back growth significantly.

Can I grow potatoes from store-bought ones?
It’s not advised. Store potatoes are often treated with a sprout inhibitor and can carry diseases that will stay in your soil for years. Certified seed potatoes are a safer investment.

How late is to late to plant potatoes?
Aim to have them in the ground by mid-May at the absolute latest for Central Ohio. Later planting exposes the critical tuber-forming stage to the hottest part of summer, reducing your yield.

Do potatoes need a lot of fertilizer?
They need moderate feeding. Too much nitrogen, especially, will give you huge plants but very small tubers. A balanced, low-nitrogen fertilizer or compost worked in at planting is best.

By following these timing and care tips, you’ll be well on your way to harvesting a plentiful supply of homegrown potatoes from your Ohio garden. The simple act of getting the date right sets the stage for everything that follows.