Can You Plant Potatoes In August – Your Guide To A Delicious Fall

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Ever gazed at your empty garden beds in late summer and wished you could squeeze in one more harvest? Perhaps you missed the spring planting window, or maybe you just can’t get enough of those earthy, homegrown potatoes. You might be asking yourself, “can you plant potatoes in august?” It’s a common question, and I’m here to tell you with a resounding “yes!”

Many gardeners believe that by August, the potato season is over. But I’ve got a secret to share that will transform your gardening year: August is actually a fantastic time to get a second crop of potatoes in the ground, promising a delightful fall harvest. Imagine digging up fresh, tender spuds as the autumn leaves begin to turn! It’s entirely possible, and frankly, quite rewarding.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about planting potatoes in August. We’ll cover the best varieties, essential soil preparation, step-by-step planting techniques, and crucial care tips to ensure your late-season crop thrives. Get ready to extend your potato season and enjoy the unparalleled taste of homegrown goodness well into the cooler months. Let’s get growing!

Can You Plant Potatoes in August? The Surprising Truth for a Fall Harvest

The short answer, as we’ve established, is absolutely! Planting potatoes in August is not just a possibility; it’s a brilliant strategy for several reasons. While most gardeners focus on spring planting, a late-summer sowing can yield fantastic results, especially in regions with mild autumns and late first frosts.

This late-season planting allows your potatoes to develop during a period when intense summer heat starts to recede. Cooler temperatures as they mature can actually lead to incredibly flavorful tubers. Plus, you often bypass some of the common pests and diseases that are more prevalent during the peak of summer.

Benefits of Planting Potatoes in August

Why bother with a second round of planting when you could be winding down your garden for the year? The benefits of can you plant potatoes in august are numerous and compelling:

  • Extended Harvest Window: Enjoy fresh, homegrown potatoes for a longer period, often right up until Thanksgiving or even later in warmer climates.
  • Superior Flavor: Many gardeners find that potatoes grown in cooler, late-season conditions have a creamier texture and more intense flavor.
  • Reduced Pest Pressure: Early blight and potato beetles, common scourges of spring-planted potatoes, tend to be less active by late summer.
  • Utilize Garden Space: Perfect for beds that have finished producing early summer crops like peas or beans. It’s a great way to maximize your garden’s output.
  • Fresh Seed Stock: If you save your own seed potatoes, an August planting can help you keep a continuous supply of viable tubers for the next year.

So, if you’re looking for a way to keep your garden productive and your pantry stocked, don’t hesitate to consider this often-overlooked opportunity. It’s one of my favorite can you plant potatoes in august tips for maximizing garden efficiency.

Choosing the Right Potato Varieties for Your August Planting Success

Success with late-season potatoes hinges significantly on selecting the right varieties. You’re working with a shorter growing window before the first hard frost, so quick-maturing potatoes are your best friends. Look for varieties that mature in 60-90 days, rather than the 100-120 days of some main-season types.

When you’re asking “how to can you plant potatoes in august successfully,” the answer often starts with the seed. Always use certified seed potatoes. These are specially grown to be disease-free and will give you the best chance of a healthy crop. Avoid planting grocery store potatoes, as they are often treated with sprout inhibitors and may carry diseases.

Recommended Fast-Maturing Varieties

Here are some excellent choices that perform well as an August planting:

  • ‘Yukon Gold’: A classic, buttery yellow potato that matures relatively quickly (70-90 days) and is versatile for cooking.
  • ‘Norland Red’: An early red-skinned variety (60-80 days) known for its smooth texture and good yields.
  • ‘Kennebec’: A reliable white potato (80-100 days) that’s disease-resistant and stores well. It’s a bit longer, but often worth it.
  • ‘Irish Cobbler’: An old-fashioned favorite (70-90 days) with irregular shape but excellent flavor.
  • ‘Fingerling’ varieties: Many fingerlings mature quickly and offer gourmet appeal.

Remember to check the “days to maturity” on the seed potato packaging. This will be your most important guide for successful can you plant potatoes in august best practices.

Sourcing Seed Potatoes for Late Planting

Finding seed potatoes in August might seem tricky, as most garden centers have cleared them out after spring. However, many online seed suppliers offer seed potatoes year-round, or at least have a late-season stock specifically for fall planting. It’s worth planning ahead and ordering them in July if possible.

If you have spring-planted potatoes, you can also use smaller, healthy tubers from that harvest as “seed” for your August planting. Just make sure they are disease-free and have started to sprout or “chit” slightly.

Your Step-by-Step Guide: How to Plant Potatoes in August

Ready to get your hands dirty? Planting potatoes in August follows many of the same principles as spring planting, but with a few seasonal adjustments. This can you plant potatoes in august guide will walk you through each step.

Soil Prep is Key for August Potatoes

Potatoes are heavy feeders and thrive in loose, well-draining, slightly acidic soil (pH 5.0-6.0). Since your soil might be tired from summer production, a little extra love is needed now.

  1. Clear the Bed: Remove any remnants of previous crops, weeds, and debris.
  2. Amend Generously: Dig in plenty of well-rotted compost or aged manure. Aim for at least 4-6 inches mixed into the top 8-12 inches of soil. This provides nutrients and improves drainage.
  3. Loosen Deeply: Potatoes need room to grow, so ensure the soil is loose and friable. If you have heavy clay, consider adding sand or perlite to improve texture.
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Good soil preparation is the foundation for a robust harvest and helps mitigate common problems with can you plant potatoes in august.

Chitting Your Seed Potatoes

Chitting, or pre-sprouting, your seed potatoes gives them a head start, which is particularly valuable for August planting when every day counts. This encourages strong, stocky sprouts before planting.

About 2-3 weeks before planting, place your seed potatoes in a single layer in a bright, cool (around 50-60°F / 10-15°C) spot, away from direct sunlight. An egg carton works perfectly for this. You’ll see short, green or purplish sprouts emerge from the “eyes.” These are much better than long, pale sprouts that develop in the dark.

Cutting Seed Potatoes

If your seed potatoes are larger than a chicken egg, you can cut them into pieces. Each piece should have at least 1-2 “eyes” and be roughly 1.5-2 ounces in size. After cutting, let the pieces “cure” for 24-48 hours in a dry, airy place. This forms a protective layer over the cut surface, preventing rot once planted.

Planting Methods: Trench, Hill, or Container?

You have a few options for how to get those chitted seed potatoes into the ground:

Trench Planting

This is a classic method. Dig a trench 6-8 inches deep. Place seed potato pieces, cut side down (or sprout side up), 10-12 inches apart. If planting multiple rows, space trenches 2-3 feet apart. Cover with 3-4 inches of soil. You’ll gradually “hill up” more soil as the plants grow.

Hill Planting

For this method, dig individual holes 6-8 inches deep and 10-12 inches apart. Place a seed potato piece in each hole and cover with 3-4 inches of soil, forming a small mound. As plants grow, add more soil to create larger hills around the stems.

Container or Grow Bag Planting

This is an excellent option for small spaces or if your garden soil isn’t ideal. Use large containers (10-15 gallons or larger) or specialized potato grow bags. Place 4-6 inches of good potting mix at the bottom, then lay 2-3 seed potato pieces. Cover with 3-4 inches of soil. As the plant grows, continue to add soil or compost around the stem, leaving only the top leaves exposed.

No matter which method you choose, remember that consistent moisture is vital immediately after planting to encourage root development.

Essential Care for Your Late-Season Potato Patch

Once your potatoes are in the ground, a little diligent care will go a long way in ensuring a bountiful fall harvest. This can you plant potatoes in august care guide will help you navigate the crucial weeks ahead.

Hydration is Crucial

Potatoes need consistent moisture, especially during tuber formation. August can still bring warm, dry spells, so don’t let your plants dry out. Aim for 1-2 inches of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. Deep, infrequent watering is better than shallow, frequent watering, as it encourages deeper root growth.

Consider using drip irrigation or soaker hoses to deliver water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and discouraging foliar diseases.

The Art of Hilling

Hilling is essential for potato production. As your potato plants grow to about 6-8 inches tall, gently pull soil up around the stems, leaving only the top few inches of foliage exposed. Repeat this process every 2-3 weeks, or whenever the plants reach 6-8 inches above the existing soil line. You can use garden soil, compost, or even straw for hilling.

Why hill? Hilling protects the developing tubers from sunlight (which turns them green and bitter) and encourages more tubers to form along the buried stem. It’s a simple but incredibly effective technique for increasing your yield and preventing common problems with can you plant potatoes in august like greening.

Fertilizing Your Growing Spuds

Given that potatoes are heavy feeders, a light feeding mid-season can be beneficial. Once the plants are established and have been hilled once or twice, you can apply a balanced organic fertilizer or a compost tea. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which promote leafy growth at the expense of tuber development.

Weeding and Mulching

Keep your potato patch free of weeds, as they compete for water and nutrients. Mulching with straw, grass clippings, or shredded leaves can suppress weeds, conserve soil moisture, and help regulate soil temperature – a big plus for sustainable can you plant potatoes in august practices.

Keeping Pests and Diseases at Bay

While late-season planting often means fewer pests, it’s still wise to be vigilant. Inspect your plants regularly for signs of trouble.

  • Colorado Potato Beetles: If you spot these striped beetles or their reddish larvae, handpick them and drop them into soapy water.
  • Aphids: A strong spray of water can dislodge them, or use insecticidal soap for heavier infestations.
  • Fungal Diseases (e.g., Late Blight): Good air circulation, proper spacing, and avoiding overhead watering can help prevent these. If you see signs of blight (dark, water-soaked spots on leaves), remove affected plants immediately to prevent spread.

Early detection and intervention are your best tools for managing common problems with can you plant potatoes in august.

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Practices for August Potatoes

Growing your own food is inherently eco-friendly, but we can always do more to support our planet and our gardens. Implementing sustainable and eco-friendly can you plant potatoes in august practices benefits both your harvest and the environment.

Embrace Organic Soil Amendments

Instead of synthetic fertilizers, rely on nutrient-rich organic materials like compost, aged manure, and cover crops. These not only feed your potatoes but also improve soil structure, water retention, and microbial life, building a healthier ecosystem in your garden.

Water Wisely

Conservation is key. Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to deliver water directly to the plant roots, minimizing waste. Mulching extensively helps reduce evaporation, so your plants need less frequent watering. Consider collecting rainwater for irrigation where feasible.

Companion Planting

Some plants can help deter pests or improve the growth of potatoes. Marigolds are known to repel nematodes, while nasturtiums can act as a trap crop for aphids. Bush beans, corn, and cabbage family plants are generally good companions. Avoid planting potatoes near sunflowers, tomatoes, or cucumbers.

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Natural Pest Control

Instead of chemical pesticides, opt for biological controls. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, which prey on aphids. Handpicking larger pests like potato beetles is effective. Neem oil and insecticidal soaps are good organic options for targeted treatments if necessary.

These sustainable can you plant potatoes in august strategies ensure you’re growing healthy food in a healthy way.

Harvesting Your August-Planted Bounty

The moment of truth! Knowing when and how to harvest your late-season potatoes is crucial for maximizing yield and ensuring good storage. Your potatoes should be ready for harvest anywhere from 60 to 100 days after planting, depending on the variety.

Signs of Readiness

Look for the plants to begin yellowing and dying back. The foliage will turn brown, and the stems will start to wither. This indicates that the plant has put all its energy into developing the tubers underground. If a light frost hits and kills the foliage, that’s often a good signal that the tubers are ready or will be very soon.

For “new potatoes” (smaller, tender spuds), you can carefully “rob” a few from the sides of the hill once the plant starts flowering, leaving the main plant to continue growing.

The Digging Process

Choose a dry day for harvesting. Gently loosen the soil around the plant with a garden fork, starting about 6-12 inches away from the main stem to avoid piercing the tubers. Carefully lift the entire plant and shake off the loose soil, revealing your treasure trove of potatoes.

Inspect the soil carefully for any stragglers – potatoes love to hide! Avoid bruising or cutting the potatoes, as this can lead to rot during storage.

Curing for Storage

Once harvested, allow your potatoes to “cure” for 1-2 weeks in a cool (50-60°F / 10-15°C), dark, and well-ventilated area. This process allows the skins to toughen up and any minor wounds to heal, significantly improving their storage life. Don’t wash them before curing; brush off excess dirt.

Storing Your Fall Harvest

After curing, store your potatoes in a cool (40-45°F / 4-7°C), dark, and humid place, like a root cellar, unheated basement, or garage. Burlap sacks, paper bags, or slatted crates are ideal for storage, allowing for good air circulation. Avoid storing them in plastic bags, which can trap moisture and cause rot.

With proper harvesting and storage, your August-planted potatoes can last for several months, providing you with homegrown goodness well into winter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planting Potatoes in August

Let’s tackle some common questions you might have about this rewarding late-season endeavor.

What if my region has an early first frost?

If your region is prone to early frosts, choose the fastest-maturing potato varieties possible (60-75 days). Consider planting in containers that can be moved indoors or to a sheltered location if an unexpected frost threatens. Mulching heavily around plants can also offer some frost protection.

Can I use potatoes from my spring harvest as seed potatoes for August?

Yes, you can! Select healthy, disease-free potatoes from your spring crop. Choose smaller, golf-ball-sized tubers or cut larger ones into pieces with 1-2 eyes. Make sure they have started to sprout or “chit” slightly before planting. This is a great way to ensure fresh seed stock.

How do I protect my late-season potatoes from cold snaps?

As fall approaches, watch the weather forecast. If a light frost is predicted, you can cover your potato plants with row covers, old sheets, or a thick layer of straw or leaves. This can buy you a few extra weeks of growing time and help the tubers mature fully.

My potato plants are flowering – does that mean the potatoes are ready?

Flowering indicates that the plant is actively developing tubers, but it doesn’t mean they are fully mature. You can carefully “rob” a few small “new potatoes” at this stage, but for a full harvest of mature tubers, wait until the foliage begins to yellow and die back naturally.

What are the biggest challenges when planting potatoes in August?

The main challenges are ensuring enough time before the first hard frost, managing potentially lingering summer heat (especially early in August), and finding late-season seed potatoes. Choosing fast-maturing varieties, proper watering, and good soil preparation are key to overcoming these.

Conclusion

So, there you have it! The answer to “can you plant potatoes in august?” is a resounding and enthusiastic yes. This often-overlooked gardening opportunity can extend your harvest season, provide incredibly flavorful tubers, and maximize the productivity of your garden beds. From selecting the perfect fast-maturing varieties to mastering the art of hilling and proper care, you now have all the knowledge you need to succeed.

Don’t let the calendar dictate your gardening joy. Embrace the potential of a late-season planting and prepare to be delighted by the bounty you can unearth as autumn settles in. There’s nothing quite like pulling fresh, earthy potatoes from your own garden, especially when you thought the season was over. So, grab your seed potatoes, amend that soil, and get ready to enjoy a delicious fall harvest. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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