Planting Early Potatoes – Your Guide To A Bountiful, Early Harvest

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Ah, the thought of digging up your very own fresh, tender potatoes, weeks before the main harvest, is enough to make any gardener’s heart sing, isn’t it? There’s nothing quite like that first bite of a homegrown new potato, still warm from the earth. Many gardeners dream of this early bounty, but sometimes the idea of planting early potatoes can feel a little daunting. You might wonder if it’s too cold, if the timing is right, or how to protect those precious sprouts.

Well, wonder no more! You’ve landed in the perfect spot. As an experienced gardener, I’m here to share all my best tips and tricks, just like I would with a friend. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing the right varieties to harvesting your first delicious crop. We’ll cover site preparation, the art of chitting, proper planting techniques, and how to care for your early potato plants to ensure a fantastic yield. Get ready to transform your garden dreams into a delicious reality!

Why Plant Early Potatoes? The Sweet Rewards of an Early Harvest

So, why go through the effort of planting early potatoes? Trust me, the benefits are truly wonderful and make the extra planning well worth it. It’s not just about getting ahead; it’s about enjoying superior flavor and giving your garden a head start.

Freshness You Can Taste

The number one reason to plant early potatoes is, without a doubt, the taste. These “new” potatoes are harvested when they’re young and tender, offering a delicate flavor and creamy texture that simply can’t be matched by store-bought varieties. They’re fantastic boiled, roasted, or added to salads.

Beating the Pests and Diseases

By planting early, you often give your potato plants a significant head start on common garden pests and diseases, particularly late blight, which tends to strike later in the season. Your plants will be well on their way to maturity, or even ready for harvest, before these issues become widespread. It’s a clever strategy for a healthier crop!

Maximizing Your Garden Space

Early potatoes have a relatively short growing season—often just 60-90 days. This means once you’ve harvested them, you can use that valuable garden space for a second crop, like beans, carrots, or leafy greens. It’s a fantastic way to get more out of your growing season and practice efficient garden management.

Choosing Your Champions: Best Early Potato Varieties

The success of your early potato harvest starts with selecting the right varieties. Not all potatoes are created equal, especially when it comes to early maturity. Let’s look at what to consider.

What Makes an “Early” Potato?

Early potato varieties are specifically bred to mature quickly. They are often referred to as “first earlies” or “second earlies.” First earlies mature in about 60-75 days, while second earlies take around 75-90 days. They generally produce smaller tubers but in abundance, and they’re perfect for that fresh, new potato experience.

Top Picks for Flavor and Yield

When selecting your seed potatoes, look for certified disease-free stock. Here are some of my personal favorites, known for their reliability and delicious flavor:

  • ‘Sharpe’s Express’: A classic first early, known for its excellent flavor and floury texture when boiled.
  • ‘Rocket’: Another superb first early, producing a heavy crop of small, round, white-skinned tubers very quickly.
  • ‘Duke of York’: A popular second early with yellow flesh and a superb taste, great for boiling or roasting.
  • ‘Charlotte’: A fantastic second early salad potato, producing waxy, firm tubers that hold their shape beautifully.
  • ‘Arran Pilot’: A reliable first early, producing good yields of white-fleshed, firm potatoes.

Don’t be afraid to try a couple of different varieties to see what performs best in your garden and what flavors you love most!

Getting Started Right: Preparing for Planting Early Potatoes

Proper preparation is key to a successful harvest. This part of our planting early potatoes guide covers everything from waking up your spuds to choosing the perfect spot.

Chitting: Waking Up Your Spuds

Chitting is the process of encouraging your seed potatoes to sprout before planting. It’s not strictly necessary for all varieties, but for early potatoes, it can give them a significant head start, leading to an earlier and potentially larger harvest. Think of it as giving them a gentle nudge to wake up from their dormancy.

How to Chit Your Seed Potatoes

This is one of those crucial planting early potatoes tips!

  1. Gather Your Supplies: You’ll need your seed potatoes, egg cartons or shallow trays, and a cool, bright, frost-free location.
  2. Arrange the Potatoes: Place each seed potato in an individual compartment of an egg carton or simply lay them in a single layer in a tray. Make sure the “rose” end (the end with the most “eyes” or small indentations) is facing upwards.
  3. Find the Right Spot: Position your trays in a cool (around 45-50°F or 7-10°C), bright area. A spare room, a cool windowsill, or a greenhouse shelf works perfectly. Avoid direct sunlight, which can cause them to shrivel.
  4. Wait for Sprouts: Over the next few weeks, you’ll see short, stout, green or purple sprouts (chits) emerge. Aim for sprouts about 1/2 to 1 inch long. Thin out weaker sprouts, leaving 2-3 strong ones per potato.
  5. Timing: Start chitting about 4-6 weeks before your intended planting date.

Site Selection: Sun, Soil, and Shelter

Potatoes are sun-lovers! Choose a spot in your garden that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Good drainage is also paramount, as potatoes hate “wet feet.”

Soil Preparation: The Foundation of Success

The soil is your potatoes’ home, so make it a good one! Potatoes thrive in loose, fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH (5.0-6.0). If your soil is heavy clay, now is the time to amend it generously.

  • Organic Matter is Key: Incorporate plenty of well-rotted compost or aged manure. This improves soil structure, drainage, and fertility. Aim for a layer 2-4 inches deep worked into the top 6-12 inches of soil.
  • Avoid Fresh Manure: While manure is excellent, avoid using fresh manure as it can promote scab disease.
  • Loosen Up: Digging or tilling your bed deeply will ensure your tubers have plenty of room to expand without obstruction.
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Timing is Everything: When to Plant Early Potatoes

This is perhaps the most critical of all planting early potatoes tips: knowing when to put them in the ground. Early potatoes are eager, but they are also susceptible to frost.

Understanding Your Frost Dates

The general rule of thumb is to plant early potatoes about 2-4 weeks before your last anticipated spring frost date. This usually means late March to mid-April in many temperate regions. The soil temperature should ideally be at least 45°F (7°C). You can check local extension office resources for your specific area’s frost dates.

Don’t worry too much if there’s a late cold snap; we’ll cover how to protect them later!

How to Planting Early Potatoes: Step-by-Step Success

Now for the exciting part—getting those chitted spuds into the ground! This section provides a detailed planting early potatoes guide for a thriving crop.

Preparing Your Beds or Containers

Whether you’re planting in the ground, raised beds, or containers, a little prep goes a long way.

  • In-Ground/Raised Beds: Dig trenches about 6-8 inches deep. If you’re using the “no-dig” method, simply create a shallow depression and build up around it.
  • Containers: Choose large containers (at least 15-gallon capacity per plant for good yield), grow bags, or even old tires. Ensure they have drainage holes. Fill the bottom 6-8 inches with a good quality potting mix enriched with compost.

The Planting Process

Follow these planting early potatoes best practices for optimal results:

  1. Position Your Seed Potatoes: Place chitted seed potatoes in the bottom of your trench or container, with the chits (sprouts) pointing upwards.
  2. Spacing and Depth:
    • In-Ground: Space your seed potatoes about 10-12 inches apart within the trench. If planting multiple rows, space rows 2-3 feet apart to allow for hilling.
    • Containers: You can typically plant 1-2 seed potatoes per 15-gallon container, depending on its width.
  3. Cover Gently: Cover the seed potatoes with about 3-4 inches of soil. Don’t fill the trench or container completely yet; we’ll add more soil as the plants grow.
  4. Water In: Give the newly planted area a good, thorough watering. This settles the soil and provides initial moisture.

Sustainable Planting Early Potatoes: Eco-Friendly Tips

Gardening is all about working with nature. Here are some ways to make your planting early potatoes efforts more sustainable and eco-friendly.

  • Compost and Organic Matter: As mentioned, enrich your soil with plenty of homemade compost. This reduces waste, improves soil health, and minimizes the need for synthetic fertilizers.
  • Crop Rotation: Never plant potatoes in the same spot year after year. Rotate your crops to different areas of the garden to prevent the buildup of soil-borne diseases and pests. A 3-4 year rotation cycle is ideal.
  • Mulching: Once your plants are established, apply a layer of organic mulch (straw, shredded leaves, grass clippings) around them. This conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and regulates soil temperature.
  • Water Conservation: Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to deliver water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and runoff.

Nurturing Your Crop: Planting Early Potatoes Care Guide

Once your potatoes are planted, a little ongoing care will ensure they grow strong and healthy. This planting early potatoes care guide covers the essentials.

Watering Wisely

Consistent moisture is vital for potatoes, especially as the tubers begin to form. Aim for about 1 inch of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. Uneven watering can lead to problems like scab or cracked tubers. Feel the soil; if it’s dry an inch or two down, it’s time to water.

Hilling Up: Protecting Your Developing Tubers

Hilling (or mounding) is one of the most important tasks for potato growers. It involves drawing soil up around the potato stems as they grow. This is a key planting early potatoes tip!

Why and How to Hill

  1. Why Hill?
    • Prevents Greening: Potato tubers that are exposed to sunlight turn green and produce solanine, a bitter, toxic compound. Hilling keeps them covered.
    • Encourages More Tubers: Potatoes form tubers along the underground stem. Hilling provides more stem length for more potatoes to develop.
    • Protects from Frost: For early potatoes, hilling can offer a bit of insulation against unexpected late frosts.
  2. How to Hill:
    • When your potato plants are about 6-8 inches tall, use a hoe or spade to gently draw 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 grow another 6-8 inches, until the mounds are about 12 inches high.
    • For container potatoes, simply add more potting mix to the container as the plants grow, leaving the top few inches of foliage visible.

Feeding Your Plants

If you’ve amended your soil with plenty of compost, your early potatoes might not need much additional feeding. However, a balanced organic fertilizer (like a fish emulsion or compost tea) applied once or twice during the growing season can give them a boost. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers once tubers start forming, as this encourages leafy growth at the expense of tuber development.

Weed Control

Weeds compete with your potato plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Keep the area around your plants free of weeds, especially when they are young. Shallow cultivation (to avoid damaging developing tubers) or a good layer of mulch will help tremendously.

Common Problems with Planting Early Potatoes and How to Solve Them

Even with the best intentions, gardeners sometimes face challenges. Here are some common problems with planting early potatoes and practical solutions.

Frost Damage

Since you’re planting early, there’s always a risk of a late spring frost. If frost is predicted:

  • Cover Up: Drape row covers, old sheets, or even cardboard boxes over your emerging plants in the evening. Remove them in the morning once temperatures rise.
  • Hill Higher: Hilling provides some protection by burying the delicate stems.
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If your plants do get nipped by frost, don’t despair! Often, they will regrow from the underground parts, though your harvest might be slightly delayed.

Pests (e.g., Colorado Potato Beetle, Aphids)

Early potatoes tend to escape the worst of pest pressure, but keep an eye out.

  • Colorado Potato Beetle: These striped beetles and their brick-red larvae can defoliate plants quickly. Hand-pick them off and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
  • Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new growth. A strong spray of water can dislodge them, or use insecticidal soap for heavier infestations. Encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs.

Disease Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to plant diseases.

  • Choose Certified Seed Potatoes: This is your first line of defense against many common diseases.
  • Crop Rotation: As mentioned, rotating your crops helps prevent soil-borne diseases from building up.
  • Good Air Circulation: Space your plants adequately to allow for good airflow, which helps prevent fungal diseases.
  • Sanitation: Clean up plant debris at the end of the season.

Harvesting Your Bounty: The Joy of Early Potatoes

This is what all your hard work has been leading to! The moment you get to dig up your very own, fresh early potatoes is incredibly satisfying.

When to Harvest

Early potatoes are typically ready for harvest about 60-90 days after planting. You’ll know they’re ready when the plants start to flower, or shortly after. The foliage may still be green and lush, unlike maincrop potatoes where you wait for the foliage to die back.

For truly “new” potatoes, you can gently “rob” a few from each plant. Carefully feel around the base of the plant with your hands to locate tubers, taking only the larger ones and leaving the rest to grow. This is best done when the plants are flowering.

How to Harvest

The full harvest is straightforward:

  1. Wait for Dry Soil: Harvest on a dry day if possible. This makes digging easier and helps prevent soil from clinging to the tubers.
  2. Loosen the Soil: Use a digging fork, starting about 6-12 inches away from the main stem to avoid spearing the potatoes. Gently loosen the soil around the plant.
  3. Lift and Gather: Carefully lift the plant and surrounding soil, sifting through it to find all the delicious tubers. Don’t leave any behind, as they can sprout next year or harbor disease.

Storing Your Fresh Spuds

Early potatoes are best enjoyed fresh, as they don’t store as long as maincrop varieties. Use them within a week or two for the best flavor and texture. Store them in a cool, dark, well-ventilated place, like a basket in a pantry or cellar. Avoid washing them until just before use, as moisture can promote spoilage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planting Early Potatoes

Can I plant early potatoes in containers?

Absolutely! Container gardening is an excellent option for planting early potatoes, especially if you have limited space or poor garden soil. Choose large containers (15-20 gallons or more), grow bags, or even old tires. Just ensure good drainage and follow the hilling process by adding more soil as the plant grows.

What’s the difference between early, maincrop, and late potatoes?

The main difference lies in their maturity time and typical uses. Early potatoes (first and second earlies) mature quickly (60-90 days), produce smaller tubers, and are best eaten fresh. Maincrop potatoes take longer (90-120 days), yield larger tubers, and are good for general use and storage. Late potatoes (120+ days) are grown for long-term storage and often have tougher skins.

Do I need to fertilize early potatoes?

If your soil is rich in organic matter (compost, aged manure), you might not need much additional fertilizer. However, a balanced organic fertilizer applied at planting and again when the plants are about 6 inches tall can be beneficial. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers once tubers begin to form, as this promotes leafy growth over tuber development.

How long do early potatoes take to grow?

First early varieties typically mature in about 60-75 days from planting, while second earlies take around 75-90 days. This quick turnaround is one of the biggest benefits of planting early potatoes!

What are good companion plants for early potatoes?

Good companion plants for potatoes include beans (bush varieties are best), corn, marigolds (to deter nematodes), nasturtiums (as a trap crop for aphids), and horseradish (believed to increase disease resistance). Avoid planting potatoes near tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, cucumbers, or sunflowers, as they can compete for nutrients or attract similar pests and diseases.

Conclusion

There you have it—your comprehensive guide to planting early potatoes and enjoying that incredible taste of fresh, homegrown spuds weeks ahead of everyone else. From selecting the perfect variety and chitting your seed potatoes to diligent care and harvesting your delicious bounty, you now have all the knowledge you need.

Remember, gardening is a journey of learning and discovery. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little, observe your plants closely, and adjust your approach. The rewards of biting into those first tender new potatoes, knowing you grew them yourself, are truly unmatched. So, get your hands dirty, embrace the process, and get ready for a delicious, early harvest this season. Happy growing!

Rimon Chowdhury
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