What Are Baby Potatoes Called – Your Ultimate Guide To Growing &

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Ah, baby potatoes! There’s something truly special about these tiny, tender treasures, isn’t there? Whether roasted with herbs, tossed in a salad, or simply steamed with butter, they bring a delicate sweetness and creamy texture to any meal. But if you’re like many gardeners, you might have paused to wonder: what are baby potatoes called, exactly, and how do you get them to grow so perfectly in your own backyard?

You’re not alone in that curiosity! The world of small potatoes can seem a little confusing with terms like “new potatoes,” “fingerlings,” and “petites” floating around. Don’t worry—we’re here to clear up the confusion, share all the secrets, and promise you a bountiful harvest of your very own tender taters. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into understanding these delightful spuds, walk you through every step of growing them, from planting to harvest, and offer expert tips to ensure your success. Get ready to transform your garden into a haven for delicious, home-grown baby potatoes!

Unpacking the Mystery: What Are Baby Potatoes Called, Really?

When we talk about “baby potatoes,” we’re often referring to a few different types, and it’s easy to mix them up. The key distinction isn’t always about a specific variety, but rather about size and maturity. Let’s break down the common terms you’ll encounter when exploring what are baby potatoes called.

“New Potatoes” vs. “Fingerlings” vs. “Petites”

Understanding these distinctions is the first step in mastering your baby potato patch.

  • New Potatoes: These are arguably the most common type people refer to as “baby potatoes.” Here’s the kicker: “new potato” isn’t a specific variety. Instead, it describes any potato that’s harvested early in its growth cycle, while the plant is still actively growing and before the skin has fully set. They are small, have very thin, delicate skins, and a moist, creamy texture. Because they haven’t fully matured, their sugars haven’t converted to starch, giving them a distinctly sweet, fresh flavor. You can harvest almost any potato variety as a “new potato” if you dig it up early enough!
  • Fingerling Potatoes: Now, fingerlings *are* a specific category of potato varieties. They are naturally small and elongated, often resembling stubby fingers. Unlike new potatoes, fingerlings are typically harvested when mature, meaning their skins are a bit thicker, and their flavor is usually more concentrated and earthy. Common fingerling varieties include ‘Russian Banana,’ ‘French Fingerling,’ and ‘Rose Finn Apple.’ They come in a beautiful array of colors, from yellow to red to purple.
  • Petite Potatoes: This term is a bit of a catch-all, often used in grocery stores to describe any small, uniformly sized potatoes. They could be small versions of common round varieties (like Yukon Golds or Reds) that have been harvested slightly earlier, or they could be naturally small varieties. Essentially, “petite” often implies small size for culinary convenience.

So, when you ask what are baby potatoes called, the answer is often “new potatoes” if harvested early, or “fingerlings” if it’s a naturally small, elongated variety. Regardless of the name, they’re all delicious, and understanding these nuances is a great starting point for your growing journey.

Why Grow Baby Potatoes? The Benefits of Your Own Tender Taters

Beyond their delightful taste, there are numerous benefits to growing your own baby potatoes. It’s not just about the fresh flavor!

  • Superior Flavor and Texture: Home-grown baby potatoes, especially ‘new potatoes’ harvested at their peak, offer an unparalleled sweetness and creaminess that’s hard to find in store-bought options.
  • Control Over Varieties: You can experiment with unique fingerling varieties or harvest your favorite large potato types early for a different culinary experience.
  • Freshness: From garden to plate in minutes! You can’t beat the freshness of just-dug potatoes.
  • Cost-Effective: Growing your own can be more economical than regularly buying gourmet baby potatoes from the store.
  • Gardening Joy: There’s immense satisfaction in pulling up your own harvest, no matter how small.

Getting Started: Your Baby Potato Growing Guide

Ready to get your hands dirty? Growing baby potatoes is surprisingly straightforward, making it a perfect project for gardeners of all levels. Follow these steps for a successful start to your potato patch.

Choosing the Right Varieties for Baby Potatoes

While any potato can be harvested as a new potato, some varieties are particularly well-suited for it, or are naturally small and tender.

  • For New Potatoes: ‘Yukon Gold’, ‘Red Norland’, ‘Kennebec’, or ‘Russet’ are excellent choices. Harvest them early for that delicate skin and creamy texture.
  • For Fingerlings: Look for ‘Russian Banana’, ‘French Fingerling’, ‘Rose Finn Apple’, or ‘Purple Peruvian’. These will give you those distinctive, elongated shapes.

When choosing seed potatoes, always buy certified disease-free seed potatoes from a reputable supplier. Never plant potatoes from the grocery store, as they may carry diseases or be treated with sprout inhibitors.

Preparing Your Soil for Success

Potatoes are heavy feeders and thrive in rich, loose, well-draining soil. This is a crucial step in your what are baby potatoes called guide.

  1. Location: Choose a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of full sun daily.
  2. Soil Amendment: Amend your soil generously with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure. This improves drainage, provides nutrients, and keeps the soil loose for tuber expansion. Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.0-7.0).
  3. Loosen the Soil: Dig down at least 10-12 inches to ensure there’s no compaction. Potatoes need room to grow!

Planting Your Seed Potatoes: How to Get Those Babies Growing

This is where the magic begins! Knowing how to what are baby potatoes called from seed potato to harvest is incredibly rewarding.

  1. Chitting (Optional but Recommended): About 2-4 weeks before planting, place your seed potatoes in a cool, bright spot (like a windowsill) to encourage them to sprout “eyes.” These sprouts, called “chits,” should be short, stubby, and green/purple. This gives them a head start.
  2. Cutting Seed Potatoes: If your seed potatoes are larger than a chicken egg, cut them into pieces, ensuring each piece has at least 1-2 “eyes.” Allow the cut pieces to “cure” for 1-2 days by leaving them exposed to air. This forms a protective layer, preventing rot once planted.
  3. Timing: Plant after the last hard frost, when soil temperatures are consistently above 45°F (7°C).
  4. Planting Depth and Spacing:
    • Dig a trench 6-8 inches deep.
    • Place seed potato pieces cut-side down, 10-12 inches apart for larger varieties, or 6-8 inches for fingerlings/smaller types if you want more baby potatoes.
    • If planting in rows, space rows 2-3 feet apart.
    • Cover with about 3-4 inches of soil.
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Nurturing Your Tiny Taters: Essential Care Guide

Once planted, your baby potatoes need consistent care to thrive. This what are baby potatoes called care guide will ensure your plants are healthy and productive.

Watering Wisdom for Potato Plants

Consistent moisture is key for good potato development. Irregular watering can lead to misshapen or cracked tubers.

  • Deep and Consistent: Aim for 1-2 inches of water per week, either from rain or irrigation.
  • Moisture Check: Stick your finger into the soil. If it feels dry 2-3 inches down, it’s time to water.
  • Avoid Overhead Watering: Water at the base of the plant to minimize leaf moisture, which can encourage fungal diseases. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are ideal.

Hilling for Healthy Growth and More Tubers

Hilling is one of the most important practices for growing potatoes, especially if you want plenty of small, tender ones.

  1. First Hill: When your potato plants are about 6-8 inches tall, gently pull soil up around the stems, leaving about 3-4 inches of foliage exposed.
  2. Subsequent Hills: Repeat this process every 2-3 weeks as the plants grow, creating a mound or “hill” around the base.
  3. Why Hill? Hilling serves two main purposes: it protects developing tubers from sunlight (which turns them green and bitter) and encourages the plant to produce more potatoes along the buried stem.

Feeding Your Plants: Nutrition for Abundant Harvests

Potatoes are hungry plants, so proper feeding is part of the what are baby potatoes called tips for success.

  • Balanced Fertilizer: Incorporate a balanced organic fertilizer (like a 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 blend) into the soil at planting time.
  • Mid-Season Boost: Once plants start flowering (which indicates tuber formation is beginning), you can side-dress with a boost of compost or a low-nitrogen, high-potassium fertilizer. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of tubers.

Pest and Disease Prevention: Keeping Your Babies Safe

Vigilance is your best defense against common problems with what are baby potatoes called.

  • Scout Regularly: Inspect your plants frequently for signs of pests or disease. Early detection is crucial.
  • Common Pests: Watch out for Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles, and aphids. Hand-picking, neem oil, or insecticidal soap can be effective.
  • Common Diseases: Late blight and early blight are common. Ensure good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and consider disease-resistant varieties. Crop rotation also helps immensely.

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Practices for Baby Potatoes

As conscious gardeners, we want our methods to be kind to the earth. Embracing sustainable what are baby potatoes called best practices ensures a healthy garden for years to come.

Organic Fertilizers and Pest Control

Opting for organic solutions is key to eco-friendly gardening.

  • Compost Power: Regularly amending your soil with homemade compost enriches it naturally, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers.
  • Companion Planting: Plant marigolds or nasturtiums nearby to deter pests. Beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings can also help control aphid populations.
  • Homemade Sprays: Garlic or hot pepper sprays can deter some pests without harming beneficial insects or the environment.

Water Conservation Techniques

Efficient watering saves resources and keeps your plants happy.

  • Mulching: Apply a 2-4 inch layer of straw, shredded leaves, or wood chips around your potato plants. This suppresses weeds, retains soil moisture, and moderates soil temperature.
  • Drip Irrigation: Install a drip irrigation system or use soaker hoses to deliver water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation.

Crop Rotation for Soil Health

This is a fundamental principle of sustainable what are baby potatoes called growing.

  • Rotate Annually: Never plant potatoes (or other members of the nightshade family like tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants) in the same spot two years in a row.
  • Why It Matters: Crop rotation helps break disease cycles, deters soil-borne pests, and prevents nutrient depletion, leading to healthier soil and better yields.

Harvesting Your Bounty: Best Practices for Baby Potatoes

The moment you’ve been waiting for! Harvesting is incredibly satisfying, and knowing the right techniques ensures you get the most out of your efforts. These are the ultimate what are baby potatoes called tips for harvest.

Knowing When to Harvest Your Baby Potatoes

Timing is everything for those tender new potatoes.

  • For New Potatoes: You can start “robbing” or “bandicooting” for new potatoes when the plants begin to flower, usually 60-90 days after planting, depending on the variety. Gently reach into the side of a hill and feel for small tubers. Take only a few from each plant, leaving the rest to grow.
  • For Fingerlings (Mature): If you’re growing fingerlings to maturity, wait until the plant’s foliage begins to yellow and die back, usually 90-120 days after planting. This indicates the potatoes have reached their full size and their skins have set.

The Gentle Dig: How to Harvest Without Damage

Potatoes are surprisingly delicate, especially the tender new ones. Handle with care!

  1. Choose a Dry Day: Harvesting on a dry day makes the soil easier to work with and helps prevent diseases.
  2. Loosen the Soil: Use a garden fork, starting about 6-12 inches away from the main stem to avoid piercing the tubers. Gently loosen the soil around the plant.
  3. Lift Carefully: Slowly lift the entire plant (if harvesting mature potatoes) or carefully feel for and pull out individual baby potatoes.
  4. Brush Off Dirt: Gently brush off excess soil; do not wash them if you plan to store them.
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Curing and Storing Your Baby Potatoes

Proper curing improves storage life, though baby potatoes are best enjoyed fresh.

  • New Potatoes: Best eaten immediately! They don’t store well due to their delicate skins. Keep them in the refrigerator for a few days at most.
  • Mature Fingerlings: For longer storage, cure them first. Spread them in a single layer in a cool (50-60°F / 10-15°C), dark, well-ventilated area for 1-2 weeks. This allows their skins to toughen and minor scrapes to heal.
  • Long-Term Storage: After curing, store mature fingerlings in a cool, dark, humid place (like a root cellar or unheated basement) at temperatures between 40-45°F (4-7°C). Do not store in the refrigerator, as the cold can convert starches to sugars, making them sweet.

Common Problems with Growing Baby Potatoes & How to Solve Them

Even experienced gardeners encounter challenges. Knowing how to troubleshoot common problems with what are baby potatoes called will save your harvest.

Scab and Blight: Fungal Foes

These are two of the most common potato diseases.

  • Potato Scab: Causes rough, corky spots on the potato skin. It’s often worse in alkaline soils. To prevent, ensure proper soil pH (slightly acidic to neutral) and adequate moisture during tuber formation. Avoid adding fresh manure to your potato beds.
  • Early Blight/Late Blight: Fungal diseases that cause dark spots on leaves, eventually leading to plant death. Prevent by choosing resistant varieties, ensuring good air circulation, watering at the soil level, and practicing strict crop rotation. Remove and destroy infected plant material immediately.

Pests Like Potato Beetles

Colorado potato beetles are notorious potato pests.

  • Identification: Look for yellow and black striped adult beetles and reddish-orange larvae on the undersides of leaves.
  • Control: Hand-picking adults and larvae (drop them into soapy water) is effective for small infestations. For larger problems, organic sprays like neem oil or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) can be used, targeting larvae.

Green Potatoes (And Why to Avoid Them)

Have you ever found a potato with green patches?

  • The Cause: Green skin on potatoes indicates exposure to light, which triggers the production of solanine, a natural toxin.
  • The Danger: Solanine tastes bitter and can cause stomach upset or more serious symptoms if consumed in large quantities.
  • Prevention: Always hill your potato plants adequately to keep tubers covered. Store potatoes in a dark place. If you find a green potato, cut away and discard all green parts before cooking. For heavily green potatoes, it’s best to discard the entire thing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Potatoes

We often hear these questions from fellow gardeners. Here are some quick answers to common queries about what are baby potatoes called and how to grow them.

Can I grow baby potatoes from store-bought potatoes?

While technically possible, it’s generally not recommended. Store-bought potatoes may be treated with sprout inhibitors and can carry diseases that could infect your garden soil. Always use certified disease-free seed potatoes for the best results and to protect your garden’s health.

How long does it take to grow baby potatoes?

You can typically start harvesting “new potatoes” (baby potatoes) about 60-90 days after planting, once the plants begin to flower. If you’re growing fingerlings to full maturity, it usually takes 90-120 days until the foliage starts to die back.

What’s the ideal soil pH for baby potatoes?

Potatoes prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil, with an ideal pH range between 5.0 and 7.0. A soil test will give you the most accurate reading, allowing you to amend your soil if necessary.

Do baby potatoes need full sun?

Yes, potatoes are sun-lovers! They need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce a good harvest. More sun usually means more potatoes.

Can I grow baby potatoes in containers?

Absolutely! Growing potatoes in containers, grow bags, or even old tires is a fantastic option, especially if you have limited garden space. Choose a container at least 15-20 gallons in size for good yield. Use a good quality potting mix and follow the same hilling and watering principles.

Conclusion: Go Forth and Grow Your Own Tender Taters!

So, what are baby potatoes called? They’re called “new potatoes” when harvested early, or “fingerlings” when they’re naturally small, elongated varieties. But more importantly, they’re called a delicious reward for your gardening efforts!

Growing your own baby potatoes is a truly satisfying experience, offering superior flavor and the joy of harvesting fresh produce right from your garden. By choosing the right varieties, preparing your soil well, providing consistent care, and practicing sustainable methods, you’re well on your way to a bountiful harvest.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, observe your plants, and learn along the way. Every seasoned gardener started somewhere, and with these what are baby potatoes called best practices, you’re equipped with the knowledge to succeed. So, grab those seed potatoes, get planting, and prepare to enjoy the sweet, tender taste of your very own home-grown baby potatoes. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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