What Are The 7 Types Of Potatoes – A Gardener’S Guide To Choosing

ByRimon Chowdhury Updated on

Ever stood in the grocery store produce aisle, or perhaps perused a seed catalog, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer variety of potatoes? Russets, Reds, Yukon Golds, fingerlings – it can feel like a delicious mystery! You’re not alone. Many gardeners and home cooks wonder, “what are the 7 types of potatoes, and how do I pick the right one?”

Here at Greeny Gardener, we believe understanding your produce is the first step to truly enjoying it – both in the garden and on your plate. This comprehensive guide promises to demystify the wonderful world of potatoes, helping you identify the main types, understand their best uses, and even master the art of growing them yourself.

We’ll dive deep into the unique characteristics of seven prominent potato categories, share expert tips for successful cultivation, and equip you with the knowledge to make informed choices for your next meal or planting season. Get ready to transform your garden and kitchen with a newfound appreciation for this versatile tuber!

Understanding what are the 7 types of potatoes: Your Culinary and Garden Guide

Before we explore the specific types, it’s helpful to know that potatoes are generally categorized by their starch content and texture: starchy, waxy, and all-purpose. Starchy potatoes are fluffy and best for baking, mashing, and frying. Waxy potatoes hold their shape well and are perfect for salads and roasting. All-purpose potatoes fall somewhere in the middle, offering versatility.

Now, let’s dig into the distinct personalities of the seven types of potatoes you’ll most commonly encounter, along with practical what are the 7 types of potatoes tips for both growing and cooking.

1. Russet Potatoes (Starchy Powerhouses)

Description: Russets, like the popular ‘Russet Burbank’, are large, oval potatoes with rough, brown skin and white flesh. They are known for their high starch content and low moisture.

Best Uses: These are your go-to potatoes for anything that benefits from a fluffy interior. Think perfect baked potatoes, crispy French fries, creamy mashed potatoes, or even homemade gnocchi. Their texture absorbs flavors beautifully.

Growing Tip: Russets thrive in loose, well-drained soil. Give them plenty of space to develop their large tubers. Hilling them properly (mounding soil around the growing plant) is crucial for a good harvest and to prevent greening.

2. Red Potatoes (Waxy Wonders)

Description: Recognizable by their thin, vibrant red skin and white, firm, waxy flesh, red potatoes like ‘Red Norland’ or ‘Red Pontiac’ are lower in starch and higher in moisture than russets.

Best Uses: Because they hold their shape so well when cooked, red potatoes are ideal for potato salads, roasting, grilling, and boiling. Their skin is delicious and nutritious, so often they’re cooked unpeeled.

Growing Tip: Red potatoes are often early to mid-season varieties, meaning they mature relatively quickly. They’re quite adaptable to different soil types, but consistent moisture is key to preventing scabby skin.

3. Yellow Potatoes (Creamy & Versatile)

Description: Yellow potatoes, such as the beloved ‘Yukon Gold’ or ‘German Butterball’, boast thin, golden-yellow skin and rich, buttery-yellow flesh. They are considered all-purpose, leaning towards waxy.

Best Uses: Their naturally buttery flavor and creamy texture make them fantastic for mashing (often requiring less butter!), roasting, grilling, and even making flavorful potato gratins. They brown beautifully when roasted.

Growing Tip: Yellow potato varieties generally prefer full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Many are determinate varieties, meaning they produce tubers in a single layer beneath the plant, making hilling less critical but still beneficial.

4. White Potatoes (Mild & Adaptable)

Description: White potatoes, like ‘Katahdin’ or ‘Superior’, have thin, light-brown or white skin and white, slightly waxy flesh. They are considered all-purpose, offering a balanced texture.

Best Uses: These are incredibly versatile. Use them for boiling, steaming, frying, or mashing. They have a mild flavor that adapts well to various seasonings and dishes, making them a kitchen staple.

Growing Tip: White potato varieties are often quite disease-resistant and adaptable to various climates. Ensure good air circulation around the plants to prevent fungal issues, especially in humid conditions.

5. Fingerling Potatoes (Gourmet Delights)

Description: Fingerlings are small, elongated potatoes that resemble stubby fingers. Varieties like ‘Russian Banana’ or ‘French Fingerling’ come in various skin and flesh colors, from yellow to red to purple. They are typically waxy.

Best Uses: Their unique shape and firm texture make them excellent for roasting whole, pan-frying, or adding to salads. They have a delicate, often nutty flavor that’s perfect for gourmet presentations.

Growing Tip: Fingerlings are often considered specialty potatoes and can be quite productive in the home garden. They generally mature quickly. Plant them in loose soil to allow their slender tubers to develop without obstruction.

6. Blue/Purple Potatoes (Antioxidant-Rich & Eye-Catching)

Description: These striking potatoes, like ‘All Blue’ or ‘Purple Majesty’, have vibrant blue or purple skin and flesh, which retains much of its color after cooking. Their texture can range from starchy to waxy, depending on the variety.

Best Uses: Great for adding visual appeal to dishes! Use them in potato salads, roasted alongside other vegetables, or even in mashed potatoes for a colorful twist. They’re also known for their high antioxidant content.

Growing Tip: Blue and purple potatoes tend to have slightly longer growing seasons than some other types. Ensure they receive consistent watering, especially as tubers begin to form, to maintain good color and prevent cracking.

7. New Potatoes (Early Harvest Gems)

Description: “New potatoes” aren’t a specific variety, but rather any potato harvested early in its growth cycle, before the skin has fully set. They are small, tender, and have a very thin, delicate skin. Most commonly, early-maturing varieties like ‘Yukon Gold’ or ‘Red Norland’ are harvested as new potatoes.

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Best Uses: Their delicate flavor and tender texture are best enjoyed simply boiled, steamed, or roasted with herbs and butter. They are wonderful in spring and summer salads.

Growing Tip: To get new potatoes, plant early-maturing varieties and harvest them about 2-3 weeks after the plants flower, or when the tubers are about 1-2 inches in diameter. Gently dig around the plant to “rob” a few, leaving the rest to grow larger.

Choosing the Right Potato for Your Garden and Plate: what are the 7 types of potatoes tips

Now that you know what are the 7 types of potatoes, let’s talk about making choices! Selecting the right potato involves considering both your culinary needs and your garden’s environment. This guide will help you make the best decision.

Matching Potato Types to Culinary Uses

Think about how you love to eat potatoes. If you’re a mashed potato enthusiast, Russets or Yellow Potatoes are your best bet. For a vibrant potato salad that holds its shape, opt for Red Potatoes, Fingerlings, or even Blue/Purple Potatoes.

If you enjoy crispy roasted potatoes, the waxy types like Reds, Yellows, or Fingerlings will give you that satisfying exterior while remaining tender inside. For ultimate versatility, White Potatoes are always a reliable choice.

Consider Your Growing Season and Space

Some potato varieties are “early season” (maturing in 60-80 days), “mid-season” (80-100 days), or “late season” (100+ days). If you have a shorter growing season, focus on early or mid-season varieties like many Red or White types. If you have plenty of time, late-season Russets can yield massive harvests.

For smaller gardens or container growing, consider compact varieties or those that produce smaller tubers, like many Fingerlings or New Potatoes (by early harvest). Always check the specific variety’s recommendations for spacing and maturity.

How to Grow the 7 Types of Potatoes: A Care Guide for Abundant Harvests

Growing your own potatoes, regardless of which of the 7 types of potatoes you choose, is incredibly rewarding. With a little planning and consistent care, you can enjoy fresh, homegrown tubers that far surpass anything from the store. Here’s your essential what are the 7 types of potatoes care guide.

Site Selection and Soil Preparation

Potatoes need full sun – at least 6-8 hours daily. They also prefer loose, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter. Heavy clay soils can lead to misshapen tubers and disease issues. Amend your soil generously with compost or well-rotted manure in the fall or early spring.

Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.0-7.0). A soil test can help you determine if amendments are needed. Good soil preparation is a critical step for healthy potato growth.

Planting Your Seed Potatoes

Don’t plant grocery store potatoes; they may be treated with sprout inhibitors or carry diseases. Always use certified seed potatoes, which are disease-free and specifically bred for planting. Cut larger seed potatoes into pieces, ensuring each piece has at least one “eye” (sprout) and is roughly 1.5-2 inches square. Let the cut pieces “cure” for a day or two in a cool, dry place to form a protective callus, which helps prevent rot.

Plant seed potato pieces 4-6 inches deep and 10-15 inches apart, in rows 2-3 feet apart. Plant them after your last frost date, when soil temperatures reach about 45-50°F (7-10°C).

Essential Care: Watering, Hilling, and Feeding

  • Watering: Potatoes need consistent moisture, especially during flowering and when tubers are forming. Aim for 1-2 inches of water per week, either from rain or irrigation. Avoid overhead watering late in the day, which can encourage fungal diseases.
  • Hilling: This is perhaps the most important potato care step! When your potato plants are about 6-8 inches tall, mound soil up around the stems, leaving only the top few inches of leaves exposed. Repeat this process every 2-3 weeks as the plants grow, until the mounds are about 12-18 inches high. Hilling protects developing tubers from sunlight (preventing greening and solanine buildup) and encourages more tubers to form along the buried stem.
  • Feeding: Potatoes are heavy feeders. Incorporate a balanced organic fertilizer into the soil at planting. You can side-dress with compost or a balanced granular fertilizer when plants are about 6-8 inches tall and again when they begin to flower. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the season, as this promotes foliage growth over tuber development.

Harvesting Your Homegrown Bounty

For new potatoes, gently dig around the plant when it flowers (about 60-70 days after planting) and “rob” a few small tubers. For mature potatoes, wait until the plant’s foliage begins to yellow and die back (usually 90-120 days, depending on the variety). This allows the skins to “set,” improving storage quality.

Once the foliage has completely died back, wait another 1-2 weeks before harvesting. Dig carefully with a fork or spade, starting about a foot away from the plant’s base to avoid spearing tubers. Cure harvested potatoes in a cool, dark, humid place for 1-2 weeks before storing them in a cool (40-45°F / 4-7°C), dark, well-ventilated area.

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Potato Growing: Best Practices for a Healthier Garden

As passionate gardeners, we always strive for sustainable what are the 7 types of potatoes practices. Incorporating eco-friendly methods not only benefits the environment but also leads to healthier plants and more robust harvests. Here are some what are the 7 types of potatoes best practices to adopt.

Crop Rotation for Soil Health

Potatoes are susceptible to soil-borne diseases and pests that can build up over time. Practicing crop rotation is crucial. Avoid planting potatoes in the same spot more than once every 3-4 years. Rotate them with non-related crops like legumes (beans, peas), brassicas (cabbage, broccoli), or corn. This breaks pest and disease cycles and helps maintain soil fertility.

Natural Pest and Disease Management

Instead of chemical pesticides, rely on natural methods. Hand-picking larger pests like Colorado potato beetles is effective. Introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings, or plant companion plants that deter pests. Marigolds and nasturtiums are known to help repel some potato pests. For diseases like blight, choose resistant varieties and ensure good air circulation around plants.

Water Conservation Techniques

Efficient watering is key. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses deliver water directly to the root zone, minimizing evaporation and water waste compared to overhead sprinklers. Applying a thick layer of organic mulch (straw, shredded leaves) around your potato plants helps retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

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Common Problems with Growing Potatoes and How to Solve Them

Even experienced gardeners encounter challenges. Knowing how to troubleshoot common problems with what are the 7 types of potatoes will save you stress and help you maintain a thriving patch.

Pest Patrol: Colorado Potato Beetles & Flea Beetles

Colorado Potato Beetles: These striped beetles and their reddish-orange larvae can quickly defoliate plants. Solution: Hand-pick adults and larvae and drop them into a bucket of soapy water. For larger infestations, consider organic sprays like Neem oil or Spinosad (always follow label directions).

Flea Beetles: Tiny, jumping beetles that chew small “shot holes” in leaves. While rarely fatal, severe infestations can stunt young plants. Solution: Use row covers to protect young plants. Diatomaceous earth can also be sprinkled around the base of plants as a physical deterrent.

Disease Defense: Blight and Scab

Early Blight & Late Blight: Fungal diseases causing dark spots on leaves, often with yellow halos. Late blight is particularly devastating. Solution: Choose resistant varieties. Ensure good air circulation. Remove infected leaves immediately. Water at the base of plants, not from overhead. Rotate crops diligently.

Potato Scab: Causes rough, corky lesions on potato skin. It’s unsightly but doesn’t affect eating quality. Solution: Maintain slightly acidic soil (pH 5.0-5.5) as scab thrives in alkaline conditions. Keep soil consistently moist, as fluctuating moisture can exacerbate it. Avoid fresh manure.

Environmental Challenges: Sunburn and Green Potatoes

Green Potatoes: Exposure to sunlight turns parts of the potato skin green, indicating the buildup of solanine, a bitter and mildly toxic compound. Solution: This is why hilling is so important! Ensure all tubers are well-covered with soil. If you find green spots, cut them away before eating.

Small or Few Tubers: Can be caused by inconsistent watering, poor soil, too much nitrogen fertilizer, or harvesting too early. Solution: Review your watering schedule, amend soil with compost, use a balanced fertilizer, and ensure you’re harvesting at the right time.

Benefits of Growing Your Own Potatoes

Beyond the simple joy of gardening, there are numerous benefits of what are the 7 types of potatoes when you cultivate them yourself. It’s an experience that truly connects you to your food.

  • Unbeatable Flavor and Freshness: Homegrown potatoes, especially ‘new potatoes’, have a delicate, earthy flavor that store-bought simply can’t match. You harvest them at their peak, ensuring maximum taste.
  • Control Over What You Eat: By growing your own, you control the growing environment. No unknown pesticides or chemicals. You can confidently enjoy organic, healthy produce straight from your garden.
  • Cost Savings: A successful potato patch can yield a significant amount of food from a relatively small initial investment in seed potatoes. It’s a fantastic way to supplement your pantry.
  • Variety and Experimentation: Your local store might carry a few types, but seed catalogs offer dozens! Growing allows you to experiment with unique varieties like blue potatoes or specialty fingerlings that are hard to find elsewhere.
  • Gardening Satisfaction: There’s immense satisfaction in digging up a bounty of fresh, clean potatoes that you nurtured from tiny seed pieces. It’s a tangible reward for your efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Growing Potatoes

Can I grow all 7 types of potatoes in containers?

Yes, many potato varieties can be grown successfully in containers, grow bags, or even old tires. Waxy and all-purpose types, and especially fingerlings, tend to do very well. Just ensure your container is large enough (at least 15-gallon capacity for good yields), has good drainage, and you follow hilling practices as you would in the ground.

How do I know when my potatoes are ready to harvest?

For mature potatoes, wait until the foliage on your plants turns yellow and dies back completely. This typically happens 90-120 days after planting, depending on the variety. Once the tops are dead, wait another 1-2 weeks before digging to allow the skins to thicken, which improves storage.

What’s the difference between “new potatoes” and small regular potatoes?

New potatoes are any variety harvested young, before they reach full maturity and before their skins have set. They are characterized by their thin, delicate skin and tender texture. Small regular potatoes are simply mature potatoes of a variety that naturally produces smaller tubers, or they might be undersized potatoes from a regular harvest that weren’t given enough time or resources to grow larger.

Why are my potato plants not producing many tubers?

Several factors can lead to a poor potato harvest. Common culprits include insufficient sunlight, poor soil fertility (especially lack of phosphorus), inconsistent watering, planting too early in cold soil, or not hilling enough. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer can also promote lush foliage at the expense of tuber development. Review your growing conditions and adjust accordingly for next season.

Conclusion

Exploring what are the 7 types of potatoes truly opens up a world of culinary and gardening possibilities. From the fluffy Russets perfect for mashing to the firm Fingerlings ideal for roasting, each type brings its unique texture and flavor to the table. We hope this guide has not only answered your questions but also ignited a spark of desire to grow these incredible tubers yourself.

Remember, gardening is a journey of learning and discovery. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different varieties and growing methods. With the right knowledge and a little bit of care, you’ll be enjoying fresh, delicious, homegrown potatoes in no time. So, roll up your sleeves, get your hands in the soil, and prepare for a bountiful harvest. Happy gardening!

Rimon Chowdhury
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