When to Pull Potatoes?

Potato Cultivation

• When to pull potatoes, harvest time, is dependent on a variety of factors, such as timing of planting, type of potatoes being grown and weather conditions. Potatoes are usually planted in the spring one or two weeks after the last frost date when soil is at least 45 degrees Fahrenheit but not warmer than 70 degrees. Plant potatoes in deep trenches, in wide, deep raised beds or in wire barrels with compost or chopped straw drawn up around the base of growing foliage. A typical growing season is five to six months of plant and foliage growth, when the season changes to late autumn and daylight changes prompt leaf and stem dieback. Unseasonably wet weather can cause disease conditions, as well as plants that are too close together to allow for enough air circulation.

Early Potatoes

• Early potatoes are immature tubers harvested before they are fully developed. The presence of flowers indicates early edible tubers. They have a lower starch content, thin skins and whiter, crisper flesh than mature potatoes. Early potatoes require special handling and storage because they are easy to bruise and break the skin, marring their appearance and making them more susceptible to rot. Early potatoes have to be dug manually with a trowel or very carefully with a pitch fork, from the outside edge of the growing area. They have a shorter shelf life than mature potatoes because of their thinner skins, making them easier to damage and easier to dry out quickly, so they should be eaten soon after harvest. They can only be stored for very short periods with adequate air circulation in a cool, dark environment. Harvest early potatoes midseason, about 45 days before the end of the growing season.

Mature Potatoes

• Mature potatoes are harvested at the end of the growing season when potato plant foliage yellows and withers. Don't leave mature potatoes in the ground longer than two weeks after plants have died or they won't store well. If plants are still growing vigorously close to freezing weather, gardeners can stimulate quick maturity by trimming leaves and stems with a weed trimmer.

Successful Storage

• Once you pull potatoes, especially if it's a big harvest, storage is a big consideration. Gentle digging and handling of potatoes is required to avoid damage or breaking the skin. Don't try to store badly damaged potatoes; cook them instead of risking rotten potatoes. Dry, or cure, newly harvested potatoes for two to three weeks, covered with newspapers, in an area with high humidity but not excessive moisture. After curing, store potatoes in a dark, dry place until ready for use.