Will Potatoes Come Up If Planted in April in Oklahoma?

Germination

• Potatoes will germinate when the soil is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, but prefer soil that is above 50 degrees. If soil the temperature is below 40 degrees, the tubers will rot in the soil. Typically, planting potatoes four to six weeks before the last expected frost in the spring is recommended. According to the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Services, the ideal time for planting potatoes in Oklahoma is between the middle of February and the first half of March, but that doesn't mean you can't plant them later. Potatoes will germinate and grow if planted late.

Days to Maturity

• If you are growing potatoes for mature potatoes that can be stored for the winter, the days to maturity must be taken into consideration when planting. Check to find out the days to maturity for your variety of potatoes you are growing. Count the number of days from the planned planting time to the first expected frost in the fall. If the days to maturity is less than the number of days until the fall frost, your potatoes can be grown successfully.

New Potatoes

• New potatoes are young, immature potatoes harvested when they a small. These potatoes are sweet and firm and often served as a delicacy. If you intend to harvest your potatoes as new potatoes, the days to maturity is less important. New potatoes are typically harvested 60 to 70 days after planting.

Considerations

• Potatoes prefer cool weather for growing and perform best when temperatures remain below 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If your region experiences temperatures above 80 degrees during the growing season, planting your potatoes where they are protected from the afternoon sun, but receive bright morning sun, may prevent difficulties from hot weather. Planting potatoes too late in the season does pose some risk in warm climates, but typically does not prevent them from producing tubers. Yield and tuber size may be diminished, but this should not otherwise affect the flavor or appearance of the potatoes.