The humble potato is such a versatile little tuber, isn’t it? Not only are they delicious, but they’re also packed with nutrients and good-for-you stuff. Depending on which variety you’re growing, your harvest and storage strategy will look a little different. Today, I’m going to walk you through everything you need to know about harvesting those delicious new potatoes.
Finding the Perfect Harvest Window
Knowing exactly when to harvest is key. Early-season “new” potatoes are usually ready to go as early as June. On the other hand, storage potatoes (late-season varieties) need to stay in the ground until at least mid-August. Generally speaking, the specific variety you planted will dictate how long they need to stay in the dirt.
How to Tell They’re Ready
A good rule of thumb for early potatoes is to check the flowers; once the plants start blooming, you’re getting close. As long as the leaves and stems are still green, those tubers are still growing and packing in starch. This is true for all varieties. You can harvest and eat them right away at this stage, but if you want them to last a bit longer in storage, they need to fully mature. Once the stems and leaves have withered away, wait about another two weeks before you start digging.
How to Harvest Early Potatoes
Early in the season, you’ll want to keep the soil loose and keep hilling up the dirt around the plants to cover the young stems—this is a great trick to boost your yield! When it’s time to harvest, a garden fork is your best friend. Only dig up the early potatoes you need for dinner that night, as they are best enjoyed fresh.
- Insert your garden fork into the soil about 18 inches away from the main stems and gently lift the plant upward.
- Pick off the potatoes still clinging to the roots and do a little “treasure hunting” in the loose soil to find any stragglers.
Harvesting Storage Potatoes
Depending on the variety, potatoes need anywhere from 90 to 160 days to fully mature. Once the foliage has died back, remove the withered vines and carefully dig the tubers up with your garden fork. Don’t stress if you accidentally nick one—it happens to the best of us! Just pry the clusters out of the earth and gather them by hand. Try to be gentle with the skins; intact skins are the secret to long-term storage. Before you tuck them away for winter, make sure to give them a gentle cleaning.
Pro Tip
Here’s a little secret: the longer the growth phase of the potato plant, the better the potatoes will hold up in storage. Patience definitely pays off here!
