Planting potatoes in the fall season ‘goes against the grain’ in many respects. This is because we tend to think of potatoes in 3 distinct types – 1st early, 2nd early, and main crop.
Each potato type has it’s season for planting and harvesting right? So when the main crop is harvested then that is the end of the season for planting potatoes. Until Spring comes around again, or maybe not!
The simple truth is that you can in fact plant potatoes in the Fall or Autumn season as well.
Keep in mind…we are NOT talking about a late season potato harvest. This is about planting over the Autumn season in order to harvest in the following Spring.
Consider this. Any gardener that has been growing potatoes for years, knows this problem. Potatoes that you grew the previous year, have sprouted afresh the following spring.
Even a tiny spud left in the ground will regrow in the following Spring.
So here we have all the evidence needed that potatoes can, and do, survive over winter. It makes sense to consider Fall planting.
Why plant potatoes in the fall?
There are a few reasons for this late-season potato planting. For example…
- Potatoes planted during fall tend to start growing slightly earlier in the Spring season, giving them a good start ahead of cutworms and weeds.
- Planting late in the season means that you have more time in the Spring to prepare beds for your other vegetables, as your potatoes are already on their way!
- Planting this late can avoid many pests and diseases that inflict early potatoes. Or potatoes growing mid season.
How to Choose potatoes for Fall planting
The best potatoes for this late planting are 1st or 2nd earlies of course. Arron Pilot, Jazzy, Purple Majesty, Irish Cobbler, Maris Peer, Abbot, or Yukon Gold. All great choices for early crops.
Here’s the thing though. You will find it near impossible to source seed potatoes at this time of year from your usual suppliers.
Solution? Keep aside some of your smaller potatoes from your last early crop (or even main crop if pushed). Leave them in the daylight so that they will become slightly green. This means that they have been infused with bitter solanine products. This makes them unpalatable to mice and other critters.
Cutting the tubers
Normally I would always recommend cutting seed potatoes in 2 or even 3 parts. As long as they have an eye on them they will grow fine. And of course this means that you can get 2 or 3 times the plants for your money!
However…NOT this time! To plant potato tubers in the Fall like this means to keep them whole. Cutting at this time of year, when they have to survive the next few months underground. This means exposing the tuber to the ravages of pest and disease.
Planting In the Spring is different in that they are growing above the soil in only a few weeks time.
So for planting in the Fall, keep the small potatoes intact – they will thank you for it 😊
How deep to plant the potato tubers
These potatoes would have to be planted deeper than they are in this image for fall planting. to survive a penetrating frost
Again, this is just slightly different in that I would plant them at about five to ten inches deep. This will enable them to survive a hard frost.
Also I cover the ground with a mulch of fallen leaves or even the last of the grass clippings.
This gives added protection against the weather.
This of course will vary depending on where you live in the world – and how severe your winter can be.
When to plant fall potatoes
Plant your potato tubers just before the first frost of the winter season. Make sure you do not plant too early in the fall, otherwise the potatoes will start to sprout and then perish as the hard frost arrives.
The tubers themselves will start growing as the ground temperature rises above 50F (or 10c). This can be a problem with Raised Beds as the soil tends to be warmer overall. so be sure not to plant too early in the Fall or a rise in temperature may mean they will start to grow ahead of schedule – and die over winter!
Can you just leave some potatoes in the ground?
It is argued that it is just as easy to leave some of the late crop of potatoes in the ground and let them re-grow in the Spring.
The problem with this, is that you are leaving them exposed to the elements for much longer than they need to be. thereby exposing them to the pests and disease mentioned earlier.
Also the potatoes are likely to start growing again if you have a late or warmer autumn than expected. And the ground temperature rises above the 50F mark.
Planting Christmas potatoes
My late crop of Christmas potatoes beginning to take shape before the first frost starts to bite
Many folks confuse the late Christmas potato harvest with Fall planting. As they are both planted late in the season.
The difference between the two methods. ‘Christmas’ potatoes are planted in the late autumn, before the ground temperature drops. This allows the plant to grow and mature before the cold weather stunts the growth. This means that they will be ready to harvest by November-December time.
Check out this video below to see the progress of my winter potatoes planted in the late Autumn.
With Fall planting the potatoes are planted just before the first winter frosts. This means the ground temperature will remain below 50F (10c) until the early spring. When the temperature will rise and the potatoes start growing in the early spring season.
Final Thoughts:
Growing potatoes in the fall is a good way to get an earlier crop. and gives the gardener something to look forward to after a long dark winter. It’s a win-win thing really!
