Growing
How to Grow Potatoes
Growing · 4 min read · Updated November 14, 2026
You grow potatoes by planting pieces of seed potato in loose soil in spring, covering the stems with more soil as they grow, and digging up the new potatoes once the plants die back. It is one of the easiest crops for a home garden, and it works in the ground, in a raised bed, or even in a deep pot.
Potatoes like cool weather and full sun. The key jobs are simple: start with healthy seed, keep the growing potatoes covered so they stay dark, and water steady through the season. Get the soil right first with a loose, rich mix like the one in our guide to raised bed garden soil mix.
Start with seed potatoes
Buy seed potatoes from a garden store, not the grocery store. Grocery potatoes are often treated so they will not sprout, and they can carry disease. Seed potatoes are grown to be planted, so they start clean and strong.
A few days before planting, cut larger seed potatoes into chunks about the size of a golf ball, each with at least one or two eyes. Let the cut sides dry in the open air for a day or two. This forms a skin over the cut and helps stop rot in the ground. Small seed potatoes can be planted whole.
Plant them right
Plant potatoes a few weeks before your last spring frost, when the soil can be worked and is no longer soggy. Dig a trench or holes about 4 inches deep, set the pieces cut side down with the eyes up, and space them about 12 inches apart. Cover with soil and water well.
Loose soil matters more than rich soil at this stage. Hard, packed ground makes small, odd shaped potatoes. If your soil is heavy clay, loosen it deep and mix in compost. Our guide on how to start composting shows how to make your own for next season.
Hill them up as they grow
New potatoes form along the stem, above the piece you planted. When the green tops reach about 8 inches tall, pull loose soil or straw up around the stems, leaving just the top few inches of leaves showing. Do this two or three times as the plants grow.
Hilling does two things. It gives the new potatoes room to form, and it keeps them in the dark. Potatoes that poke out into sunlight turn green, and green potatoes taste bitter and should not be eaten. Keep the soil moist but not soaked while the plants flower and grow.
Dig and cure your harvest
For small new potatoes, dig a few about two weeks after the plants flower. For a full size harvest, wait until the tops turn yellow and die back, then leave the potatoes in the ground about two more weeks so the skins toughen. Dig on a dry day with a fork, working from the side so you do not spear the potatoes.
Let the harvest dry in a shady, airy spot for a few hours, then brush off loose dirt. Do not wash them until you are ready to cook. After that, follow our guide on how to store potatoes so they last so your crop keeps for months instead of weeks.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to plant potatoes?
Plant in spring, a few weeks before your last frost date, once the soil can be worked and has started to warm. In cold areas a second planting in mid summer can give a fall crop.
Can I plant potatoes from the grocery store?
It is not a good idea. Store potatoes may be treated to stop sprouting and can carry diseases that stay in your soil for years. Certified seed potatoes cost little and start clean.
How long do potatoes take to grow?
Most kinds take about 70 to 120 days from planting to a full harvest, depending on the type. Early kinds are ready sooner, and you can dig small new potatoes a few weeks after flowering.
Why did my potatoes turn green?
They were exposed to light while growing or in storage. Green parts taste bitter and can upset your stomach, so cut them away or toss badly green potatoes. Hilling soil over the stems and storing potatoes in the dark prevents it.
How much water do potatoes need?
Keep the soil evenly moist, about an inch of water a week in most gardens. Dry spells followed by heavy watering can crack the potatoes or make them hollow inside.
Can I grow potatoes in containers?
Yes. Use a pot or grow bag at least 12 inches deep, fill it partway, plant the seed pieces, and add soil as the stems grow, just like hilling in the ground. Water more often, since pots dry out fast.