When Do You Know To Pick Potatoes

You know when to pick potatoes when the plant’s foliage begins to yellow, flower, and then die back naturally.
 
That’s the classic above-ground signal that your spuds have reached maturity beneath the soil.
 
But you know when to pick potatoes depends heavily on whether you want “new” potatoes for immediate eating or larger storage potatoes for the winter months.
 
If you’ve been wondering when do you know to pick potatoes without digging up the whole patch too early, you’ve come to the right place.
 
In this post, we’ll cover how to know when to pick potatoes, the exact visual cues to watch for, and simple methods to test your crop’s readiness.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

Signals That Tell You When To Pick Potatoes

Knowing when to pick potatoes starts with understanding the two main harvest stages.
 
The first stage is for new potatoes, which are thin-skinned and best eaten within days of picking.
 
The second stage is for mature potatoes, which develop thicker skins and store well for months.
 
Here’s how you know when to pick potatoes for each stage:
 

1. New Potatoes: Pick After Flowering

If you want to know when to pick potatoes for that sweet, tender taste, watch for the flowers.
 
Once potato plants start blooming, that’s your first clue that small tubers are forming underground.
 
You can pick new potatoes about two to three weeks after the flowers first appear.
 
These will be small, with delicate skins that don’t need peeling.
 
Just gently dig around the base of one plant to check the size, and if they’re as big as a golf ball, they’re ready.
 
You know when to pick potatoes as new spuds because they won’t store well, so harvest only what you’ll eat within a week.
 

2. Mature Potatoes: Wait for Foliage To Die

For storage potatoes, you know when to pick potatoes once the top growth has fully died back.
 
When the stems turn yellow, flop over, and eventually brown and dry, the tubers are done growing.
 
This usually happens about two to three weeks after flowering ends.
 
But here’s the catch: you want to know when to pick potatoes after the foliage dies, yet you shouldn’t leave them in the ground too long afterward.
 
If the soil stays wet, mature potatoes can rot or start sprouting.
 
So aim to harvest within a few weeks of the foliage dying back.
 

3. Skin Set Test for Storage Readiness

Another reliable way to know when to pick potatoes for storage is the skin set test.
 
Gently rub a potato that you’ve dug up with your thumb.
 
If the skin rubs off easily, the potato needs more time in the ground.
 
If the skin stays firmly attached and doesn’t scrape off, you know when to pick potatoes for long-term keeping.
 
This test is essential because potatoes with thin, immature skins will shrivel and spoil quickly in storage.
 
So when you know when to pick potatoes by this test, you’re ensuring a firm, cured crop.
 

How To Know When To Pick Potatoes by Variety

Not all potato varieties follow the exact same timeline, so you know when to pick potatoes by checking your specific seed packet.
 
Early varieties like Yukon Gold or Red Norland can be ready in as little as 70 to 90 days.
 
Maincrop varieties like Russet or Fingerlings need 100 to 130 days.
 
So you know when to pick potatoes by counting days from planting, but you still confirm with the foliage signals.
 
Here’s a quick guide:
 

Early Season (70–90 Days)

You know when to pick potatoes from early varieties when the plants flower early and die back quickly.
 
These are often harvested as new potatoes first.
 
Then you can leave a few plants in the ground to mature into small storage spuds.
 

Mid Season (90–110 Days)

Mid-season varieties give you a clear window where you know when to pick potatoes between flowering and full dieback.
 
You can harvest some new potatoes, then wait for the rest to set thicker skins.
 

Late Season (110–130 Days)

Late varieties demand patience because you only know when to pick potatoes after the vines have completely withered.
 
This often happens near the first fall frost, which is actually perfect for curing.
 

Simple Steps To Confirm You Know When To Pick Potatoes

If you’re still unsure and want to know when to pick potatoes without guessing, try these hands-on checks.
 

1. Dig a Test Hill

Choose one plant and gently dig around its base with your hands or a fork.
 
If you see full-sized tubers with the expected color and shape for your variety, you likely know when to pick potatoes from that hill.
 
For new potatoes, grab a few small ones and leave the rest to keep growing.
 
For mature potatoes, check that the skin doesn’t scrape off.
 

2. Watch the Weather Forecast

You know when to pick potatoes before a heavy rain or frost hits, as both can damage your crop.
 
A light frost can actually help mature the skins, but a hard freeze will ruin the tubers.
 
So if frost is coming and the foliage hasn’t fully died, cut the stems down to ground level and wait two weeks.
 
Then you’ll know when to pick potatoes safely.
 

3. Cure Before Storing

Once you know when to pick potatoes and you’ve dug them all up, don’t wash them yet.
 
Instead, let them dry on the soil surface for a couple of hours.
 
Then move them to a dark, cool spot with good airflow for two weeks.
 
This curing process hardens the skins further, so you’ll know when to pick potatoes was the right call because they’ll last for months.
 

So, When Do You Know To Pick Potatoes?

You know when to pick potatoes when the foliage starts to yellow and die back for mature spuds, or about two weeks after flowering for new ones.
 
You know when to pick potatoes by combining visual cues with the skin set test, your variety’s days to maturity, and the weather forecast.
 
You know when to pick potatoes because waiting too long can lead to rot or sprouting, while harvesting too early gives you thin skins that don’t store well.
 
Hope this guide has helped you understand when do you know to pick potatoes so you can enjoy the best harvest from your garden.
 
Trust the plant, check the calendar, and dig at the right moment.
 
Happy harvesting.