When to harvest potatoes? How to recognize the right moment
Harvesting potatoes in the vegetable garden is always a bit exciting. If you choose the right moment, you will reward yourself with firm, tasty tubers. If you harvest at the wrong time, you run the risk of a poor or even failed harvest. Discover when and how to best harvest your potatoes – and which signals you can recognize that your potatoes are ready to harvest.
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It seems simple: you put some tubers in the ground, wait a few months, and then you can harvest potatoes. But the exact moment at which you pull your potatoes out of the ground makes a world of difference. If you harvest too early, the tubers will be small and not fully developed. If you wait too long, you run the risk of rot, scab or feeding damage. And – not unimportant – the moment of harvest also determines whether your potatoes will keep for a long time or whether you should eat them as soon as possible.
The right time depends on the type of potato variety, the conditions during the growing season and how you want to use the potatoes. Some varieties can be harvested 50 days after planting, others need more than 120 days. But there are always a few important signals that indicate that it is (almost) time:
- The plant begins to flower : This indicates that the tubers are almost fully formed and are beginning to mature. Flowering often lasts only a few days.
- The foliage turns yellow and gradually withers : The plant stops growing and puts all its energy into ripening the tubers. This phase lasts ten to twenty days on average.
- The above-ground plant has died : The tubers are no longer growing and are fully ripe. Harvest now!
Tip
Early varieties such as Frieslander or Eersteling are ready for harvesting 50 to 60 days after planting. If you planted the potatoes in April, you can harvest the first potatoes in June. They will then be about the size of a chicken egg. You can carefully feel under the plant to see if there are any nice, firm potatoes. Cut the plant above ground and carefully lift the tubers with a fork.
These delicious new potatoes do not keep for long, so do not dig up too many plants at a time. The tubers will remain in the ground at least until the plant above the ground has completely died.
Mid-early varieties, such as Carolus or Vitabella, need a bit more time: usually around 90 to 100 days. This means harvesting between mid-July and the end of August, as soon as the foliage dies back. These potatoes also cannot be stored for very long, so harvest them in the same way as early potato varieties.
Late potatoes such as Sevilla or Nicola are ideal for winter storage, but require patience: 120 to 150 days. This means harvesting from the beginning of September until well into October. In any case, wait with harvesting until the foliage has completely died back. Choose a dry, sunny day and preferably harvest in the morning, so that you can let the tubers dry well on the ground for a few hours after harvesting. Then sweep all the soil from the tubers and put them in potato bags for storage.
Note: if you expect a lot of rain or frost, harvest a little earlier and dry the potatoes indoors.
Use a spading fork and work from the outside in, so as not to damage the tubers. Carefully lift the plant at the base and remove the potatoes from the ground. Don't forget the smaller ones - they can rot or spread disease.
After harvesting, let the potatoes dry in a dry, airy place. Then store them in a dark, cool (around 8-10 °C) and dry place, for example in a wooden crate or jute bag. The late varieties will keep for months. Check your stock regularly and throw away rotten ones immediately.
Tip! InFrom Garden to Table , a special edition of Gardeners' World, you will find three delicious recipes with potatoes (and smart growing tips!). Well-known Dutch and Flemish chefs contributed to this edition, so you will be in for a treat.
- Our best tips for year-round cooking from your own garden
- From terrace to allotment: vegetable gardening is possible everywhere!
- With recipes from famous Dutch and Flemish chefs
Finally: By planting potatoes at different times or choosing varieties with different harvest times, you extend the harvest season. This also prevents disease pressure in the soil. Want to know more about this? Read about crop rotation in the vegetable garden .
