If you’ve lived through more than one Minnesota spring, you’ve learned not to trust the calendar, no matter what tradition says. A lot of gardeners grow up hearing the same thing: Good Friday is potato-planting day, if the weather allows. Some years this actually works. Other years, Good Friday shows up with frozen ground, a stiff north wind, and snow piled where the garden ought to be. This year, Easter Sunday was beautiful, sunny, and warm, and I heard many people ask, “Can I plant my potatoes yet?” The honest answer is “not quite.” But we’re close enough to talk about it, and talking about it is half of the fun.

Potatoes are not flashy like tomatoes or fussy like peppers. They’re steady. They don’t mind cooler soil, they can handle a little frost, and they don’t ask for much. Give them decent soil and some patience, and your harvest will be bountiful later in the summer.

Seed potatoes are now available for purchase in area stores: Red Norland, Yukon Gold, Kennebec, and the reliable russet. Even if your garden is still a soggy mess, it’s hard to walk past without grabbing a bag and making a plan. Some people let their potatoes sprout on a sunny windowsill first. Is it necessary? No. Does it feel like progress? Definitely.

Potato Basics at a Glance

• When to plant: Plant potatoes when the soil is thawed and no longer muddy, usually late April to midMay in Minnesota.
• How to plant: Place seed potatoes a few inches deep and about a foot apart in loose soil, with no need to be perfect.
• How to care for them: As plants grow, mound soil around the stems and water during dry weather.
• What to expect: Potatoes handle cool weather well and mostly need space underground and steady moisture.
• When to harvest: Dig early for small new potatoes or wait until the plants die back for a full harvest.

One day soon, you’ll step outside, push a shovel into soil that finally gives, and know it’s time to plant. When that happens, don’t overthink it. Plant a row, get some dirt under your nails, and let the season begin.

Until Next Time, Happy Gardening!

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By University of Minnesota Extension