How to Harvest Potatoes

Co-authored by Jessica Gibson

Last Updated: August 25, 2021 References

You've been waiting patiently for weeks and tended your potato plants with care—now it's time to dig them up! Potatoes are a really fun vegetable to harvest. As long as you wait until the potatoes are fully developed and take care not to cut into the potatoes as you dig them up, you'll be rewarded with flavorful homegrown spuds.

Question 1

Question 1 of 6:
How long can I leave potatoes in the ground?

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Plan on harvesting your potatoes before the first hard frost. Your potatoes will probably be fine if there's a light frost in your area, but dig them up before a hard frost. Really cold temperatures can damage the potatoes and make it harder to dig through the soil.^{[1]
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- Did you totally forget about your potatoes? Don't worry! You can dig up and eat last season's potatoes as long as they're still firm and the skin isn't green.^{[2]
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Question 2

Question 2 of 6:
How do I know it's time to dig up potatoes?

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Wait until the vines die before you harvest. Healthy potato plants put on a lot of growth above ground—you'll see leafy vines as the plant develops potatoes underground. After several weeks or months, the leafy vines will turn yellow and dry up. Once they've died back, it's time to harvest!^{[3]
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- Stop watering the plants once you notice the leafy vines start to turn yellow. This helps toughen up the potato skins so they store better.
- Do you want small, new potatoes? Plan on digging up your potatoes before the vines die, when the potatoes are between 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) in size.

Question 3

Question 3 of 6:
How do I dig them up?

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Use a shovel or spading fork to bring the potatoes to the surface. Potatoes may be sturdy, but you need to be gentle when you harvest them or you could damage the tubers. Carefully push a shovel or spading fork into the potato mound and bring the soil to the surface. You should see potatoes rise to the top. Then, use your hands or a small gardening tool to free the potatoes from the soil.^{[4]
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- Most of the potatoes will grow close to the surface of the soil. Plan on digging around 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) below to reveal them.
- This is a great project for kids to help with! You can use the shovel or spading fork to loosen the earth and the kids can help you find all the potatoes.
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Question 4

Question 4 of 6:
What do I do to cure the harvested potatoes?

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Brush off the dirt and spread them on a dry surface. Take a dry vegetable brush and gently brush the dirt off of each potato. If the soil was sticky or full of clay, you'll probably need to wash away the dirt with water and a vegetable brush. Then, dry the potatoes completely. Spread your potatoes on a dry, flat surface where you plan on curing them.^{[5]
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- You may want to spread them out on a counter in the basement or a cool garage, for instance.
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Dry the potatoes in a cool, dark space for up to 2 weeks. Choose a space with a temperature between 45 and 60 °F (7 and 16 °C). By letting the potatoes dry or cure, the skins will toughen so you can store them for a long time.
- It's important to keep the potatoes out of the light. If the potatoes are exposed to light, they'll form chlorophyll which makes them turn green. Eating a lot of green potatoes can cause nausea.
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Question 5

Question 5 of 6:
How do I store potatoes?

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Keep the potatoes in a cool, dark space for up to 8 months. Once you've finished curing the healthy potatoes, put them into a basket, paper bag, or mesh sack. Then, put them in a cool, dark spot like a pantry cabinet or the basement. Use your potatoes before they soften or shrivel, usually within 8 months.^{[6]
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- Don't put the potatoes into a sealable container or you'll trap moisture which causes the potatoes to spoil faster.
- Avoid storing any potatoes that look diseased or have cuts. Diseased potatoes can make other potatoes go bad, too.

Question 6

Question 6 of 6:
Can I eat the potatoes right after harvesting them?

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Yes—eat small, new potatoes or full-grown potatoes after harvesting them. New potatoes that haven't finished growing are low in starch and have thin skins. This makes them great for boiling, roasting, or steaming. You can also eat full-grown mature potatoes—just scrub them really well to remove all dirt from the skin.^{[7]
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- If you accidentally hit potatoes with your shovel or you see diseased spots on some of the potatoes, eat them after harvesting instead of storing them.
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