When Are Home Grown Potatoes Ready To Pick

Home grown potatoes are ready to pick when the plant’s foliage begins to yellow and die back, signaling that the tubers have matured underground.
 
If you’ve been wondering when are home grown potatoes ready to pick, the short answer is that timing depends on whether you want new potatoes or full-sized storage spuds.
 
For new potatoes, you can start checking for readiness about two to three weeks after the plants finish flowering, which is a fantastic early treat.
 
For mature potatoes that will store well through winter, you’ll want to wait until the tops have completely died down, usually around 10 to 20 weeks after planting depending on the variety.
 
In this post, we’ll dig into exactly when are home grown potatoes ready to pick, how to test for ripeness, and the best signs to look for so you never harvest too early or too late.
 
Let’s get those taters out of the ground at the perfect moment.
 

When Are Home Grown Potatoes Ready to Pick: The Key Signs

The clearest answer to when are home grown potatoes ready to pick comes from watching the plants themselves, as they give you obvious visual cues that the tubers have finished bulking up.
 
Potatoes are ready to pick when the green foliage starts to turn yellow, flop over, and eventually dry out completely, which is nature’s way of saying the skin has thickened enough for storage.
 
If you pick them while the leaves are still vibrant and green, you’ll get thin-skinned new potatoes that are delicious but won’t keep for long.
 
So, if you’re asking when are home grown potatoes ready to pick for long-term keeping, wait until the stems are mostly brown and the plant looks like it’s on its last legs.
 

1. Flowering Stage Tells You About New Potatoes

Potato plants will flower when they’re starting to form tubers, and that bloom is your first hint about when are home grown potatoes ready to pick for a fresh, tender harvest.
 
Once you see the flowers open, you can gently dig around the base of the plant with your fingers to feel for small, marble-sized potatoes.
 
These are called new potatoes, and they’re ready to pick about two weeks after flowering begins, though they won’t store well since their skins are so delicate.
 
If you’re impatient and want to know when are home grown potatoes ready to pick for an early meal, this flowering window is your go-to signal.
 
Just remember that harvesting new potatoes reduces your overall yield, so don’t dig up the whole row if you want a bigger crop later on.
 

2. Foliage Dieback Means Mature Tubers

The most reliable way to know when are home grown potatoes ready to pick for storage is when the foliage has died back completely, not just turned a little yellow.
 
The leaves will lose their lush green color, start to droop, and eventually turn brown and crispy, which can take anywhere from two to four weeks after flowering ends.
 
At this point, the potato skins have set and become tough enough that they won’t scrape off easily when you rub them with your thumb.
 
This is the sweet spot for when are home grown potatoes ready to pick if you plan to cure them and keep them in a cool, dark place for months.
 
Picking them before this dieback means the skins are too thin, and they’ll bruise or rot quickly during storage.
 

3. The Dig Test: Check a Test Plant

You don’t have to guess when are home grown potatoes ready to pick because a simple dig test gives you a definitive answer in minutes.
 
Choose one plant that looks like it’s dying back, then use a garden fork or a trowel to gently lift the soil around the edge of the root zone.
 
Feel the potatoes you uncover and check the skin thickness; if the skin stays intact when you rub it with your fingers, they’re mature and ready to harvest.
 
If the skin rubs right off, they need more time in the ground, so just cover them back up and wait another week or two.
 
This hands-on approach tells you precisely when are home grown potatoes ready to pick because you’re checking the actual tubers, not just guessing from above-ground growth.
 

How to Pick Home Grown Potatoes at the Right Time

Once you’ve figured out when are home grown potatoes ready to pick, the next step is harvesting them without damaging the tubers.
 
You’ll want to pick home grown potatoes on a dry day when the soil is slightly moist but not waterlogged, as wet conditions make the dirt stick and increase the risk of cuts.
 
Use a fork or spade to loosen the soil about a foot away from the plant’s base, then lift gently from underneath to avoid stabbing any spuds.
 
If you’re harvesting new potatoes, you can simply reach into the soil with your hands and pull out the ones you want while leaving the rest to keep growing.
 
For mature potatoes, lift the entire plant with the fork and let the tubers sit on the soil surface for an hour or two to dry off any excess moisture.
 

1. Curing After You Pick Home Grown Potatoes

After you’ve confirmed when are home grown potatoes ready to pick and pulled them up, curing is essential if you want them to last through the winter months.
 
Curing means letting the potatoes sit in a dark, humid, well-ventilated spot at around 50-60°F (10-15°C) for about two weeks.
 
This process allows any nicks or scrapes to heal over, thickens the skin further, and helps them store better.
 
Don’t wash the potatoes right after harvest, as wet skin can invite rot during the curing period.
 
Instead, brush off loose dirt by hand and leave them to cure before moving them to long-term storage.
 

2. What Happens If You Wait Too Long to Pick Home Grown Potatoes

Knowing when are home grown potatoes ready to pick also means knowing that waiting too long has its own downsides.
 
If you leave mature tubers in the ground for weeks after the foliage dies, they can be attacked by slugs, wireworms, or start sprouting if the soil warms up.
 
Heavy rain after the foliage dies can also cause potatoes to rot in the soil, since the tubers are no longer actively growing and sit in moisture.
 
So, once you’ve answered when are home grown potatoes ready to pick, aim to harvest them within a couple of weeks of that dieback signal.
 
You’ll beat the pests and weather while still getting fully mature, excellent-tasting spuds.
 

3. Different Varieties, Different Timelines

The exact timing for when are home grown potatoes ready to pick varies by variety, so check your seed packet for the days-to-maturity number.
 
Early varieties like Yukon Gold or Red Norland can be ready in as little as 70-80 days, while maincrop types like Russet or Maris Piper might take 100-120 days.
 
For early varieties, you can start harvesting new potatoes sooner, but for maincrops, patience is key to getting the largest yields.
 
If you plant multiple varieties, stagger your planting dates so you’re not harvesting everything at the same time.
 
This way, you’ll always know when are home grown potatoes ready to pick for each bed without any confusion.
 

So, When Are Home Grown Potatoes Ready to Pick?

Home grown potatoes are ready to pick when the foliage has yellowed and died back, or about two weeks after flowering if you want tender new potatoes.
 
The best test is to dig up a trial plant and rub the skin to see if it stays on, because that’s the true indicator of maturity.
 
You’ll also want to pick home grown potatoes on a dry day, cure them properly, and avoid waiting too long after the tops die to prevent rot and pest damage.
 
So now that you know when are home grown potatoes ready to pick, get out there, check your plants, and enjoy the satisfying crunch of a truly fresh harvest.
 
Happy digging.