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The best time to plant red Norland potatoes is in early spring, as soon as the soil can be worked and has warmed to at least 45°F.
Getting the timing right for when to plant red Norland potatoes is the single most important step for a successful harvest of these vibrant, early-season spuds.
If you plant them too early in cold, wet soil, they risk rotting, and if you wait too long, hot summer weather will stunt their growth and reduce your yield.
In this post, we’ll cover when to plant red Norland potatoes based on your local frost dates, soil temperature, and growing zone, plus a few tips to help you get the timing just right.
Let’s dig into the details so you can plan your spring planting with confidence.
When to Plant Red Norland Potatoes: The Golden Rules
The ideal time to plant red Norland potatoes is roughly two to three weeks before your last expected spring frost.
These potatoes are remarkably cold-hardy, and their young sprouts can handle a light frost without serious damage.
Although they can survive some cold, the soil temperature is what really dictates whether your seed potatoes will thrive or just sit there.
Red Norland potatoes are a determinate, early-season variety, meaning they mature in about 70 to 80 days, which is why matching your planting date to local conditions is so crucial.
1. Soil Temperature Is the Deciding Factor
Before you ask yourself when to plant red Norland potatoes, you should first check your soil temperature with a simple soil thermometer.
The absolute minimum soil temperature for planting red Norland potatoes is 45°F, but the sweet spot is between 50°F and 60°F.
If the ground is still frozen or overly saturated, hold off, as cold, wet soil can cause your seed pieces to rot before they even sprout.
Warmer soil encourages faster sprouting, and healthy sprouts are more resistant to pests and disease that lurk in cool conditions.
You can speed up soil warming by covering your planting bed with black plastic or a row cover a few weeks before you plan to plant.
2. Know Your Last Frost Date
When to plant red Norland potatoes is usually tied directly to your region’s average last frost date in spring.
For most gardeners in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 7, this means planting between late March and mid-May.
If you’re in a southern zone like 8 or 9, you might plant red Norland potatoes in late January or February to beat the summer heat.
And for northern gardeners in zones 2 or 3, late May or early June is often your safest bet, especially if the snow has just melted.
A quick online search for your specific zip code’s frost dates will give you a reliable baseline to work from.
3. Consider a Second Planting for a Fall Crop
While spring is the classic time, you can also plant red Norland potatoes in mid-summer for a fall harvest in milder climates.
If you have a long growing season, aim for about 90 to 100 days before your first expected fall frost to let them mature.
This second window for when to plant red Norland potatoes works best if you live in zones 6 through 9 where summers aren’t brutally hot.
Keep in mind that red Norland potatoes don’t love extreme heat, so if your summer temps regularly exceed 85°F, the fall crop may struggle.
For a fall planting, you’ll want to store your seed potatoes in the fridge for a few weeks beforehand to break dormancy.
How to Prepare for Planting Red Norland Potatoes
Once you’ve nailed down when to plant red Norland potatoes, you’ll need to get your seed pieces and soil ready for action.
Proper preparation ensures that your potatoes have the best possible start and reduces the risk of rot or disease.
1. Chitting Your Seed Potatoes
About four weeks before your planned planting date, place your red Norland seed potatoes in a cool, bright windowsill to chit.
Chitting simply means letting them sprout small, sturdy green shoots before they go into the ground.
This head start can shave a week or two off your harvest time, which is excellent for early-season growers.
Just be careful not to let the sprouts get too long, as they can break off during planting, so aim for sprouts about half an inch long.
2. Cut and Cure Your Seed Pieces
On planting day, cut your larger seed potatoes into chunks that each have at least two or three eyes, or sprouts.
Let these cut pieces sit at room temperature for a day or two so the cut surfaces can dry and form a callus.
This curing process helps prevent rot in damp spring soil and makes them more vigorous when they finally go in.
If your seed potatoes are small, just plant them whole to avoid too many cuts and open wounds.
3. Amend the Soil Well
Red Norland potatoes prefer loose, slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5, so test your soil and add sulfur if needed.
Mix in a few inches of compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and provide slow-release nutrients.
Avoid fresh manure, which can burn the young sprouts and introduce harmful bacteria to your crop.
Also, avoid adding lime unless your soil is extremely acidic, as potatoes prefer acidic growing conditions.
Common Mistakes When Planting Red Norland Potatoes
Even if you perfect when to plant red Norland potatoes, a few simple errors can sabotage your efforts.
Here’s what to watch out for so you don’t waste your seed potatoes or your season.
1. Planting Too Deep or Too Shallow
Plant your red Norland seed pieces about 4 inches deep, with the sprouts facing upward.
If you plant them too shallow, they may dry out or get sunburned, and if too deep, they’ll take forever to emerge.
As the plants grow, you’ll need to mound soil, or hill, around the stems to protect developing tubers from sunlight.
2. Overwatering Right After Planting
When you first plant red Norland potatoes, the soil should be moist but not soggy, so resist the urge to water heavily.
Too much water right after planting can lead to rot, especially if you planted at the cooler end of the temperature range.
Water deeply only once or twice a week, allowing the top few inches of soil to dry out slightly between waterings.
3. Skipping the Hilling Process
As your red Norland plants grow to about 8 inches tall, start hilling soil up around the stems every couple of weeks.
This keeps the tubers covered, prevents them from turning green from sunlight, and encourages more potatoes to form.
If you skip hilling, you’ll end up with green, bitter, and mildly toxic potatoes that you can’t eat.
So, When Is the Right Time to Plant Red Norland Potatoes?
The right time to plant red Norland potatoes is when soil temperatures reach 50°F and your last frost is two weeks away.
So, when to plant red Norland potatoes really comes down to watching your local weather and soil conditions carefully.
Plant red Norland potatoes in early spring for a summer harvest, or mid-summer for a fall crop if your climate allows.
Just remember that consistent moisture, plenty of sunlight, and hilling are just as important as your planting date.
With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to digging up a beautiful crop of tender, red-skinned potatoes that are perfect for boiling, roasting, or salads.
Happy planting and here’s to your most bountiful red Norland potato harvest yet.