What Do Potato Plants Look Like When Ready to Harvest?

What do potato plants look like when ready to harvest? Potato plants are a staple in many home gardens, and there's nothing quite like the satisfaction of harvesting your own fresh potatoes. But how do you know when your potato plants are ready to be harvested?

And what if you're interested in harvesting young potatoes, especially red potatoes? Young potatoes get their name from the fact that they haven't yet reached full maturity, and they are usually harvested early in their growth stage when they're about 1 to 2 inches in diameter.

Regardless of what type of potatoes you're trying to harvest, my guide will teach you how to identify when they're at the right stage. Read on to learn exactly how!

Table of Contents

• How Long Do Potatoes Grow Before Harvesting?
• How to Decide When to Harvest Potatoes
• How to Harvest Young Red Potatoes (Step by Step)

How Long Do Potatoes Grow Before Harvesting?

Before we dive into the signs of a mature potato plant, let's take a moment to understand how long potatoes typically grow before they are ready for harvest. The length of time it takes for potatoes to mature can vary depending on the variety and growing conditions. On average, it takes about 70 to 120 days from planting to harvest.

Factors such as temperature, soil moisture, and fertilization can influence the growth rate of potatoes. It's important to keep track of the planting date and have an estimate of when to expect the potatoes to reach maturity.

When it comes to potato growth, understanding the different stages of development is crucial. After planting the seed potatoes, they go through a series of growth phases before they are ready to be harvested.

Sprouting Stage

The first stage is the sprouting phase, where the seed potatoes start to develop shoots. This usually happens within a couple of weeks after planting, depending on the soil temperature. The shoots emerge from the eyes of the seed potatoes and begin to grow towards the surface.

Vegetative Stage

Once the shoots have emerged, the potato plants enter the vegetative growth phase. During this stage, the plants focus on growing foliage and establishing a strong root system. The leaves of the potato plants will continue to grow larger and more abundant, capturing sunlight and converting it into energy through photosynthesis.

Flowering Stage

As the potato plants continue to grow, they enter the flowering stage. This is when the plants produce small, delicate flowers that can range in color from white to purple. While the flowers themselves are not directly related to the formation of potatoes, they indicate that the plants are healthy and progressing towards maturity.

Tuber Initiation Stage

After the flowering stage, the potato plants transition into the tuber initiation phase. This is a critical period where the plants allocate energy towards the development of tubers, which are the edible part of the potato plant. During this phase, the tubers start to form and grow in size beneath the soil surface.

Late Maturity Stage

Finally, the potato plants reach the maturity stage, which is the point at which they are ready for harvest. The foliage of the plants will start to turn yellow and die back, indicating that the potatoes have reached their full size and are ready to be dug up.

It's important to note that not all potato varieties mature at the same rate. Some early-maturing varieties can be harvested as soon as 70 days after planting, while late-maturing varieties may require up to 120 days or more. Additionally, environmental factors such as temperature and soil conditions can affect the growth rate and maturity of potatoes.

How to Decide When to Harvest Potatoes

Now that we understand the basic stages that potatoes go through before being ready to harvest, there are also early, medium, and late maturity stages that indicate when to harvest them. This will help us learn exactly what potato plants look like when ready to harvest:

Early Stage: In the early stage, the leaves and the stems are pretty green, and the potato skins are really thin and it can be easily scraped off, not peeled.

Medium Stage: In the medium stage the skin is much thicker and is almost impossible to peel. The leaves and the stems start to turn yellow and flop over.

Late Maturity Stage: In the late maturity stage, the potato skin is thick, it's impossible to scrape you'll need to peel it. The leaves and the stems become brown and die completely, that's when the potatoes are ready to harvest.

When to Harvest Young Red Potatoes

You can start digging red potatoes in the early stage of maturity, right after the potato plants have finished their flowering cycle. This is when the potatoes are young and ideal to harvest!

This is when the skin is soft and you don't need to peel the potatoes, instead you can scrape off the skin.

If you're worried about harvesting them in a way that damages the rest of the crop, don't worry! You can harvest them while leaving the rest to mature. The next section will teach you exactly how to do that.

How to Harvest Young Red Potatoes (Step by Step)

The process of harvesting young red potatoes is actually quite simple! This is especially true if the soil is fluffy, and not compact.

1. Start by digging the potatoes by hand.
2. Insert two fingers into the soil at the base of the stem and feel for the large-sized potatoes.
3. If the potato is located, dig it out of the ground.
4. Be careful not to damage the plant and the roots so that the remaining potatoes can finish growing and reach the final maturity stage for winter storage.
5. Make sure you rinse your potatoes well with water to remove all the dirt after harvesting.

What's best is that well-rinsed potatoes can be easily scraped and prepared for a delicious dish!

I highly recommend refrigerating young potatoes to prolong their freshness. It's important to note that young potatoes don't store for a long period of time. Once they're harvested, use them within two weeks before they start to shrivel and decay.

You can also watch the video below to learn exactly how to dig out the entire potato bush by hand. By doing so, the rest of the potatoes can reach their full harvest maturity.

Now that you know what potato plants look like when ready to harvest, you're all ready to enjoy your abundance!

Watch the YouTube Video Below on How to Harvest Potatoes.

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