Potato is a perennial grown for its root, ready to pull about 95 days after sowing. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 11. Its summer flowers are a modest draw for native bees, even though the root is the prize. As a nightshade, give it a fresh bed each year — away from where its relatives just grew — so the soil-borne pests and diseases of the family never get a foothold.
Zones
2-11
pH Range
4.2-8.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
95
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What Potato is
Potato grows as a perennial and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms white in summer.
How to grow Potato
Potato grows in USDA zones 2 through 11 and is ready to harvest about 95 days after planting. Potato does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.2 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,200 growing degree days to mature and a growing season of at least 90 frost-free days, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.2 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
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Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
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Days to Maturity
95 days
Potato; from seed potato pieces. Vernalization required (separate concept).
Penn State
GDD Required
1200+
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Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
90+
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Sow directly
Sow potato seed straight into the bed — root crops germinate fast and resent transplanting. Give them full sun.
Match the soil
Potato prefers pH 4.2 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Potato is ready about 95 days after sowing (Penn State). Pull while roots are young and tender — sweeter than oversized ones.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — potato is toxic to dogs and cats (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Potato offers low value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Potato thrives
On hardiness alone, potato grows across most of the country — its range (USDA zones 2 through 11) is unusually wide. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 2–11·Where Potato growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Potato can grow in these states:
See if Potato will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether potato actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Potato in my zone?
Potato grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
How long does Potato take to grow?
Potato is ready to harvest about 95 days after planting (Penn State). Your local frost dates and soil temperature move that window earlier or later.
When should you plant Potato?
Most growers plant potato after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed, leaving enough of the season for its 90-day frost-free need. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Potato need?
Potato needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Potato need?
Potato prefers soil pH 4.2 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Potato attract pollinators?
Yes — potato's flowers are a modest nectar source for native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Potato safe for pets?
Potato is toxic to pets (dogs,cats) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.