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Home grown potatoes are ready to pick when the plants have fully flowered and the foliage begins to yellow and die back.
That’s the classic sign that your home grown potatoes have finished bulking up underground and are now ready to harvest.
But honestly, the exact timing for when home grown potatoes are ready to pick depends on whether you want new potatoes or mature storage spuds.
If you’re after those thin-skinned, sweet little numbers, you can start picking home grown potatoes about two to three weeks after the plants flower.
For big, thick-skinned potatoes that will store for months, you’ll need to wait until the tops have completely died down.
And there’s a bit of nuance here with different varieties, planting dates, and even weather conditions that we’ll break down in this post.
We’ll cover the main signs that your home grown potatoes are ready to pick, how to test for readiness, and what to do if you’re unsure.
Let’s dig in and get those spuds out of the ground at the perfect moment.
When Are Home Grown Potatoes Ready to Pick: The Main Signs
So when are home grown potatoes ready to pick, really?
The answer is tied directly to the growth stage of the plant above the soil.
Home grown potatoes are ready to pick when the plant tells you so, and it does this through its leaves, stems, and flowers.
Let’s look at the biggest clues to watch for so you know when your home grown potatoes are ready to pick without any guesswork.
1. Flowering Is Your First Green Light
The moment your potato plants start flowering, tubers are forming beneath the soil.
If you’re wondering when home grown potatoes are ready to pick as new potatoes, this is your starting signal.
About two weeks after the first flowers appear, you can gently dig around the base of a plant and pull out a few small, tender spuds.
These are called new potatoes, and they’re fantastic boiled or roasted fresh from the garden.
But remember, these aren’t fully mature, so they won’t store well and should be eaten within a few days.
So flowering tells you that your home grown potatoes are ready to pick if you want the early, delicate harvest.
2. Yellowing Foliage Signals Maturity
Once the flowers fade and the lower leaves start turning yellow, your home grown potatoes are ready to pick for a larger, more substantial crop.
At this stage, the skins are setting, which means they’ll hold up better during handling.
Many gardeners begin their main harvest when about half the foliage has yellowed.
This is a perfect middle ground for home grown potatoes that you plan to eat over the next few weeks.
The tubers will have good size, and the skins will be tough enough to resist scrapes.
3. Complete Die-Back Means Full Maturity
When the entire plant has turned brown, dried out, and flopped over, your home grown potatoes are ready to pick for storage.
This full die-back indicates that the potato skins have thickened and cured naturally in the soil.
Wait about two to three weeks after the tops have died before you harvest to ensure the skins are set firmly.
These mature potatoes are the ones you want for winter storage, as they’ll keep for months in a cool, dark place.
So if you’re asking when are home grown potatoes ready to pick for long-term keeping, the answer is after full foliage death.
4. Check the Days to Maturity for Your Variety
Another reliable way to know when home grown potatoes are ready to pick is to track the days to maturity listed on your seed packet.
Early varieties can be ready in as little as 60 to 70 days after planting.
Maincrop varieties typically need 90 to 120 days to reach full maturity.
Count back from your planting date and start inspecting the plants as that window approaches.
This isn’t an exact science because weather and soil conditions play a big role, but it’s a solid guide to when your home grown potatoes are ready to pick.
How to Test If Home Grown Potatoes Are Ready for Harvest
Even if the foliage looks like it’s dying back, you still want to be certain your home grown potatoes are ready to pick before you commit to digging.
Testing one plant can save you from harvesting too early or too late.
Here are a couple of simple methods to confirm that your home grown potatoes are ready to pick.
1. The Dig Test
Choose a plant that looks like it’s at the stage you’re aiming for.
Use a garden fork to carefully lift the soil from the outer edge of the root zone, working inward to avoid spearing tubers.
Pull up the plant and take a look at the size and skin quality of the potatoes.
If the skins rub off easily with your thumb, they’re too immature and you should wait another week or two.
If the skins stay put and the potatoes are a good size for your needs, your home grown potatoes are ready to pick.
2. The Skin Test
Take a potato from your test dig and gently rub it with your thumb.
If the skin peels away easily, it’s too thin and the potato isn’t fully mature.
That’s totally fine if you want new potatoes, but it means they won’t keep long in storage.
A mature potato has a set skin that doesn’t rub off easily.
When you scratch it lightly and the skin remains intact, you know your home grown potatoes are ready to pick for curing.
What If You Miss the Window for Picking Home Grown Potatoes?
Sometimes life gets busy and you’re not sure if your home grown potatoes are ready to pick because you’ve left them too long.
Don’t worry, because potatoes can stay in the ground for a few extra weeks after the foliage dies.
The soil acts as a natural storage unit, keeping the tubers fresh and cool.
However, if the ground is very wet, potatoes can start to rot or split.
If a hard frost is forecast, you’ll want to harvest promptly because cold soil can damage the tubers.
So if you’re past the ideal point, you can still dig them up as long as the soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen.
Your home grown potatoes are ready to pick even a bit late, they’ll just be very mature and perhaps a little larger.
The Right Way to Harvest Home Grown Potatoes
Once you’ve confirmed that your home grown potatoes are ready to pick, harvesting them correctly matters for their longevity.
Start by loosening the soil with a fork well away from the plant’s base.
Then lift the entire plant gently and shake off the loose soil.
Search through the dirt by hand to find any spuds that have dropped off the roots.
Avoid washing the potatoes immediately, as wet skins invite rot during storage.
Instead, let them dry on the soil surface for a couple of hours on a sunny day.
If you’ve harvested mature potatoes for storage, cure them for 10 to 14 days in a dark, well-ventilated spot with high humidity.
This toughens the skin further and heals any small cuts you made during the dig.
After curing, store them in a cool, dark place like a cellar or a pantry.
They’ll keep for months if stored properly, which is the big reward for waiting until your home grown potatoes are ready to pick.
So, When Are Home Grown Potatoes Ready to Pick?
Home grown potatoes are ready to pick when the plants flower for new spuds and when the foliage dies back for mature storage potatoes.
That’s the simple answer to the question, and it applies to almost any variety you’ve planted.
Your home grown potatoes are ready to pick about two weeks after flowering if you want small, tender ones.
For full-size storage potatoes, wait until the tops have yellowed and toppled over, then check the skins before digging.
And if you’re still unsure whether your home grown potatoes are ready to pick, just do the dig test on a single plant.
That quick check will tell you everything you need to know.
So keep an eye on your plants, trust the signs, and you’ll enjoy a fantastic harvest of home grown potatoes all season long.