tuber · direct sow
Potato: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating potato a few times a week needs about 2 plants in ~6 sq ft, worth about $6 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$1.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~3 sq ft | ~2 | ~$3 |
| 2 people | 1 | ~3 sq ft | ~2 | ~$3 |
| 4 people | 2 | ~6 sq ft | ~4 | ~$6 |
| 6 people | 3 | ~9 sq ft | ~5 | ~$9 |
Spacing
12" in row · 36" between rows
Sow depth
4"
Days to harvest
90 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | Apr 7 – May 10 | May 28 – Jun 10 |
| Zone 4 | Apr 2 – May 5 | Jun 7 – Jun 20 |
| Zone 5 | Mar 23 – Apr 25 | Jun 17 – Jun 30 |
| Zone 6 | Mar 13 – Apr 15 | Jun 27 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 7 | Feb 26 – Mar 31 | Jul 7 – Jul 20 |
| Zone 8 | Feb 15 – Mar 20 | Jul 28 – Aug 10 |
| Zone 9 | Jan 13 – Feb 15 | Aug 17 – Aug 30 |
| Zone 10 | Dec 24 – Jan 26 | Aug 27 – Sep 9 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
New potatoes: 2 to 3 weeks after flowering, steal a few from the hill edges. Storage crop: dig 2 weeks after the vines die back so skins set.
Don't wait: Any green skin means light exposure, cut it away; cure storage potatoes dark and dry.
Yield
About 3 lbs per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~3 lb).
Watch for
Colorado potato beetle · Aphids · Late blight · Common scab, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with bush bean, horseradish, cilantro. Keep away from tomato, sunflower, raspberry. Which of these hold up, and what not to plant after
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
77 kcal · 2.1 g fiber · 19.7 mg vitamin C · 425 mg potassium
When to plant potato in your state
Pick your state for exact sow windows.
Each page keys potatoto that state's typical frost dates, with spring and fall windows and the indoor-start date where it helps.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Potato keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Potato planting questions
How many potato plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 2 plants, which takes around 6 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does potato need?+
Space plants 12" apart in the row with 36" between rows. Sow 4" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant potato?+
It depends on your frost dates. Spring sowing is keyed to your last spring frost. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing potato worth it?+
At about $1.00/lb retail and ~3 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $6 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.