Alabama · zones 7b–9a
When to plant potatoes in Alabama.
Sow between Feb 15 to Mar 20 in a typical year, keyed to Alabama's median last frost around Mar 25. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 21 to Aug 3. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Potatoes dates for a typical Alabama season.
Direct sow
Feb 15 to Mar 20
Keyed to the ~Mar 25 last frost. Sow 4" deep, 12" apart.
Fall round
Jul 21 to Aug 3
Counted back from the ~Nov 8 first frost.
Harvest
~90 days later
~3 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Alabama spans more than one climate: Zone 8 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7b to 9a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Alabama: watch for
The pests that find potatoes here.
A middle-length season, about 228 frost-free days, means potato overlaps colorado potato beetle for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.
Striped beetles and orange grubs eating the leaves.
Organic fix: Handpick adults, crush the orange egg clusters, dust with diatomaceous earth.
Dark greasy blotches after cool, wet spells.
Organic fix: Pull infected plants fast, keep leaves dry, use neem as a preventive.
Common scab
Rough, corky patches on the skin, raised on some tubers and sunk into pits on others.
Organic fix: Keep the bed evenly moist through the weeks right after tubers set, rotate away from potatoes, and pick a scab-resistant variety next time.
Your season math: Alabama gives potatoes about 228 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 90 days to a first harvest. It's a one-planting crop, so time that single sowing well.
Planting potatoes in Alabama: questions
When should I plant potatoes in Alabama?+
In a typical Alabama year, sow potatoes between Feb 15 to Mar 20, keyed to the state's median last frost around Mar 25. There's also a fall window: Jul 21 to Aug 3. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Alabama?+
Alabama spans zones 7b–9a, mostly zone 8. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many potatoes plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.