Delaware · zones 7b7b

When to plant potatoes in Delaware.

Sow between Mar 5 to Apr 7 in a typical year, keyed to Delaware's median last frost around Apr 12. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 14 to Jul 27. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.

The 2026 windows

Potatoes dates for a typical Delaware season.

Direct sow

Mar 5 to Apr 7

Keyed to the ~Apr 12 last frost. Sow 4" deep, 12" apart.

Fall round

Jul 14 to Jul 27

Counted back from the ~Nov 1 first frost.

Harvest

~90 days later

~3 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.

Delaware spans more than one climate: Zone 7 is the most common zone, but the state runs 7b to 7b. 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 Delaware: watch for

The pests that find potatoes here.

A middle-length season, about 203 frost-free days, means potato overlaps colorado potato beetle for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.

Colorado potato beetle

Striped beetles and orange grubs eating the leaves.

Organic fix: Handpick adults, crush the orange egg clusters, dust with diatomaceous earth.

Aphids

Clusters on stems and leaf undersides.

Organic fix: Insecticidal soap or neem.

Late blight

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: Delaware gives potatoes about 203 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 Delaware: questions

When should I plant potatoes in Delaware?+

In a typical Delaware year, sow potatoes between Mar 5 to Apr 7, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 12. There's also a fall window: Jul 14 to Jul 27. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.

What USDA zone is Delaware?+

Delaware spans zones 7b–7b, mostly zone 7. 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.