Louisiana · zones 8b–9b
When to plant potatoes in Louisiana.
Sow between Jan 21 to Feb 23 in a typical year, keyed to Louisiana's median last frost around Feb 28. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 13 to Aug 26. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Potatoes dates for a typical Louisiana season.
Direct sow
Jan 21 to Feb 23
Keyed to the ~Feb 28 last frost. Sow 4" deep, 12" apart.
Fall round
Aug 13 to Aug 26
Counted back from the ~Dec 1 first frost.
Harvest
~90 days later
~3 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Louisiana spans more than one climate: Zone 9 is the most common zone, but the state runs 8b to 9b. 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 Louisiana: watch for
The pests that find potatoes here.
With about 276 frost-free days, potato spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which colorado potato beetle can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
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: Louisiana gives potatoes about 276 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 Louisiana: questions
When should I plant potatoes in Louisiana?+
In a typical Louisiana year, sow potatoes between Jan 21 to Feb 23, keyed to the state's median last frost around Feb 28. There's also a fall window: Aug 13 to Aug 26. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Louisiana?+
Louisiana spans zones 8b–9b, mostly zone 9. 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.