When to plant potatoes in zone 2a
In zone 2a, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 19, sow outdoors May 21 to 28.
The zone 2a schedule for potatoes
- Sow outdoors
- May 21 to 28
- Soil warm enough (50°F), about
- May 21
- First harvest, roughly
- August 14 to September 25
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 10 ZIP codes in zone 2a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for potatoes.
Frost risk in zone 2a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 2a, the typical last frost ranges from about May 13 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 25 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 1 to September 13. For a typical place in the zone:
- May 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- May 19Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- June 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for potatoes
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant potatoes where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
How to grow potatoesAll zonesPotatoes in zone 3aAbout zone 2a
Sources
- Potato (HGIC 1317) · Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center
- How to Grow Potatoes in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- Easy Gardening: Irish Potatoes (EHT-068) · Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103/VH021) · UF/IFAS Extension
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Solanum tuberosum · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Types of Containers for Growing Vegetables · University of Maryland Extension
- Grow Potatoes in a Trash Can · UGA Cooperative Extension, DeKalb County