When to Harvest Potatoes
Harvest new potatoes about two to three weeks after plants finish flowering, or when tubers are large enough to use. For storage potatoes, wait until vines have yellowed and died back, then allow skins to set before digging.
New potatoes have thin, tender skins and are meant for near-term use. Gently reach into the soil near a plant to remove a few larger tubers without uprooting it, then replace the soil so smaller tubers can continue growing.
For a main crop intended for storage, let the foliage decline naturally unless disease makes earlier removal necessary. Once vines are dead, leave tubers in dry soil for roughly one to two weeks so skins toughen, but do not leave them through freezing weather.
Choose a dry day and start digging well beyond the apparent edge of the plant, because tubers can spread outward. Use a garden fork carefully, lift soil in sections, and search by hand to reduce cuts and punctures.
Keep freshly dug potatoes out of direct sunlight. Exposure can turn skins green, so cover harvested tubers with a breathable material or move them promptly to a shaded, protected area.
Sort out damaged, cut, very small, or misshapen tubers for prompt use. Cure sound storage potatoes for about one to two weeks in a dark, humid, well-ventilated place with moderate temperatures, without washing them.
After curing, store potatoes in darkness with airflow and cool temperatures that are above freezing. Avoid sealed plastic bags, keep them away from apples and other ripening fruit, and inspect the crop periodically for soft or decaying tubers.
Frequently asked questions
Do potato plants have to flower before I can harvest?
No. Flowering varies by variety and conditions. Check for usable tubers after plants have grown well, and use vine dieback and skin set as the better guide for storage harvest.
Can I eat potatoes with green skin?
Greened tubers should not be used. Prevent greening by keeping developing and harvested potatoes covered from light.
What should I do if potato blight kills the vines early?
Remove affected foliage from the garden and let tubers sit in the soil only if conditions are dry and disease risk is low. Consult your local Cooperative Extension for disease-specific harvest and sanitation guidance.
General guidance for US home gardens. Conditions vary by region and season; check with your local Cooperative Extension office for site-specific advice. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.