Crops › Yellow Potato
How to grow Yellow Potato
in the US
Sow March to April, harvest June to July. About 95 days from seed to plate.
Shown for zone 6. Zone table further down.
Now then, yellow potatoes, they're a proper treat, aren't they? Easy to grow for most folks and you just can't beat the taste of your own spuds. You'll be chuffed when you're digging up those golden beauties from your plot, knowing exactly where they've come from.
Sowing
You'll want to get your seed potatoes in the ground when the soil warms up a bit, after your last frost date. For folks in Zone 3, that's usually around May, but for Zone 8, you might be looking at February or March. Zone 4 and 5, you're probably aiming for April, while Zone 6 and 7, you could be planting in March or April. Zone 9 can even get them in during January or February. Plant them about 4-6 inches deep, roughly a foot apart, in rows that are two or three feet apart. No faffing about with plug plants for these, they go straight into the soil.
Growing on
Once your potato plants are up and growing, about 6-8 inches tall, that's when you start hilling them. You want to mound soil up around the stems, covering most of the leafy growth. Do this a few times as they grow, right up until flowering. It protects the new potatoes from sunlight, stopping them turning green, and gives you a much better crop, to be honest.
Looking after it
Yellow potatoes like a bit of a sour patch, you know, slightly acidic soil, pH 5.5-6.0 is proper for them. Keep 'em watered deeply, especially when they're flowering and forming tubers, but let the soil dry out a bit between soaks. Pop in some beans or marigolds nearby, they make cracking companion plants and can help keep some of the nasties away.
What goes wrong
Now, you might find some little blighters trying to have a go at your potatoes. Colorado Potato Beetles and Flea Beetles can be a nuisance, chewing on the leaves. Wireworms can get into the tubers. Keep an eye out and pick off any adult beetles you see; a good crop rotation helps with the wireworms too.
Harvest
You're looking at about 95 days from sowing to harvest for most yellow varieties. When the tops start to yellow and die back, that's your sign. Carefully dig them up, try not to bruise them. Let them cure for about ten days in a cool, dark spot, then they'll store proper well at about 40°F for several months. Cracking with a bit of butter, you know.
My top tip for yellow potatoes is to always get a good deep mulch down after hilling; it keeps the soil cool and moist, and slugs don't fancy crawling through it as much.
Dates for your plot
Type your zone and the plant-out advice shifts to your frost dates.
Varieties, and whether the club would grow them again
| Variety | Club verdict |
|---|---|
| Yukon Gold Golden flesh with a buttery flavor, these are a proper all-purpose potato. Great for anyone wanting a reliable, tasty spud for any meal. | No club votes yet |
| Yellow Finn This variety has moist, creamy flesh that's just ideal for steaming. Grow these if you love a smooth, buttery texture in your cooked potatoes. | No club votes yet |
| Nicola Nicola offers a waxy texture with excellent flavor and stores incredibly well. Perfect if you're planning on keeping your harvest for the long haul. | No club votes yet |
| German Butterball A rich, buttery heirloom potato with exceptional roasting quality. If you're after a heritage variety for a cracking roast dinner, this is the one. | No club votes yet |
| Satina Satina produces smooth yellow flesh and is known for its high yields. A good choice if you want to fill your pantry with plenty of tasty spuds. | No club votes yet |
| Carola This is a lovely waxy potato with a deep yellow flesh that holds its shape well. Ideal for salads or boiling where you want a firm, flavorful bite. | No club votes yet |
| Agata Agata is a fast-maturing yellow potato, perfect for an early harvest. Grow this one if you're keen to get your first new potatoes on the plate quickly. | No club votes yet |
| Elba Elba is a fantastic disease-resistant yellow variety with a nice flavor. A solid choice if you've had trouble with potato diseases in the past and want a reliable crop. | No club votes yet |
Votes are members rating varieties in their Seed Tin, one vote per gardener. Tap a variety for the full page and where to buy.
Buy Yellow Potato seeds
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Sowing by USDA zone
| Zone | Sow / plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May | August to September |
| Zone 4 | April to May | July to August |
| Zone 5 | April | July to August |
| Zone 6 | March to April | June to July |
| Zone 7 | March | June to July |
| Zone 8 | February to March | June to July |
| Zone 9 | January to February | May to June |
| Zone 10 | March to May | July to September |
Cook the harvest
A thick, golden Spanish egg and potato omelette that's equally at home as tapas, a picnic centerpiece, or a lazy weekend brunch. Yellow potatoes' waxy flesh holds its structure perfectly through the slow olive oil cook, resulting in tender slices that bind into a cohesive, satisfying cake.
50 min · mediumBoiled yellow potatoes smashed flat and roasted until the edges are golden and lacey, drizzled with a vibrant herb oil the moment they come out of the oven. This is the potato dish that converts people who claim not to love potatoes. Crisp on the edges, fluffy inside, impossibly good.
50 min · easyThe gold standard of mashed potatoes — Yukon Gold and similar yellow-fleshed varieties have a naturally buttery, creamy flesh that puts regular mash to shame. Their lower starch content means they stay silky without turning gluey. Roasted garlic takes them from great to unforgettable.
40 min · easyA nourishing, hearty soup inspired by Portuguese caldo verde, made with creamy yellow potato chunks and ribbons of kale in a garlicky, slightly smoky broth. Yellow potatoes add body and a rich, golden color that makes this feel more substantial than its simple ingredients suggest. A bowl that heals.
45 min · easyWatch for, and grow alongside
Companions: Beans, Alyssum, Marigolds
Questions people ask
When do you sow Yellow Potato in the US?
Sow Yellow Potato from March to April in zone 6, earlier or later by zone.
How long does Yellow Potato take from sowing to harvest?
Roughly 95 days, with the harvest June to July.
Which Yellow Potato varieties do gardeners grow again?
Club members rate every variety they grow. This page shows the grow-again votes for Yukon Gold, Yellow Finn, Nicola, German Butterball and more.
Track your Yellow Potato from packet to plate
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.
Allotment keeper in the North East of England, the voice behind the Tony C Smith YouTube channel, and the gardener who built GrowMore CookMore. Club numbers on this page update as members log their plots. Last updated 3 September 2026.