time frame for planting potatoes

[Lindalana]

I have never put much thought into planting potatoes. For years we planted them around May 1 in Ukraine. Here in Chicago, I kept about the same.
But this spring is a bit different- for one we had very warm winter so soil is not cold, for seconds- my bulbs are blooming about 3 weeks ahead of schedule.
Should I consider earlier planting for potatoes?

[twillis2252]

Lindalana you should be OK to plant now. My garden is zone 6 in the NC mountains and I planted last week. We are expecting snow next week mid week but probably only flurries as the ground is too warm for any significant accumulation.

[UFXEFU]

I don't know about Chicago but in NW Lousiana we plant potatoes mid February... Valentine's Day.

Bob

[Worth1]

I could have planted them in October this year.

Worth

[AlittleSalt]

Linda, I looked at several sites for the Chicago area. This one http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ve...row_potato.cfm is saying potato planting dates from April 1 - 15th.

I'm not superstitious, but planting on April 1 might mean you plant a potato and it grows up being a bull nettle...

I wish I could answer your question better. The farthest north I have visited is Northern Arkansas.

[Lindalana]

Thanks much! Am going to experiment and try planting a bit earlier.

[pmcgrady]

I'm 50 miles north of St. Louis ... Most people plant on St Patrick's day around here (March 17th), I planted a week later, they aren't up yet.

[Lindalana]

we have pretty cold few days coming, last night there was spotty freeze, should I be concerned early shoots will freeze?

[pmcgrady]

Throw a layer of straw over them, they should be alright.

[BigVanVader]

Do potatoes do well in shady locations?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

Do potatoes do well in shady locations?

Mine are growing in partial shade and doing fine.
I will have to see how many hours of sunlight the get but not a heck of a lot.

[Cole_Robbie]

I'm at the other end of the state, and ours are not planted yet. Grandpa always used his old Farmall tractor to throw up a ridge of dirt, and then planted in that ridge. The soil warms faster that way.

I'm looking at the long-range forecast for my weather, and it looks like the last freeze is going to be this weekend. Gardens are going in next week.

[pmcgrady]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I'm at the other end of the state, and ours are not planted yet. Grandpa always used his old Farmall tractor to throw up a ridge of dirt, and then planted in that ridge. The soil warms faster that way.

I'm looking at the long-range forecast for my weather, and it looks like the last freeze is going to be this weekend. Gardens are going in next week.

I have radishes,spinach,beets,snow peas,lettuce,onions,cabbage and Brussels sprouts that have gone thru 5-6 frosts, all looking pretty good. Potatoes,kale and turnips aren't up yet. I need to get tomato plants in, the first ones I started are over a foot tall, but it's been 70 degrees one day, frost a couple nights later...

[greenthumbomaha]

https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2412e/

My seed potatoes are approaching old, as described above. I'm up in the air about planting them now.

- Lisa

[BigVanVader]

I may try buckets, I really don't have the space anywhere else and would be easy harvest them if they did grow.