Potato in Zone 10a & 10b
Solanum tuberosum
Yes, potato grows in zones 10a and 10b. Start seeds indoors in Aug–Dec and plant out in Sep–Jan. For a fall crop, start seeds indoors in Aug–Dec and plant out in Sep–Jan.
When to plant potato in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. In your zone it needs a head start on the heat that direct-sowing elsewhere doesn't require.
| Window | Fall window |
|---|---|
| Start indoors | Aug–Dec |
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Sep–Jan |
| Estimated harvest | ~90 days after transplanting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 1.5-2 ft.
Zone 10b dates sourced from growinginthegarden.com.
Fall window: the last sowing date is the average first frost minus days to maturity, the method in Purdue Extension's fall garden guide, which lists potato for late-summer planting.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of potato in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
Potatoes aren't grown from true seed in the home garden. They're grown from seed potatoes, small tubers (or cut pieces of larger ones) planted directly in a furrow, each one sending up a plant that produces a new cluster of tubers underground.
How potato fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Potato needs about 90 days from sowing to first harvest.
Potato planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3a & 3b | Not usually | May 16–May 23 | Aug 14–Aug 21 |
| 4a & 4b | Not usually | May 1–May 8 | Jul 30–Aug 6 |
| 5a & 5b | Not usually | Apr 26–May 3 | Jul 25–Aug 1 |
| 6a & 6b | Not usually | Apr 11–Apr 18 | Jul 10–Jul 17 |
| 7a & 7b | Not usually | Mar 27–Apr 3 | Jun 25–Jul 2 |
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Mar 11–Mar 18 | Jun 9–Jun 16 |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 1–Feb 8 | May 2–May 9 |
| 10a & 10bFall window (your zone) | Aug–Dec | Sep–Jan | ~90 days after transplanting |
Harvest dates are about 90 days after the sow or plant-out date.
Good companions
- Bush Beans: Beans fix nitrogen that heavy-feeding potatoes use.
Where to buy potato seeds
High Mowing Organic Seeds (each supplier's potato seeds)
Varieties we recommend, and where to get them:
- Yukon Gold: Rated 3.9 stars in Cornell's Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners database, with a standout 4.2-star taste rating for its buttery flavor, at 60-75 days. Buy: True Leaf Market · High Mowing Organic Seeds Full notes
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing potato" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 10b calendar · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
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Growing Potato in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
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