How to Grow Atlantic Potato
Atlantic Potato
Solanum tuberosum 'Atlantic'
vegetableAtlantic is a high-yielding, mid-season potato variety prized for its thin skin, shallow eyes, and excellent processing qualities. It produces uniform, oblong tubers with white flesh and is the most widely grown potato variety in North America for french fries and chips. The plant grows as a bushy herbaceous annual with compound leaves and typically reaches 24-30 inches in height.
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Example Atlantic Potato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Atlantic Potato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Atlantic Potato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Atlantic Potato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8; best production in cooler regions (zones 4-6)
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Seed Piece & Sprouting
2-3 weeksSeed piece germinates and sends up initial shoots with small leaves above soil; white roots develop below.
Plant in cool, moist soil (50-60°F optimal). Ensure seed pieces are disease-free. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlants emerge with compound leaves on branching stems; plant reaches 12-18 inches tall. Stolons develop underground and begin forming small tubers.
Hill soil around stems twice to encourage tuber development and prevent greening. Apply balanced fertilizer when plants are 6 inches tall. Monitor for early blight.
Tuber Bulking
4-6 weeksTubers rapidly enlarge underground; plants are fully leafed with vigorous growth. Small white or pale purple flowers may appear.
Maintain consistent moisture (critical stage for yield). Continue hilling if needed. Apply potassium-rich fertilizer. Watch for late blight and Colorado potato beetles.
Maturation
2-3 weeksFoliage begins yellowing and senescing; tubers reach full size (2-4 oz typical) with thickened skins. Plant slows growth.
Reduce watering slightly as plants decline. Stop nitrogen fertilizer. Monitor skin set by rubbing a tuber gently—mature skin will not rub off.
Harvest Ready
At harvestFoliage is completely dead or mostly brown; tubers are fully mature with firm, thick skin suitable for storage and processing.
Allow foliage to die naturally for 1-2 weeks after vine kill for best skin set. Dig carefully to avoid bruising and cuts.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick adults and larvae; use row covers early season; apply spinosad or pyrethrin; plant trap crops; rotate fields annually
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects; use reflective mulches; monitor undersides of leaves
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Yellow sticky traps; strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; reflective mulch
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Trap crops (wheat, oats); soil solarization; crop rotation (3+ years); granular insecticides at planting if history present
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Resistant varieties; insecticidal soap; neem oil; reflective mulch; manage solanaceous weeds
Uses
Industrial Processing
CulinaryAtlantic is the industry standard for french fries and potato chips due to its high solids content, low reducing sugars, and uniform shape. Its thin skin and shallow eyes make it ideal for processing with minimal waste. [source]
Fresh Cooking
CulinaryExcellent for boiling, mashing, and salads. The white, firm flesh holds its shape well when cooked and has a mild, slightly waxy flavor. [source]
Nutritional Content
MedicinalRich in potassium, vitamin C, and B vitamins, especially when skin is eaten. Contains resistant starch when cooled after cooking, which supports digestive health. [source]
Long-term Storage
HouseholdAtlantic's excellent storage qualities and resistance to sprouting make it ideal for household root cellar preservation and winter storage. [source]
Wildlife Food Source
WildlifePotato plants provide forage for deer, groundhogs, and other herbivores. Tubers left unharvested support wildlife nutrition. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest when foliage has died back naturally (70-90 days from planting) for best skin set. Dig carefully with a spading fork, working from the side to avoid bruising. Handle tubers gently—bruises lead to rot in storage. Store in a cool (35-50°F), dark, humid place with good ventilation; Atlantic stores well for 4-6 months. For fresh market, harvest immature tubers at 60-70 days when skins are still tender.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Atlantic was developed at Colorado State University in 1981 and released commercially in 1983; it now accounts for roughly 35-40% of all potato acreage in North America.
- 🌱 The variety is highly susceptible to late blight (Phytophthora infestans)—the same pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1852—making fungicide management critical in humid regions.
- 🌱 Atlantic potatoes turn brown internally ('blackheart') under conditions of poor oxygen availability during storage, a cultivar-specific weakness that growers must manage with proper ventilation.
Gardening Terms
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