How to Grow Clearwater Russet
Clearwater Russet
Solanum tuberosum 'Clearwater Russet'
vegetableClearwater Russet is a high-yielding potato cultivar prized for its large, uniform russet-type tubers with excellent storage capabilities. Known for its disease resistance and adaptability to various growing conditions, this variety is a favorite among commercial and home gardeners. The plant produces reliable yields of quality potatoes suitable for baking, frying, and processing.
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Example Clearwater Russet timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Clearwater Russet
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 Clearwater Russet
Around Aug 5≈ 110 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Clearwater Russet dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8, with best performance in cooler climates
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Sprout & Emergence
2-3 weeksSeed pieces develop sprouts and emerge from soil as small shoots with initial leaves
Ensure soil stays consistently moist; monitor for frost damage if late cold snaps occur. Keep soil loose for easy emergence.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksVigorous stem and leaf development; plant reaches 12-24 inches tall with dense foliage and multiple stems per plant
Water consistently (1-1.5 inches weekly); hill soil around stems twice during this stage to prevent greening of tubers and improve yield. Monitor for pests and diseases.
Flowering
2-3 weeksPlant produces small white, pink, or purple flowers (depending on conditions), signaling peak tuber bulking has begun
Maintain consistent watering; do not let soil dry out. Continue regular hilling if not yet complete. Watch for late blight and other fungal issues.
Tuber Bulking & Maturation
4-6 weeksFlowers fade, foliage may yellow; energy diverts to underground tuber expansion and skin set. Tubers increase in size and develop characteristic russet skin.
Maintain moisture consistency but reduce watering slightly as maturity approaches. Avoid excess nitrogen to prevent large, misshapen tubers. Stop watering 1-2 weeks before harvest to allow skin to cure and harden.
Harvest & Storage
Harvest occurs at one point; storage can last 4-6 monthsFoliage dies back and turns brown; tubers are fully mature with set skin, ready for harvest
Harvest once foliage is completely dead or 110-130 days after planting. Cure tubers in cool (50-60°F), humid location for 1-2 weeks before storage. Store at 38-40°F, 85-90% humidity.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Handpick adults and egg clusters; use row covers on young plants; apply spinosad or neem oil; rotate crops annually
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs; use yellow sticky traps for monitoring
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Crop rotation; remove debris; use traps; apply beneficial nematodes or diatomaceous earth to soil
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Row covers on young plants; neem oil spray; diatomaceous earth; crop rotation
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Plant disease-resistant varieties; ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicides or mancozeb; remove infected foliage
Uses
Baking & Frying
CulinaryClearwater Russet potatoes are ideal for baking whole, making mashed potatoes, and French fries due to their starch content and fluffy texture. Their medium-high starch level and low moisture content produce crispy exteriors and fluffy interiors when fried. [source]
Processing & Commercial Use
CulinaryThis variety is widely used in food processing for frozen French fries, potato chips, and flakes due to consistent size, yield, and quality. The high yield and uniform tubers make it economically valuable. [source]
Long-term Storage
HouseholdClearwater Russets have excellent storage properties, remaining fresh for 4-6 months in proper conditions (cool, dark, humid). This makes them ideal for season-long pantry storage and food security planning. [source]
Everyday Cooking
CulinaryVersatile for soups, stews, casseroles, and roasting due to their firm texture and neutral flavor that complements many cuisines and cooking methods. [source]
Garden Pest Management
WildlifeGrowing potatoes attracts beneficial insects and can serve as a trap crop in integrated pest management systems to protect other garden vegetables from pests. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest when foliage has completely died back, typically 110-130 days after planting. Dig carefully with a garden fork, working from the side to avoid bruising tubers. Harvest in cool weather if possible. Allow tubers to dry in shade for 1-2 hours before storage. Cure for 1-2 weeks at 50-60°F and 85-90% humidity to harden skin, then store at 38-40°F in darkness.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Clearwater Russet was developed at the University of Idaho and is one of the most commercially important potato varieties in North America, used by major fast-food chains and frozen food manufacturers.
- 🌱 Potatoes are the world's fourth-largest food crop by production volume, and russet-type potatoes account for the majority of U.S. potato consumption.
- 🌱 A single potato plant can produce 5-10 pounds of usable tubers under optimal growing conditions, making potatoes one of the most efficient crops in terms of yield per square foot.
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