How to Grow Dufferin Potato

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Dufferin Potato

Solanum tuberosum 'Dufferin'

vegetable

Dufferin is a mid-season potato variety with excellent all-purpose culinary qualities and good disease resistance. It produces oblong to round tubers with shallow eyes and yellow flesh that holds together well during cooking. This reliable variety is popular among home gardeners and commercial growers for its consistent yields and versatile use in the kitchen.

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Example Dufferin Potato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Dufferin Potato
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Dufferin Potato
Around Jul 16

≈ 90 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Dufferin Potato dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours minimum daily

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Water: Consistent moisture of 1-2 inches per week; keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged; drought stress reduces tuber size and increases disease susceptibility

📏

Spacing: 12 inches

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Days to maturity: 90-110 days

🌱

Planting depth: 4 inches deep for seed potatoes

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil, slightly sandy preferred

pH: 5.5-7.0

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Peat moss for moisture retention Sulfur if pH is too high Balanced NPK fertilizer

Growing Zones

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Zones 3-7, with potential in zones 2 and 8 with careful management

2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a

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Growth Stages

Seed Preparation & Planting

1-2 weeks before sprouting

Seed potatoes are cut or whole pieces (1-2 oz) are planted directly into prepared soil in spring when soil temperature reaches 45°F (7°C)

Use certified seed potatoes; cut pieces should have at least 1-2 eyes; allow cut pieces to cure for 1-2 days before planting to prevent rot; plant in raised rows or mounds for better drainage

Sprout & Early Growth

3-4 weeks

Sprouts emerge from soil and develop initial stems and leaves; plants are 2-6 inches tall

Hill soil around emerging sprouts (mound soil up around the stem) to protect from light exposure which causes green tubers; water regularly; watch for slugs and cutworms; apply mulch to conserve moisture

Vegetative Growth & Flowering

4-6 weeks

Plants reach full height of 18-24 inches with dense foliage; white or purple flowers appear and then fade; underground tubers begin forming and enlarging rapidly

Continue hilling soil every 2-3 weeks; maintain consistent watering (critical during this stage); fertilize at 4-6 week intervals with balanced fertilizer; scout for late blight, early blight, and Colorado potato beetles

Tuber Development & Maturation

3-4 weeks

Foliage begins to yellow and decline; tubers reach full size underground; skin hardens and becomes more resistant to damage

Reduce watering gradually as plants mature; stop fertilizing; ensure plants receive adequate potassium for skin quality; avoid excessive handling of plants; check soil moisture regularly

Harvest Ready

Harvest when ready

Foliage has completely died back and turned brown; tubers are fully mature with set skin

Stop watering 2 weeks before harvest to allow soil to dry slightly; harvest on a dry day; use a garden fork to carefully dig tubers; avoid bruising or cutting tubers during harvest; allow harvested potatoes to cure in cool, dark, humid conditions for 1-2 weeks before storage

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Marigold Nasturtium Tansy Horseradish Corn Beans

Avoid planting near:

Tomato Eggplant Pepper Fennel Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale) Onion Carrot

Common Pests

Hand-pick adults and egg clusters; use row covers on young plants; apply neem oil or spinosad; rotate crops; plant trap crops like eggplant nearby
Use row covers; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen
Use floating row covers; apply kaolin clay; spray neem oil; plant trap crops; diatomaceous earth on leaves
Plant resistant varieties; ensure good air circulation; water at soil level only; remove infected foliage; apply copper fungicide or chlorothalonil; destroy infected plants; avoid overhead watering
Remove lower leaves as disease develops; ensure good air flow; apply copper fungicide; avoid overhead watering; mulch to prevent soil splash; remove infected foliage from garden
Crop rotation; till soil to expose pupae; use beneficial nematodes; trap with potato bait pieces; avoid planting in recently sodded areas

Uses

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All-Purpose Cooking

Culinary

Dufferin potatoes excel in boiling, mashing, baking, and roasting due to their waxy to medium texture and good structural integrity. The yellow flesh and mild flavor make them ideal for gratins, potato salads, and soups. [source]

🍳

French Fries & Chips

Culinary

The excellent texture and low sugar content make Dufferin well-suited for making crispy french fries and chips with golden color and good mouthfeel. [source]

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Starch Production

Household

Potatoes can be used to extract starch for household uses including laundry, cooking, and craft applications. [source]

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Nutritional Value

Medicinal

Dufferin potatoes provide carbohydrates, vitamin C, potassium, and B vitamins, contributing to a balanced diet when prepared without excessive fat or salt. [source]

🦋

Food Source

Wildlife

Potato plants provide foliage and tubers that can feed various garden wildlife and insects, supporting broader ecosystem health in the vegetable garden. [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 completely died back (approximately 90-110 days after planting, typically late summer to early fall). Use a garden fork to gently lift soil and extract tubers, working from the side to avoid spearing potatoes. Harvest on a dry day and allow tubers to cure in cool (50-60°F), dark, humid conditions for 1-2 weeks to allow skin to harden and wounds to heal. Store in cool (38-45°F), dark, humid conditions with good air circulation for 4-6 months. For early potatoes (new potatoes), harvest when plants are still flowering by carefully removing soil around tubers without digging up the entire plant.

Fun Facts

🌱 Dufferin is a Canadian potato variety developed in the 1950s at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's research station in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and remains popular in Canada and northern US regions.
🌱 Potatoes are the world's fourth-largest food crop (after rice, wheat, and corn) and originated in the Andes Mountains of South America, domesticated by indigenous peoples over 7,000 years ago.
🌱 Potato plants contain solanine (a toxic alkaloid) in the leaves, stems, and green parts of tubers as a natural pesticide, which is why only the mature tuber flesh should be consumed.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Mulch

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