How to Grow Early Red
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Early Red
Solanum tuberosum 'Early Red'
vegetableEarly Red is a popular early-season potato variety known for its thin red skin, waxy yellow flesh, and excellent flavor. It matures quickly, typically in 60-75 days, making it ideal for spring plantings and early summer harvests. The plant produces vigorous foliage and reliable yields of medium-sized, smooth tubers.
When should you plant Early Red in your zone?
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Example Early Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Early Red
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 Early Red
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Early Red dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 2-7; can be grown in zone 8 with careful timing and shade in hot climates
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Get my Early Red timeline →Growth Stages
Seed piece sprouting
2-3 weeksSeed potatoes are planted and roots begin developing, followed by shoots breaking through soil surface.
Keep soil consistently moist and warm (50-70°F ideal). Ensure good drainage to prevent rot.
Vegetative growth & hilling
3-4 weeksYoung plants emerge with several stems and compound leaves; vigorous above-ground growth occurs.
Hill soil around plants twice, spacing hills 2-3 weeks apart to cover developing tubers. Remove weeds and maintain consistent moisture.
Tuber development
3-4 weeksStolons (underground stems) expand and tubers begin forming below the soil surface; foliage continues to develop.
Maintain consistent watering during this critical stage. Ensure adequate potassium. Monitor for pests and diseases.
Bulking & maturation
2-3 weeksTubers increase rapidly in size and accumulate starch; foliage remains green and vigorous.
Continue regular watering but reduce frequency slightly. Avoid excessive nitrogen. Watch for late blight especially in humid conditions.
Harvest readiness
1-2 weeksTubers reach full size; skin sets and becomes less easily rubbed off. Foliage begins to senesce.
Stop watering 1-2 weeks before harvest to ease digging and improve skin set. Watch for harvest timing—don't leave in ground too long.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick adults and egg clusters; use row covers on young plants; apply spinosad or pyrethrin if infestations are heavy; encourage native predators.
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Use row covers early in season; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; maintain plant vigor and hydration to reduce damage.
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap; apply neem oil; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps.
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Use row covers on young plants; apply diatomaceous earth; spray neem oil; maintain good garden sanitation.
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray insecticidal soap or neem oil; remove heavily infested leaves.
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Plant resistant varieties; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper or sulfur fungicides preventively in humid conditions; remove infected foliage.
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Remove lower leaves to improve air circulation; apply chlorothalonil or copper fungicides; mulch to prevent soil splash; practice crop rotation.
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Maintain pH below 6.8; provide consistent moisture; improve soil drainage; avoid fresh manure; practice 3-4 year crop rotation.
Uses
Boiling, steaming & salads
CulinaryEarly Red's waxy texture and thin skin make it ideal for boiling whole, steaming, and potato salads. The red skin adds visual appeal and nutrients when left on. [source]
Roasting & side dishes
CulinaryThe naturally creamy texture and mild flavor work well in roasted potato dishes, gratins, and as a simple side vegetable. Holds its shape well during cooking. [source]
Mashing & comfort foods
CulinaryThe high moisture and starch content produces smooth, creamy mashed potatoes without excessive density. Traditional choice for mashed potato dishes. [source]
Quick-maturing early season crop
HouseholdEarly Red's 60-75 day maturity allows gardeners to plant in early spring and harvest before summer heat arrives, or plant a second crop in mid-summer for fall harvest. [source]
Dietary resistant starch
MedicinalCooked and cooled potatoes contain resistant starch, which acts as a prebiotic fiber supporting gut health and blood sugar regulation. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Early Red potatoes are ready for harvest 60-75 days after planting, or when plants reach peak bloom or just after. For 'new potatoes' (small, tender), harvest 2-3 weeks earlier. Dig carefully with a spading fork to avoid bruising tubers. Harvest when soil is relatively dry. Allow tubers to dry for 1-2 hours in shade before storage. Store in cool (45-55°F), dark, humid conditions for long-term storage; consume or remove green-tinged tubers (solanine toxin).
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Early Red potatoes were developed to provide gardeners with a quick-maturing alternative to mid-season varieties, allowing multiple harvests in a single growing season in cooler climates.
- 🌱 The thin, red skin of Early Red potatoes contains beneficial anthocyanins and other antioxidants, which is why leaving the skin on during cooking maximizes nutritional value.
- 🌱 Potatoes are the world's fourth-largest food crop after rice, wheat, and corn, and Early Red remains a popular market variety because of its reliability, flavor, and early maturity.
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