How to Grow Fingerling Potato
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Fingerling Potato
Solanum tuberosum var. fingerling
vegetableFingerling potatoes are small, elongated tubers named for their finger-like shape, typically 2-4 inches long. They have thin skins in colors ranging from red to yellow to purple, and creamy, waxy flesh that holds its shape well when cooked. Popular for roasting, boiling, and salads due to their buttery texture and rich flavor.
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Example Fingerling Potato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Fingerling 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 Fingerling Potato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Fingerling Potato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; prefers cooler growing seasons with adequate moisture
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Seed Piece/Sprout
2-3 weeksSeed potatoes planted in soil begin sprouting; shoots emerge within 2-3 weeks. Small white roots develop underground.
Keep soil consistently moist and warm (55-70°F ideal). Ensure good drainage to prevent seed rot. Mulch to retain moisture.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlants establish stolons (underground runners) that will form tubers. Above ground, leafy green foliage develops rapidly with compound leaves.
Hill soil around stems 2-3 times to encourage tuber formation and prevent greening. Water consistently. Apply balanced fertilizer or compost tea every 3 weeks.
Tuber Initiation & Development
4-5 weeksStolons swell into small fingerling tubers underground. Above-ground plants continue vigorous growth with flowering beginning.
Maintain consistent watering and light hilling. Monitor for pests and diseases. Avoid over-fertilizing nitrogen, which reduces tuber formation.
Bulking/Maturation
3-4 weeksTubers increase in size to full fingerling length. Skins begin to thicken and cure. Foliage may yellow and begin to senesce.
Reduce watering slightly as plants mature. Stop hilling. Avoid excessive nitrogen. Watch for late blight and other disease signs.
Harvest Readiness
1-2 weeksFoliage dies back completely or 80% brown. Tubers have firm, mature skins that don't rub off easily. Tubers reach 2-4 inches in length.
Stop watering 1-2 weeks before harvest to allow skins to cure fully. Harvest when foliage is dead and soil dries slightly for easier digging.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick beetles and egg clusters. Use row covers on young plants. Apply spinosad or neem oil if severe. Rotate crops annually.
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Release ladybugs. Use reflective mulches to deter.
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Use row covers early. Apply neem oil or pyrethrin. Maintain plant vigor through proper watering.
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Remove debris and mulch where they hide. Use beer traps or copper barriers. Hand-pick at night.
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Crop rotation (avoid over 3 years). Beetle traps. Proper drainage to reduce habitat. Beneficial nematodes.
Uses
Roasting and Boiling
CulinaryFingerlings' waxy flesh and buttery texture make them ideal for roasting whole with olive oil and herbs, or boiling for potato salads. Their elongated shape and thin skin cook evenly and present beautifully on the plate. [source]
Gourmet Cooking
CulinaryPrized by chefs for their creamy consistency that resists breaking apart during cooking, fingerlings excel in French cuisine preparations, gratins, and as a centerpiece ingredient in upscale restaurants. [source]
Home Food Production
HouseholdFingerlings are highly productive and provide good yields per square foot, making them excellent for home gardeners with limited space seeking gourmet results. [source]
Nutritional Value
MedicinalFingerlings contain beneficial compounds including vitamin C, potassium, and B vitamins. Their skins contain resistant starch and antioxidants, especially in colored varieties. [source]
Decorative Varieties
CraftColored fingerling varieties (purple, red, yellow) offer visual appeal in both garden and kitchen, and are increasingly popular for culinary presentation and heirloom seed saving. [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 baby fingerlings at 70-90 days by carefully digging with a fork, starting 12 inches from plants. For mature fingerlings, wait until foliage dies back (100-120 days), then dig gently to avoid bruising. Handle carefully as fingerlings bruise easily. Allow tubers to cure in a cool, dark, humid place for 1-2 weeks before storage. Store at 45-50°F in darkness.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Fingerling potatoes were nearly extinct until specialty breeders revived them in the 1990s; they're now experiencing a gourmet renaissance.
- 🌱 The name 'fingerling' comes from their small, finger-like shape and size, distinguishing them from standard round potato varieties.
- 🌱 Colored fingerlings contain anthocyanins and other polyphenols—powerful antioxidants—especially abundant in purple and red varieties, making them nutritionally superior to white varieties.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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