How to Grow Gold Bullion
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Gold Bullion
Solanum tuberosum 'Gold Bullion'
vegetableGold Bullion is a mid-season potato variety prized for its smooth, golden-yellow skin and creamy, pale yellow flesh. Known for excellent flavor and buttery texture, it performs well in both home gardens and commercial production. This versatile potato stores exceptionally well and maintains quality through winter.
When should you plant Gold Bullion in your zone?
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Example Gold Bullion timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Gold Bullion
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 Gold Bullion
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Gold Bullion dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-7; can grow in zones 2-8 with proper management
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Seed Piece/Sprouting
2-3 weeksSeed pieces are planted and begin developing sprouts (eyes). Underground growth starts with root development.
Ensure soil temperature is 45°F or higher. Keep soil consistently moist. Check for seed piece rot if soil stays too wet.
Emergence & Early Vegetative
2-3 weeksShoots break through soil surface and develop first leaves. Plants establish root systems and begin vertical growth.
Hill soil around emerging shoots to prevent greening and sunscald of tubers. Begin regular watering schedule. Watch for early blight.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksVigorous leafy growth with increasingly bushy foliage. Underground stolons are forming and beginning tuber initiation.
Continue hilling soil as stems grow. Maintain consistent moisture. Fertilize with balanced or potassium-rich formula. Scout for pests and disease.
Flowering & Tuber Bulking
3-4 weeksSmall white, pink, or purple flowers appear. Underground tuber development accelerates, with potatoes sizing up significantly.
Maintain even moisture; critical period for tuber expansion. Reduce nitrogen to avoid excessive foliage. Monitor for late blight, especially in humid conditions.
Maturity & Harvest
2-3 weeksFoliage begins to yellow and die back naturally. Tuber skins harden and cure underground, ready for harvest.
Stop watering 2-3 weeks before harvest to allow skin hardening. Harvest when foliage is completely dead. Cure harvested potatoes in cool, dark, humid place for 10-14 days before storage.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick adults and egg clusters; use neem oil or spinosad; plant resistant varieties; crop rotation of 3+ years
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Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; reflective mulch; encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Row covers on young plants; insecticidal soap; neem oil; manage weeds which harbor nymphs
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Yellow sticky traps; neem oil; reflective mulch; encourage parasitic wasps
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Crop rotation; soil solarization; allow soil to rest; use beneficial nematodes; trap crops
Uses
Boiling, Mashing & Buttery Dishes
CulinaryGold Bullion's creamy texture and buttery flavor make it ideal for boiling, mashing, and creamy potato dishes. The yellow flesh remains attractive when cooked. [source]
Roasting & Frying
CulinaryExcellent for roasting and shallow frying due to good texture and ability to absorb flavors. Lower starch content compared to russets makes it versatile for various preparations. [source]
Salads & Cold Dishes
CulinaryGold Bullion's waxy texture holds up well in potato salads and other cold preparations without becoming mushy. The attractive golden color enhances presentation. [source]
Long-term Storage
HouseholdGold Bullion potatoes cure well and store exceptionally long compared to other yellow varieties, making them ideal for gardeners seeking winter storage and food security. [source]
Foliage for Pollinators
WildlifeThe small potato flowers provide nectar for bees and beneficial pollinators during mid-summer bloom period, supporting broader garden ecosystem health. [source]
Harvest Tips
Harvest when foliage has completely died back and turned brown, typically 70-90 days after planting. Carefully dig with a fork to avoid bruising tubers. Harvest on a dry day if possible. New potatoes can be harvested 2-3 weeks earlier if desired, before full maturity. Store in a cool (45-50°F), dark, humid location with good ventilation; cured Gold Bullion potatoes store 4-6 months or longer.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Gold Bullion is a Swiss potato variety known for exceptional storage quality; properly cured tubers can remain fresh for 6 months or more in ideal conditions.
- 🌱 The variety was developed for both commercial and home garden use and has become increasingly popular among organic and sustainable gardeners due to good disease resistance compared to older varieties.
- 🌱 Potatoes were first domesticated in the Andes mountains of South America over 7,000 years ago; Gold Bullion represents modern breeding efforts to combine traditional flavor with contemporary productivity.
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