How to Grow Highland Red
Wikimedia Commons
Highland Red
Solanum tuberosum 'Highland Red'
vegetableHighland Red is a mid-season red potato variety known for its deep red skin and creamy yellow flesh with excellent flavor and texture. It produces high yields of medium-sized tubers and is particularly valued for its disease resistance and ability to store well. This versatile potato is excellent for boiling, mashing, and salads.
When should you plant Highland Red in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Highland Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Highland Red
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Highland Red
Around Jul 16≈ 90 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Highland Red dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-7, with cooler climates producing the best yields
Sign up free to see if Highland Red grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Highland Red timeline →Growth Stages
Seed Piece Sprouting
1-2 weeksCut seed pieces (2 oz each with 2-3 eyes) are planted and begin sprouting underground within 1-2 weeks
Ensure soil is at least 45°F before planting. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Apply seed-piece fungicide if available to prevent rot.
Emergence & Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksSprouts break through soil surface and develop into bushy plants with compound leaves. Stolons form underground where tubers will develop.
Hill soil around emerging shoots when they are 6 inches tall to prevent greening of tubers. Keep weeds controlled. Monitor for late blight and early blight.
Tuber Development
4-6 weeksSmall tubers form on underground stolons. Plant growth is vigorous with dense foliage. This is the most critical growth period.
Maintain consistent soil moisture (critical for size and quality). Apply second hilling if needed. Continue pest/disease monitoring. Provide adequate potassium through fertilizer or soil amendments.
Maturation & Skin Set
2-3 weeksTuber growth continues and skin hardens. Foliage may begin to yellow and die back as plant matures.
Reduce watering slightly as plants decline. Do not disturb plants to avoid damaging tubers. Stop nitrogen fertilization to avoid excess leafy growth.
Harvest Readiness
2-3 weeks after vine deathVines die back completely or are killed by frost. Tubers have full color and firm skin resistant to bruising.
Wait 2-3 weeks after vines die back to allow skin to cure and harden. This improves storage life. Dig carefully to avoid cuts and bruises.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick beetles and egg clusters; use row covers on young plants; apply spinosad or neem oil; rotate crops yearly
-
Spray with insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects; use reflective mulches; apply neem oil as needed
-
Use row covers early; apply diatomaceous earth; spray neem oil; remove plant debris
-
Ensure good air circulation; water at soil level; apply copper fungicide or chlorothalonil; remove infected foliage; use resistant varieties
-
Remove lower leaves as plants grow; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply fungicide; practice crop rotation
-
Crop rotation; deep plowing; trapping; avoid planting in previously infested areas; maintain soil moisture
Uses
Boiling, Mashing & Salads
CulinaryHighland Red potatoes have creamy yellow flesh that holds its shape well when cooked, making them ideal for potato salads, boiled potatoes, and mashing. Their waxy texture and mild flavor are excellent for traditional potato dishes. [source]
Roasting & Side Dishes
CulinaryThe firm texture and attractive red skin make Highland Reds excellent for roasting whole or halved, maintaining their integrity during cooking. The skin can be left on for rustic presentations. [source]
Long-Term Storage
HouseholdHighland Red potatoes are known for excellent storage capability, lasting up to 6 months in proper cool, dark conditions. This makes them ideal for winter food preservation and self-sufficiency gardening. [source]
Nutritional Value
MedicinalRed potatoes contain beneficial antioxidants including anthocyanins and vitamin C. They provide resistant starch when cooled after cooking, supporting digestive health. [source]
Crop Rotation & Soil Building
WildlifePotato cultivation helps break up soil structure and can be part of crop rotation systems that improve long-term garden health. The dense foliage and dense planting suppress weeds. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Highland Red potatoes mature in 90-110 days. Harvest when vines die back completely or 2-3 weeks after frost kills the foliage. Dig carefully with a garden fork, working from the side to avoid cutting tubers. Harvest on a dry day and allow potatoes to cure in a cool, dark place for 10-14 days to harden skin before storage. Store at 45-50°F in darkness for best longevity (up to 6 months).
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Highland Red potatoes get their red color from anthocyanin pigments concentrated in the skin, the same compounds found in blueberries and red wine
- 🌱 Potatoes are the world's fourth-largest food crop after rice, wheat, and corn, and Highland Red is one of the most popular red varieties in North America due to its reliability and disease resistance
- 🌱 Potatoes were domesticated in the Andean highlands of Peru 8,000-10,000 years ago, and there are over 4,000 native potato varieties; modern cultivars like Highland Red are selected for productivity and disease resistance
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Highland Red planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Highland Red seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Highland Red timeline →