How to Grow Norkotah Potato
Wikimedia Commons
Norkotah Potato
Solanum tuberosum 'Norkotah'
vegetableNorkotah is a long-season, russet-type potato variety developed in North Dakota and widely grown across North America. Known for its excellent storage capability, uniform shape, and high starch content, it's a preferred choice for fresh market sales and processing into chips and fries. This mid-to-late season cultivar produces large, brown-skinned tubers with white flesh.
When should you plant Norkotah Potato 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 Norkotah Potato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Norkotah Potato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Norkotah Potato
Around Aug 5≈ 110 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Norkotah Potato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Ideal in zones 3-6; can grow in zones 2-7 with proper management
Sign up free to see if Norkotah Potato grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Norkotah Potato timeline →Growth Stages
Seed Piece & Sprouting
2-3 weeksCut seed potatoes (1.5-2 oz pieces with 2 eyes each) are planted in cool soil. Sprouts emerge 2-3 weeks after planting.
Use certified seed potato pieces to prevent disease. Plant when soil temperature reaches 45°F. Allow cut pieces to callus for 1-2 days before planting.
Vegetative Growth & Hilling
4-6 weeksShoots emerge and grow to 6-12 inches tall. Foliage develops rapidly with multiple stems per plant.
Hill soil around plants twice (when 6 inches and 10 inches tall) to cover exposed tubers and prevent greening. Maintain consistent moisture and apply fertilizer 3-4 weeks after emergence.
Tuber Initiation & Bulking
4-6 weeksStolons form underground and tubers begin to enlarge. Plant reaches peak vegetative growth with extensive foliage.
Consistent watering is critical during bulking. Monitor for late blight and early blight. Avoid excessive nitrogen to prevent oversized tubers prone to defects.
Maturation
3-4 weeksFoliage yellows and begins to senesce. Tuber skin thickens and sets, improving storage potential. Growth slows significantly.
Reduce watering gradually as plants approach maturity. Allow vines to die back naturally if possible (2-3 weeks after flowering) to ensure skin set. Stop irrigation 2-3 weeks before harvest.
Harvest
1-2 weeksFoliage has completely died back. Tubers are firm, fully mature, and ready for digging.
Harvest when soil is slightly moist but not waterlogged. Dig carefully to avoid bruising. Handle tubers gently. Cure harvested potatoes in cool (50-60°F), humid conditions for 10-14 days before storage.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick adults and egg masses; use row covers early season; apply spinosad or pyrethrin; rotate crops yearly; plant trap crops like eggplant.
-
Use reflective mulch; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage natural predators; avoid excess nitrogen.
-
Plant resistant varieties when available; remove infected foliage promptly; apply copper fungicide or mancozeb; ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering.
-
Remove lower leaves; apply fungicide (chlorothalonil or mancozeb); avoid wetting foliage; mulch to prevent soil splash; practice crop rotation.
-
Spray with insecticidal soap; use reflective mulch; encourage ladybugs and parasitic wasps; apply neem oil if needed.
-
Rotate crops; till soil in fall; trap with potato baits; apply beneficial nematodes; avoid planting in recently sod-converted fields.
Uses
Fresh cooking & French fries
CulinaryNorkotah's high starch content and firm texture make it ideal for mashing, baking, and frying. The uniform tubers and excellent cooking quality have made it the preferred potato for frozen French fry production. [source]
Potato chips & processing
CulinaryIts large, consistently shaped tubers with few defects make Norkotah a top choice for commercial chip production. The low sugar content and good storage stability support industrial processing. [source]
Storage & long-term preservation
CulinaryNorkotah excels in long-term storage, maintaining quality for 4-6 months under proper cool, dark conditions. Its thick skin and low moisture content make it less prone to sprouting and decay. [source]
Starch extraction & thickening agent
HouseholdHigh-starch russet potatoes like Norkotah can be processed to extract potato starch, used as a thickening agent in cooking and baking, and in laundry applications. [source]
Nutritional benefits & resistant starch
MedicinalPotatoes contain vitamin B6, potassium, manganese, and antioxidants like flavonoids and carotenoids. When cooled after cooking, they develop resistant starch, which supports digestive health and blood sugar stability. [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 Norkotah potatoes 110-130 days after planting, or 2-3 weeks after foliage dies back naturally. Dig carefully with a spading fork, starting 12 inches away from the plant base to avoid cutting tubers. Harvest when soil is slightly moist for easier digging but not waterlogged. Handle potatoes gently to minimize bruising and wounds. For long-term storage, cure freshly dug potatoes in a dark, well-ventilated space at 45-60°F and 90-95% humidity for 10-14 days to allow skin to harden. Store in cool (35-40°F), humid, dark conditions; Norkotah stores excellently for 4-6 months under proper conditions.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Norkotah was developed in North Dakota in the 1930s and has become one of the most widely grown potato varieties in North America, particularly for commercial processing into frozen fries and chips.
- 🌱 The name 'Norkotah' is a blend of 'North Dakota' and 'Katahdin' (another important potato variety), reflecting its origins and breeding heritage.
- 🌱 A single Norkotah potato plant can produce 8-12 tubers under good growing conditions, with individual potatoes weighing 4-8 ounces or more at full maturity.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Norkotah Potato planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Norkotah Potato 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 Norkotah Potato timeline →