How to Grow Red Attraction
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Red Attraction
Solanum tuberosum 'Red Attraction'
vegetableRed Attraction is a second early potato variety prized for its smooth, deep red skin and creamy white flesh with a firm, waxy texture. It produces abundant yields of uniform, medium-sized tubers and is highly resistant to late blight, making it an excellent choice for organic gardening. This versatile potato is ideal for boiling, salads, and new potato dishes.
When should you plant Red Attraction in your zone?
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Example Red Attraction timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Red Attraction
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 Red Attraction
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Attraction dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8; adapts well to cool to moderate climates
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Seed Preparation & Planting
1 weekSeed potatoes are cut into 1.5-2 oz pieces with 1-2 eyes each. Pieces are allowed to cure for 24-48 hours before planting in spring when soil reaches 45°F.
Use certified disease-free seed potatoes. Plant when soil has warmed but frost danger has passed. Ensure seed pieces are well-spaced to prevent disease.
Emergence & Early Growth
3-4 weeksShoots emerge 2-3 weeks after planting. Stems grow upward and leaves unfurl. Begin hilling (mounding soil) around plants when they reach 6 inches tall.
Hill soil around plants 2-3 times during this stage to prevent tuber greening. Keep soil consistently moist. Apply mulch to regulate temperature and moisture.
Vegetative Growth & Flowering
3-4 weeksBushy plants with compound leaves develop extensively. Small white, pink, or purple flowers appear at the ends of stems, signaling tuber initiation underground.
Maintain steady moisture and fertility. Water 1-2 inches weekly. Continue hilling if soil has eroded. Monitor for early blight—remove lower infected leaves.
Tuber Development & Maturation
3-4 weeksAfter flowering, energy shifts to underground tuber enlargement. Foliage remains green but may yellow at edges. Red Attraction develops smooth, deep red-skinned potatoes.
Maintain consistent moisture to prevent splitting and hollow heart. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer. Watch for late blight (a key threat despite this variety's resistance). Ensure good air circulation.
Harvest Readiness
1-2 weeksPlants may begin to senesce (yellow and die back). Tuber skins firm up and are ready for harvest when foliage dies down or at 70-80 days post-planting.
Stop watering 2-3 weeks before harvest to harden skins. Harvest carefully with a garden fork or spade to avoid bruising. Cure harvested potatoes in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space for 2 weeks 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 row covers early in season. Apply neem oil or spinosad if needed. Rotate crops annually. Encourage beneficial insects.
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Use reflective mulches or row covers. Monitor with sticky traps. Spray insecticidal soap if populations are high. Maintain plant vigor with adequate water.
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Practice crop rotation (3-4 year cycle away from potatoes and grains). Till soil in autumn to expose pupae. Use beneficial nematodes. Avoid planting in recently sod-turned areas.
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Store potatoes in cool, dark conditions. Ensure soil is hilled properly so tubers aren't exposed. Use pheromone traps. Rotate storage locations.
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Spray with water to dislodge. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps).
Uses
Boiling & Salads
CulinaryRed Attraction's waxy texture makes it ideal for boiling, potato salads, and new potato dishes where you want intact pieces that hold their shape. The creamy white flesh provides excellent texture contrast with the attractive red skin. [source]
Soups & Stews
CulinaryThe firm flesh holds up well in soups and stews without breaking down, making it suitable for traditional dishes like potato soup or beef stew. Its flavor is mild and buttery. [source]
Dietary Nutrition
MedicinalPotatoes including Red Attraction provide resistant starch (especially when cooled after cooking), vitamin C, potassium, and B vitamins. They are a good source of plant-based nutrition and support gut health. [source]
Long Storage
HouseholdRed Attraction stores exceptionally well in cool, dark conditions for 4-6 months, making it suitable for winter storage and an excellent variety for self-sufficiency gardeners. [source]
Garden Pest Control
WildlifeGrowing potatoes with companion plants like marigolds and nasturtiums can help deter some pests naturally and support beneficial insect populations in the garden ecosystem. [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 Red Attraction at 70-80 days post-planting when foliage begins to yellow and die back, or dig a test hill to check tuber size. Carefully dig potatoes with a garden fork, working from the outside of the hill inward to avoid spearing tubers. Harvest on a dry day and allow soil to dry on skins. For new potatoes, harvest smaller tubers after flowering (60-65 days). Cure harvested potatoes for 2 weeks in a cool (50-60°F), dark, humid (85-95% humidity) location before storage. Store in cool (35-40°F), dark, humid conditions in burlap sacks or ventilated boxes.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Attraction was developed in the UK and is named for its vibrant deep red coloring and excellent disease resistance, particularly to late blight—a trait highly prized after historical potato famines.
- 🌱 Unlike many red potato varieties, Red Attraction has white flesh internally, making it visually striking when sliced and ideal for colorful potato salads.
- 🌱 This variety is classified as a 'second early' potato, meaning it bridges the gap between fast-growing new potatoes and heavy-yielding maincrop varieties, giving gardeners extended harvest flexibility.
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