How to Grow Red Epicure
Wikimedia Commons
Red Epicure
Solanum tuberosum 'Red Epicure'
vegetableRed Epicure is a versatile red-skinned potato variety with white flesh, bred for both early and maincrop use. Known for its excellent culinary qualities, firm texture, and good storage capability, it performs well across diverse climates and soil conditions. The plant produces reliable yields with attractive red tubers ideal for boiling, microwaving, and salads.
When should you plant Red Epicure 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 Red Epicure timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Red Epicure
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Red Epicure
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Red Epicure dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 3-8; thrives in cool to moderate climates
Sign up free to see if Red Epicure grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Red Epicure timeline →Growth Stages
Seed Piece Sprouting
2-3 weeksSeed potatoes develop sprouts/eyes and begin root formation underground
Ensure soil is 45°F+ before planting. Plant with eyes facing up. Keep soil consistently moist to encourage sprouting.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksShoots emerge and foliage develops; stems grow with compound leaves. First hilling occurs as plants reach 4-6 inches tall.
Hill soil around stems twice to prevent greening and promote tuber development. Maintain consistent watering and begin feeding with balanced fertilizer.
Flowering
2-3 weeksPlants produce white to pink flowers clustered at stem terminals. Indicates active tuber development underground.
Maintain even moisture and continue hilling if needed. Keep fertilizer balanced; avoid excessive nitrogen. Scout for pests and diseases.
Tuber Bulking
4-6 weeksFlowers fade; foliage remains vigorous and green. Tubers rapidly increase in size underground.
Maintain consistent watering—critical for size and quality. Stop hilling. Reduce nitrogen; provide potassium to support tuber development.
Maturity & Harvest Readiness
Until harvestFoliage yellows and dies back naturally. Skin sets and hardens on mature tubers. Plant energy moves fully belowground.
Stop watering 1-2 weeks before harvest. Harvest when foliage is completely dead for best storage. Handle tubers gently to avoid bruising.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick adults and egg clusters; use spinosad or pyrethrin sprays; encourage beneficial insects; row covers for young plants
-
Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; neem oil; introduce ladybugs and parasitic wasps
-
Row covers early season; diatomaceous earth; neem oil; avoid planting near tomatoes and other solanums
-
Crop rotation; avoid planting in newly broken grass/clover; beneficial nematodes; trap crops
-
Resistant variety choice; good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; fungicide (copper/sulfur) sprays; remove infected foliage immediately
-
Remove lower leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; fungicide applications; proper spacing
Uses
Boiling, Microwaving & Salads
CulinaryRed Epicure's firm, waxy texture holds shape excellently during cooking, making it ideal for potato salads, boiled potatoes, and microwave preparation. The white flesh provides attractive color contrast with the red skin. [source]
General-Purpose Cooking
CulinaryVersatile enough for mashing, roasting, or inclusion in soups and stews, though its firm texture is best suited to applications where shape retention matters. [source]
Storage & Preservation
HouseholdExcellent keeping quality allows for 4-6 months of storage in cool, dark conditions, providing winter supply and reducing need for repeated purchases. [source]
Garden Biodiversity
WildlifePotato plants attract pollinators during flowering and provide habitat for beneficial insects. Rotation with legumes improves soil nitrogen for subsequent crops. [source]
Harvest Tips
For new potatoes (early harvest), dig gently 60-70 days after planting when plants begin to flower. For maincrop storage, wait until foliage completely yellows and dies back naturally (100-120 days), which hardens skin. Dig carefully with a fork to avoid bruising. Harvest on a dry day, cure at 50-60°F and 90% humidity for 1-2 weeks before storage. Store at 35-40°F in dark conditions; Red Epicure stores 4-6 months with proper conditions.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Red Epicure was developed specifically to be flexible—it can be harvested early as new potatoes or left to mature for storage, giving gardeners scheduling flexibility.
- 🌱 The red skin of Red Epicure contains anthocyanins, the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries, which remain intact whether the potato is boiled or baked.
- 🌱 Potatoes are the world's fourth-largest food crop after rice, wheat, and corn, and Red Epicure represents decades of breeding for reliability, flavor, and disease resistance.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Red Epicure planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Red Epicure 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 Red Epicure timeline →