Growing Red Potatoes in Texas: Tips for a Successful Harvest

One of the greatest rewards of gardening is digging beneath the soil and discovering what has been quietly growing out of sight. There's something almost magical about harvesting potatoes. You never know exactly what you'll find until you gently pull back the earth.

Our reward this time? Fresh red potatoes from the garden!

Homegrown potatoes have a flavor that's difficult to match from the grocery store. They make a wonderful side dish with roasted chicken, grilled meats, or simply tossed with a little butter, salt, and fresh herbs.

Growing Potatoes in Texas

Potatoes grow surprisingly well in many parts of Texas when planted during the cooler months.

A few tips I've learned include:

• Plant seed potatoes in late January through February in Central Texas before the summer heat arrives.
• Choose a location with 6–8 hours of sunlight each day.
• Plant in loose, well-drained soil enriched with compost.
• Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
• As the plants grow, mound soil around the stems to prevent developing potatoes from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green.

Most potato varieties are ready to harvest in about 90–120 days, depending on the variety and growing conditions.

Why I Love Growing Potatoes

Potatoes are one of those vegetables that seem to surprise me every year. A handful of seed potatoes can multiply into a generous harvest with very little effort. They're also an excellent crop for beginner gardeners because they're forgiving and don't require constant attention.

Best of all, harvesting potatoes feels a little like a treasure hunt. Every time you dig beneath the soil, another beautiful potato seems to appear.

Fresh from the garden, these red potatoes made the perfect companion to our home-cooked chicken dinner. Meals somehow taste even better when part of them came straight from your own backyard.

"There's nothing quite like bringing supper in from the garden."

Look what I found in my garden... Red potatoes!