Can You Plant Potatoes Too Late?

Yes, you can plant potatoes too late, and doing so can reduce yields, increase disease risk, and limit how well potatoes mature before the end of the season. However, how “too late” it is depends on the type of potato and your local UK conditions.

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What Happens If You Plant Potatoes Too Late?

Late planting can cause several problems:

• Reduced tuber size
• Lower overall yields
• Higher risk of blight later in summer
• Less time for tubers to mature properly
• Poor storage quality for maincrop potatoes

Potatoes need enough growing time to develop fully.

What Is Considered “Too Late” in the UK?

General UK guidelines:

• First earlies: Too late after late March
• Second earlies: Too late after early April
• Maincrop: Too late after late April to early May

Planting beyond these times shortens the growing season.

Why Late Planting Reduces Yields

Shortened Growing Season

Potatoes rely on leaf growth to feed tuber development. Late planting means:

• Less foliage growth
• Less energy stored in tubers
• Smaller harvests

Increased Blight Risk

Late-planted potatoes:

• Are still growing during peak blight season
• Have less resistance due to immature growth
• Are more likely to be affected before maturity

Poor Storage Results

Maincrop potatoes planted too late:

• May not fully mature
• Develop thinner skins
• Store poorly over winter

Can You Still Plant Potatoes Late?

Yes, in some situations:

Late Planting Can Work If:

• You are growing early or second early varieties
• You are not aiming for long-term storage
• Soil is warm and workable
• You accept smaller yields

Early varieties planted late may still produce a usable crop.

Latest Sensible Planting Times

• First earlies: Early April (for a late but usable crop)
• Second earlies: Mid-April
• Maincrop: Early May (with reduced storage potential)

Beyond this, results become unreliable.

Planting Late in Containers

Container-grown potatoes can be planted slightly later because:

• Compost warms faster
• Water control is easier
• Plants grow more quickly

Late container plantings are often more successful than late ground plantings.

How to Improve Results If Planting Late

If you must plant late:

• Choose early-maturing varieties
• Use chitted seed potatoes
• Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot
• Keep soil consistently moist
• Harvest promptly once mature

Avoid heavy-feeding late in the season, which can delay maturity.

What Not to Do When Planting Late

• Do not expect heavy storage crops
• Do not overcrowd plants
• Do not delay harvesting into cold, wet autumn weather

Late-planted maincrop potatoes often suffer if left too long.

Signs You’ve Planted Too Late

• Plants flower very late in summer
• Foliage stays green into autumn
• Tubers remain small
• Skins fail to toughen properly

These crops are best used fresh rather than stored.

Is Late Better Than Early?

If choosing between the two:

• Planting too early risks rot and frost damage
• Planting slightly late usually still produces a crop

Late planting is generally safer than early planting.

Quick Summary

• Yes, potatoes can be planted too late
• Late planting reduces yields and storage quality
• Maincrop potatoes are most affected
• Early varieties cope better with late planting
• Containers allow more flexibility

Final Tip

If you’ve missed the ideal planting window, switch to early varieties or container growing. You may not get a bumper crop, but you can still enjoy fresh homegrown potatoes.