How to Grow German Butterball Potato
Solanum tuberosum 'German Butterball'
German Butterball is a popular heirloom potato variety known for its creamy texture and rich flavor. Gardeners prize this cool-season crop for its reliable yield and adaptability across many USDA zones, making it a staple in home vegetable gardens.
📷 Wikipedia: PotatoStarting German Butterball Potato: indoors or direct sow?
🏠 Start indoors 4 weeks before your last spring frost, then move the seedlings outside.
Start seed pieces indoors or direct-sow them outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.5 to encourage healthy tuber formation. Since potatoes are cool-season crops, start seed pieces indoors or direct-sow them 4 to 6 weeks before your last expected frost date. Place each piece about 2 inches deep in the ground once temperatures stabilize.
Space plants 12 to 15 inches apart to allow room for tubers to expand underground. Keep soil consistently moist with 1 to 2 inches of water weekly, avoiding wetting foliage to prevent disease. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds as the plant grows.
Watch for Colorado potato beetles, aphids, and tuberworms; hand-pick adults and use neem oil for early infestations. Prevent late blight and early blight by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest 100 to 110 days after planting when foliage begins to yellow and die back naturally.
When to Plant German Butterball Potato
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | July – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | July – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | June – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | May – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | May – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | April – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | April – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | April – December |
Companion Plants for German Butterball Potato
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil and don't compete for space with potato tubers
Repel aphids and may improve potato flavor and growth
Attracts beneficial insects and repels harmful pests
Shallow roots don't interfere with tubers, harvest before potatoes expand
Repel Colorado potato beetles and nematodes, natural pest deterrent
Act as trap crop for Colorado potato beetles and aphids
Attracts beneficial insects and doesn't compete for root space
Break up soil for potato growth and mature before potatoes need space
✗ Keep away from
Compete for water and nutrients, may increase disease susceptibility
Allelopathic effects inhibit potato growth and compete heavily for nutrients
Both are nightshades sharing diseases like blight and attracting same pests
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
