How to Grow Red Norland Potato
Solanum tuberosum 'Red Norland'
Red Norland potatoes are a popular cool-season root vegetable prized for their delicious red skin and creamy yellow flesh. Gardeners grow them for their reliable yield and versatility in cooking, whether roasted, mashed, or boiled into hearty stews.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Red Norland Potato: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Red Norland Potato is not usually started indoors.
Potatoes are typically direct-sown into the garden rather than transplanted from seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0 to encourage tuber development. As a cool-season crop, you should plant seed potatoes 2 to 6 weeks before your last frost date. If starting indoors, begin seeds during this window; they typically germinate in 14 to 21 days. Plant pieces 2 to 3 inches deep with eyes facing upward.
Space plants 12 to 15 inches apart in rows about a foot wide. While these potatoes do not require trellising, you must hill soil around the stems as they grow to protect tubers from light and encourage more yield. Provide 1 to 2 inches of water weekly, reducing frequency near harvest. Apply mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
Watch for Colorado potato beetles, wireworms, and flea beetles, treating infestations promptly with hand-picking or organic sprays. Prevent late blight and scab by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering when possible. Harvest mature tubers 60 to 80 days after planting when foliage begins to yellow and die back.
When to Plant Red Norland Potato
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | June – July | August – September |
| Zone 2 | — | May – July | July – September |
| Zone 3 | — | May – June | July – October |
| Zone 4 | — | April – June | July – October |
| Zone 5 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 6 | — | April – May | June – November |
| Zone 7 | — | March – May | May – November |
| Zone 8 | — | March – April | May – December |
| Zone 9 | — | February – March | April – December |
| Zone 10 | — | January – March | March – December |
| Zone 11 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 12 | — | January – February | February – December |
| Zone 13 | — | January – February | February – December |
Companion Plants for Red Norland Potato
✓ Good companions
Fix nitrogen in soil and improve potato growth without competing for space
Compatible growth habits and may help deter potato pests
Repels aphids and may improve potato flavor and growth
Provides natural windbreak and doesn't compete for underground space
Repels Colorado potato beetles and improves disease resistance
Repels Colorado potato beetles and nematodes, reduces pest damage
Acts as trap crop for Colorado potato beetles and aphids
Fix nitrogen early in season before potatoes need heavy nutrients
✗ Keep away from
Increases susceptibility to bacterial wilt and competes for soil nutrients
Allelopathic effects inhibit potato growth and development
Same family (Solanaceae), compete for nutrients and share similar diseases like blight
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
