How long can potatos stay in the ground?

11 years ago

Hey everyone! I was wondering how long potatos can actually stay in the ground. The reason I ask is that I planted my potato patch a little too close to the pumpkin patch (apparantly.) Both of these items are in a community garden about an hours drive from where I live...so I unfortunately only get to see it every weekend. So, last weekend I was thinking I had better dig up the potatos before the pumpkins overtook them....too late! My gosh, the pumpkins must have grown a couple feet per day while I was gone, and the potatos have been swallowed up. You can still see the plants, barely, but there are already nice looking pumpkins growing beyond where the potatos are, so I don't necessarily want to cut the vines off, or rip them out. I would really like to leave the taters in the ground until after pumpkin harvest...is that feasable?

Comments (5)

wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
11 years ago
I suggest leaving them in the ground for now. They will be shaded some which is good.
digdirt2
11 years ago
Technically they can stay in ground until just before the ground freezes. Not a problem for me but it will be for you in your location.

That doesn't mean you should leave them that long but it is possible if necessary for many of us. If you get a really heavy rain that soaks the ground then they need to come out as they can rot in wet soil.

Dave
Related Professionals
Derry Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Essex Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Frisco Landscape Contractors · Allentown Landscape Contractors · Cambridge Landscape Contractors · East Haven Landscape Contractors · Huntley Landscape Contractors · Nutley Landscape Contractors · Rosemount Landscape Contractors · Tehachapi Landscape Contractors · Westchester Landscape Contractors · Goldenrod Landscape Contractors · Castaic Gardeners & Lawn Care · Dearborn Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Pawtucket Driveway Installation & Maintenance
foolishpleasure
11 years ago
Is this sweet potatoes or just potatoes. My sweet potatoes ripen in 95 to 100 days, I think the other potatoes needs the same amount of time.
landscraper82
Original Author
11 years ago
No sweet potatos, but there are several different varaieties, (red norlands, yukon gold, red kennebecs...ya know..the usual.) Anyhoo, I won't sweat it for now, I'll leave them in the ground. Thanks for the advice Dave, Wayne, and FP!
nancyjane_gardener
11 years ago
If you can leave them until the ground freezes, won't the pumpkin vines be dead from a hard frost or 2?
This just a guess, cause my ground doesn't even freeze, but my pumpkins do die off after a couple of medium freezes. Nancy