Rainline Garden

When to plant potatoes in Bend and Redmond, OR

Plant seed potatoes in Bend and Redmond May 12 – Jun 23.

Easy Plant seed potatoes

Why these dates

Bend and Redmond's typical last spring frost is June 9. As a cool-season crop that handles light frost, this crop can go in about 4 weeks before that.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty
Easy
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
12 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart
Planting depth
4 inches deep in a trench
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 95 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant seed potatoes May 12 – Jun 23, 4 inches deep in a trench, 12 inches apart in rows 30 inches apart. Cut large ones into pieces with at least two eyes each.
  3. As plants grow, pile soil or straw around the stems so the potatoes stay covered.
  4. Harvest: Dig new potatoes when the plants flower. For storage potatoes, wait two weeks after the tops die back.

Varieties that do well here

  • Yukon Gold
  • German Butterball
  • Red Norland

Watch out for

Wireworms in beds that were recently lawn. Grow potatoes in an established bed if you can.

Use certified seed potatoes. Hill soil around stems as they grow.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bend and Redmond, OR?

Typically June 9. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Redmond Roberts Field.

Is it too late to plant potatoes in Bend and Redmond?

The spring planting window runs through June 23. Later plantings tend to struggle in summer heat.

How long until I can harvest potatoes?

About 95 days after planting. Dig new potatoes when the plants flower. For storage potatoes, wait two weeks after the tops die back.

Also plant in Bend and Redmond around the same time

Planting dates for potatoes in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Bend and Redmond · Potatoes in every city