When is the best time to dig potatoes?

New potatoes are harvested as soon as the plant is done flowering in the early summer, and mature potatoes are harvested in the fall after the foliage has all died. New potatoes are small potatoes that are eaten right away, while mature potatoes are suitable for storing for winter use.

The same crop of potato plants provides both new and mature potatoes. A garden fork is used to gently remove early new potatoes from around the edges of the plant. This makes more room for the other potatoes to grow larger. Later, a shovel is used to scoop up the mature potatoes. The potatoes are left to dry for a couple of days before the dirt is shaken or brushed off, and the potatoes are stored in a cool, dry place.