Carola

Family: Solanaceae Root Vegetable

Carola delivers a luminous, golden harvest with a buttery, mellow flavor and a smooth, fine-textured bite.

At maturity, the tubers form a tidy, oval shape that roasts up with a rich caramelized depth and holds its character beautifully for creamy mashes and velvety sauces. Grow Carola for dependable, home-garden satisfaction—an elegant yellow potato that turns everyday meals into something special with every harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Carola’s smooth, fine flesh makes it ideal for purées and sauces that go truly velvety without turning gluey. When roasted, it keeps its character—golden and caramel-sweet on the outside while staying buttery inside.

Best Uses

roasting in wedges with high-heat browning for crisp edges and tender centers
silky mashes and potato purée
velvety sauces where the potato disappears into cream

Flavor Profile

buttery, mellow flavor smooth, fine-textured bite roasts to caramelized golden depth

Kitchen Pairings

butter heavy cream black pepper rosemary parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Solanum tuberosum (potato) and how do I control it?

Late blight (often seen as dark, water-soaked leaf spots that spread quickly in cool, damp weather) is one of the most damaging potato diseases. Remove and destroy infected leaves early, avoid wetting foliage when watering, and improve airflow by spacing plants in rows. If the problem is recurring in your area, use a label-approved late-blight fungicide at the first signs and repeat according to the label schedule for potatoes.

How often should I water potatoes during the main growing phase (bulking tubers)?

Water Solanum tuberosum consistently so the soil stays evenly moist 6–8 inches down, especially once plants are actively growing and starting to form tubers (around mid-season). In most home gardens that’s about 1 inch of water per week, adjusted for heat and rainfall; water deeply rather than lightly to prevent shallow rooting. Let the top couple of inches dry slightly between waterings to reduce disease pressure, then resume deep watering.

How do I tell when my potato crop is ready to harvest at about 90 days?

Harvest when the plants’ foliage has yellowed and begun to die back naturally, which typically aligns with around 90 days for many cultivars of Solanum tuberosum. For a “new potato” check, gently dig one plant early, but for best storage quality wait for the vines to senesce and the skins to set so they won’t rub off easily. After harvesting, cure tubers by keeping them in a cool, dark, humid place for about 1–2 weeks to toughen skins before storage.