Fingerling

Family: Solanaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Creamy, nutty-sweet flesh with a delicate, velvety bite—Fingerling potatoes bring a gourmet richness to the garden from the first harvest.

Their slender, finger-shaped tubers develop a warm, golden skin that roasts up beautifully, while the tender interior stays pleasantly cohesive for pan-roasting, fresh serving, and vibrant mash or silky sauces. Grow them for a harvest that feels like a treasure hunt: smooth-skinned, evenly sized gems with standout flavor in every use.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 95 DaysHabit: Mounding

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Fingerling Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Aug 28th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 18th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 18th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 22nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 18th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Aug 16th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 11th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Aug 7th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Aug 4th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 29th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 24th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jul 14th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jul 5th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 26th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Jun 9th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	May 15th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	95
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Mounding
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

Fingerlings cook up with a tight, creamy interior—ideal when you want potatoes to hold their shape instead of turning starchy and grainy. Their nutty sweetness loves heat and fat: roast for crisp skin, then finish with butter, Dijon, or herbs so the flavor lands bright and warm.

Best Uses

pan-roast and serve right away with flaky salt—no watery sad steaminess
halved, oil-roasted until the skins bronze and the centers stay creamy
smash then finish in the oven for crisp corners without drying the middle
silky mash or warm-skin sauces where their natural starch thickens gently

Flavor Profile

creamy interior with a nutty-sweet, warm flavor velvety, tender bite that stays cohesive when cooked golden roasted notes with lightly crisp edges

Kitchen Pairings

garlic chives browned butter Dijon mustard smoked salmon parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Solanum tuberosum (fingerling potatoes), and how can I control it?

Fungal late blight and early blight are common on Solanum tuberosum, especially in cool, wet weather—look for leaf spotting that spreads quickly and may cause rapid foliage collapse. Remove and destroy infected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and avoid overhead watering; if conditions stay wet, use a labeled potato fungicide as soon as symptoms appear or as a preventative during prolonged damp spells. Keep tubers from being exposed to light by hilling as the plants grow, since stressed plants are more prone to disease.

How often should I water fingerling potatoes during the main growing phase?

During active tuber formation (roughly mid-season until vines start yellowing), keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1–2 inches of water per week total, adjusting for heat and rainfall. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, because consistently soggy beds can reduce tuber quality. After you hill and the canopy fills in, water at the soil level to avoid wetting the foliage.

How can I tell when my fingerling potatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when the plants’ foliage begins to yellow and die back, typically around 95 days for Solanum tuberosum fingerlings, but confirm by gently digging one tuber from the hill. The skins should be firm and set (won’t rub off easily), and tubers should be sized for “fingerling” harvest rather than very small. For best storage, cure freshly harvested tubers in a cool, humid, dark place for about 1–2 weeks before long-term storage.