Irish Cobbler

Family: Solanaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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Velvety-skinned and richly flavored, Irish Cobbler red potatoes bring a satisfying, creamy bite with a subtly sweet, earthy depth.

Their russeted-red skins cradle smooth, pale interiors that roast to a golden blush and hold their integrity beautifully for mashing, pan-frying, and hearty stews. A classic Red Potato choice for gardeners who love dependable performance and a harvest that feels abundant from first lift to final basket.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Clumping

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Irish Cobbler 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 23rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 13th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Aug 17th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Aug 13th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Aug 11th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Aug 6th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Aug 2nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jul 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jul 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jul 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jul 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Jun 21st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Jun 4th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	May 10th – 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	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Clumping
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Irish Cobbler’s creamy, sweet-leaning earthiness makes it the kind of potato that stays luxurious even when you treat it rough—high heat roasting gives you crisp edges without the dry, chalky turn. Use it anywhere you want creaminess with integrity: it won’t disintegrate into the pan or surrender its bite to the spoon.

Best Uses

hot, buttery mashing where the texture stays smooth and cohesive
pan-frying into crisp-edged rounds—creamy center, not gluey
oven roasting to a golden blush (skin-on) for a sliceable, meaty bite
sturdy stews where the pieces hold shape and thicken the broth

Flavor Profile

subtly sweet, earthy base creamy, velvety interior roasty, golden-brown edges with a tender bite

Kitchen Pairings

chives butter sour cream smoked pork black pepper Gruyère

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem is most common on Solanum tuberosum (Irish potatoes), and how do I manage it?

Late blight is one of the most destructive potato diseases (irregular dark leaf spots with fast spread), especially with cool, wet weather. Remove and destroy infected foliage immediately, avoid overhead watering, and improve airflow by spacing plants; if blight is actively spreading locally, use a labeled fungicide program that targets late blight and follow the label schedule. Watch closely from when plants start flowering (around the mid-season growth stage) because early detection makes the biggest difference.

How often should I water Solanum tuberosum during the main growing phase?

During active tuber bulking (roughly after flowering), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged: usually about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week total from rainfall plus irrigation, adjusted for your heat and soil type. Water deeply to wet the ridges and encourage tuber growth, then let the surface dry slightly before watering again; avoid frequent light watering that keeps the root zone constantly wet. If the soil stays soggy after watering, reduce irrigation to prevent rot issues.

How do I tell when Irish Cobbler (Solanum tuberosum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants are fully mature and the tops have yellowed and died back—this typically takes about 90 days from planting for your crop. For a “new potato,” you can dig early for small tubers, but full harvest is after the vines die back and skins firm up. To confirm, gently dig one plant: the tubers should have skins that don’t rub off easily, and the plants should feel less vigorous in the soil.