Kennebec

Family: Solanaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Kennebec to a garden.

Creamy, buttery flesh with a clean, mellow flavor—Kennebec white potatoes deliver a satisfying bite and dependable texture you’ll want to grow again and again.

At harvest, the tubers form with smooth, light skin and an appealing oval shape, holding their integrity for hearty, golden results and comforting classics. A favorite for home cellars and everyday favorites, Kennebec shines wherever you want reliable performance from planting to 90-day maturity.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Mounding

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Kennebec 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	Mounding
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Kennebecs are built for texture: their creamy, fine flesh mashes silk-smooth without getting gluey, and they roast up with a steady bite instead of falling apart. If you want reliable, everyday “golden classics” performance, this is the white potato that behaves.

Best Uses

butter-forward mashed potatoes with minimal fuss
roasted wedges that crisp at the edges without turning grainy
comforting soups and chowders where the potato should hold body
pan-fried slices/hash that stay cohesive and brown evenly

Flavor Profile

creamy, buttery interior mellow, clean potato sweetness fine-grained texture with good structure

Kitchen Pairings

whole milk butter black pepper chives sour cream cheddar cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely to hit Solanum tuberosum (potato) and how can I manage it at home?

Early blight (Alternaria) is a common home-garden problem, showing up as dark, target-like spots on older potato leaves. Remove and destroy affected foliage early, improve airflow by keeping plants appropriately hilled, and rotate away from potatoes/other Solanaceae in future seasons. If wet weather persists, use a labeled fungicide appropriate for potatoes and follow the label’s reapplication interval.

How often should I water Solanum tuberosum during the main growing phase to keep tubers forming well?

During active tuber bulking (roughly mid-season), keep the soil evenly moist—about 1–2 inches of water per week total, adjusted for rainfall. Water deeply so moisture reaches the hilled root zone, and avoid letting soil dry out completely between waterings. Inconsistent moisture can lead to misshapen tubers, so aim for steady conditions rather than frequent light sprinkling.

How do I tell when Kennebec potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 90 days when the plants’ vines begin to die back and the skins are set—test by gently rubbing a tuber; the skin should not rub off easily. For fresh eating, you can dig a few earlier, but for best storage harvest after the foliage has substantially senesced and plants are dry. Dig carefully to avoid cuts, and cure the harvested potatoes in a cool, dark, ventilated place before storage.