Yukon Gold

Family: Solanaceae Root Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Buttery, golden flesh with a softly sweet, garden-fresh flavor—Yukon Gold potatoes are the kind that make the whole harvest feel like a celebration.

Their smooth, thin skins and dense, velvety texture hold their shape beautifully, turning tender and creamy when roasted, pan-browned, or mashed into silky sauces. Grow Yukon Gold for reliable, home-garden performance and a warm, golden color that shows up in every bowl.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Spreading

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Yukon Gold 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	Spreading
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

Yukon Gold is built for eat-it-hot comfort: its golden, low-grit flesh creams down quickly while still giving you a tender bite when roasted or browned. Use it when you want that buttery, lightly sweet profile to stay front-and-center, especially with dairy and peppery heat.

Best Uses

roasted wedges that hold their shape while going creamy at the edges
pan-browned potatoes with a crisp exterior and tender center
silky mash without turning gluey
potato gratin or skillet potatoes where you want a smooth, spoonable mouthfeel

Flavor Profile

buttery, golden flesh softly sweet, garden-fresh flavor dense and velvety texture thin skin that tenderizes fast

Kitchen Pairings

black pepper garlic butter sour cream fresh chives gruyère cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What disease problem is most likely on Solanum tuberosum (Yukon Gold) and how do I control it?

Early blight (Alternaria) is common on potato leaves and shows as brown, target-like spots that spread from older foliage. Remove and discard infected leaves early, avoid overhead watering so foliage stays dry, and apply a labeled fungicide if conditions are humid and worsening—start as soon as you see the first spots. Space plants for airflow and don’t reuse cull piles where diseased potato tops were kept.

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

During active tuber bulking (roughly weeks 4–8 after emergence), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week depending on rainfall. Water deeply when the top 1 inch of soil (2–3 cm) feels dry, and maintain a steady moisture level so tubers size up rather than cracking or staying small. Stop regular watering once the vines begin to yellow and die back near maturity.

How can I tell when Yukon Gold potatoes are ready to harvest?

Start checking for “new potatoes” about 70–80 days after planting, but harvest mature Yukon Gold around 90 days when plants yellow and the foliage naturally dies back. For maturity, dig carefully and confirm tuber skins are set (they won’t rub off easily) and tubers reach typical size for your planting depth. Harvest on a dry day, then cure tubers in a cool, dark, airy spot for about 1–2 weeks before storage.