Some gardeners might question whether growing this cheap and plentiful crop is worth the hassle, space, time, and energy required. But while it’s true that growing your own potatoes comes with its challenges, there is nothing better than a freshly harvested spud. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whether you’re not sure where to begin or you’re already close to narrowing down your final selection of tasty cultivars, take a look at this roundup of the most unique, delicious, and visually appealing varieties of spuds that you can grow in your own backyard for our favorite suggestions.
Things to Know Before You Grow
There are a few things to be aware of when choosing which type or types of spuds that you will grow in your own garden: First, think about what you want to do with your harvest. For example, do you want to make marvelous fluffy mash, the crispiest roasties, or the perfect deep-fried chips?
This might sound like a silly thing to say – surely, a spud is just a spud? But in fact, each variety comes with its own unique traits and characteristics that mean some are better suited than others for certain uses. This is because different varieties have different amounts of starch in them, as well as varying levels of sugar. It’s the level of starch which determines whether the potato is floury or fluffy and breaks down upon cooking, or remains intact with a firm, moist, waxy texture. The higher the starch content, the more the potato will break down when it is cooked. Potatoes that are high in starch are therefore absolutely perfect for baking and mashing, or for making wedges or fries.
Types with a low starch content, on the other hand, are waxy and hold together well when cooked, making them perfect for use in soups, stews, and salads. Another top tip when choosing which cultivars to grow is to keep in mind that varieties are categorized loosely in three different groups related to the number of days they take to reach maturity: early, mid-season, or late. You will also sometimes see these referred to as first earlies, second earlies, and maincrops, with some types that bridge two categories as well, such as a mid-to-late season variety.
Earlies are, unsurprisingly perhaps, the earliest to mature. They require about 75-90 days underground, or sometimes even less time. Early season plants take up less room in the garden than other varieties, and they are less prone to potato blight, as they are generally harvested before the disease has a chance to take hold. Mid-season types are up next, maturing in about 95-110 days. These are typically ready to harvest around mid-summer. Late season cultivars typically mature in 120-135 days, with some types taking up to 160 days to reach maturity.
Another difference between these varieties is their size – early potatoes will generally be smaller than maincrop or late season types. But this is not always the case, as fingerling types generally fit into the late season category. Potatoes referred to as “new” don’t really have their own type, but rather, they are harvested early when they are small. © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Product photos courtesy of Burpee. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Additional writing and editing by Allison Sidhu.
1. Daisy Gold
‘Daisy Gold’ is a Burpee exclusive and a perfect all-rounder, with flaky and moist flesh that’s ideal for boiling, baking, and mashing alike.
‘Daisy Gold’ This cheerful yellow-colored potato is as beautiful as it is vigorous and virus resistant, with one package of 10 mini tubers with 3-5 eyes each yielding 50-80 pounds of potatoes. It’s also resistant to nematodes. This variety is ready for harvesting roughly mid-season, and tubers mature 80 days after planting. ‘Daisy Gold’ is available from Burpee.
2. Kennebec
The ‘Kennebec’ is a very popular all-purpose potato.
‘Kennebec’ With its smooth, thin skin and creamy texture, what’s especially great about this spud is that it maintains its shape when cooked – making it ideal for use in salads, curries, soups, and stews – while at the same time containing just enough starch to be mashed or fried without issue. You can expect to be eating a lot of potatoes if you grow this variety, as it produces high yields. Even better, this spud stores well, meaning you can continue to enjoy your harvest many months after the plants have finished producing. This is an early maincrop variety, ready for harvest in 80 days. It’s resistant to late blight, black leg, and potato viruses A and Y. You can find ‘Kennebec’ tubers via Burpee.
3. Red Gold
If you’re looking for a unique-tasting tater, look no further.
‘Red Gold’ ‘Red Gold’ offers a delicious nutty flavor quite unlike any spud you can find in the grocery store. With yellow flesh and raspberry-red eyes, this is also a very pretty potato. Hailing from my neck of the woods in Northern Europe, this is an all-purpose mid-season variety that can be mashed, roasted, baked, or fried. Spuds mature in 90 days. Keep in mind that they are best suited to short-term storage. You can find this variety on offer at Burpee.
4. Red Pontiac
Another winner in the all-rounder category, this early season red variety comes with the added advantage of having especially thin skin, making it a very appealing choice whether harvested at the new stage or grown to maturity.
‘Red Pontiac’ ‘Red Pontiac’ has waxy-textured flesh, and it is perfect for baking, boiling, mashing, roasting, or especially for use in salads. This type is not as suitable for frying. The plants are known for having good drought tolerance. Ready in 80 days, you can find ‘Red Pontiac’ tubers from Burpee.
5. Rio Grande Russet
This is one type that you can enjoy guilt-free! As long as you eat the skins, this spud is loaded with antioxidants, making it a highly nutritious variety. Russets have a floury, fluffy texture with flavorful skins.
‘Rio Grande’ What’s more, this cultivar is high yielding, meaning there’s sure to be more than enough to go around when your harvest comes in. Thanks to its low starch content, this spud is ideal for salads, slicing, and making into chips. Producing taters that reach 4-5 inches in length at maturity, ‘Rio Grande’ has rust-brown skin and white flesh, and is ready in just 59-65 days. You can find this variety at Burpee.
6. Magic Molly
‘Magic Molly’ is an enchanting cultivar that is sure to cast a spell on you.
‘Magic Molly’ As rich in color as it is in taste, this type is deep purple both inside and out. And it will even retain that beautiful color when boiled. Prepare to make some culinary magic with this vibrant variety! This spud comes to life when paired with warm, woody, smoky accents, making it absolutely ideal for grilling on the barbecue. You will have to wait slightly longer to experience its magic, as this cultivar takes 95-100 days to reach full maturity. You can purchase packages of ‘Magic Molly’ mini tubers for planting from Burpee.
7. Masquerade
Burpee describes this potato as “edible art,” and I couldn’t agree more.
‘Masquerade’ This unique bicolor type really is remarkable. With skin that’s marbled with vibrant purple and white, ‘Masquerade’ is really something that has to be seen to be believed. A low starch variety, this spud has moist, white flesh perfect for baking, mashing, and roasting, and takes only 63 days to reach full maturity. You can find ‘Masquerade’ mini tubers for sale at Burpee.
8. Princess Laratte
This is a very popular pomme de terre where I’m currently living in France, to the point that Burpee describes this French variety as a “culinary superstar of European haute cuisine.”
‘Princess Laratte’ So, what makes this cultivar so popular with the notoriously food-loving French? Well, its flavor is subtly sweet and mildly nutty, almost like a mixture of chestnuts, hazelnuts, and almonds. This variety is slow to mature, ready in 90-110 days, but it is certainly worth the wait. You can find ‘Princess Laratte’ mini tubers at Burpee.
9. Purple Majesty
As someone who grew up knowing only pale, yellow taters, there is something so irresistibly enchanting about purple potatoes for me. And I’d be willing to bet the kids and guests who dine with you will feel the same way!
‘Purple Majesty’ With wine-dark skins and succulent purple flesh, these violet, sweet, buttery spuds add a splash of color and interest to your plate, and they’re perfect for frying. ‘Purple Majesty’ thrives in full sun and matures in 85 days, producing spuds 3-4 inches long. You can find ‘Purple Majesty’ tubers via Burpee.
10. Swedish Peanut Fingerling
This heirloom fingerling type has waxy, firm yellow flesh and a rich flavor.
‘Swedish Peanut Fingerling’ Excellent pan-fried or roasted, this cultivar also holds up to use in salads. It is noted for high resistance to scab. ‘Swedish Peanut Fingerling’ is a late-season variety that produces spuds about 1 ½ inches long. Plants mature in 90 days. You can find this cultivar at Burpee.
11. Yukon Gold
You’ll be sure to strike gold with this super-popular golden yellow cultivar.
‘Yukon Gold’ Developed in the 1960s in Canada, this hybrid variety has quickly become a firm favorite, thanks to the fact that it offers the best of all worlds – it’s waxy enough to stand up to boiling, but fluffy enough to make a marvelous mash. That being said, the best way to cook ‘Yukon Gold’ in my opinion is unquestionably via roasting in the oven. When roasted, it creates a formidable combination of crackly crunch on the outside, and creamy, buttery goodness on the inside – and trust me, I’m English, so if there’s one thing I know, it’s roasted taters! ‘Yukon Gold’ is an early variety, ready in only 65 days, and it requires full sun conditions. This type is noted for its disease resistance, including resistance to scab. You can purchase ‘Yukon Gold’ mini tubers for planting from Burpee.
You’re Sure to Dig Growing These Spuds!
After seeing all the amazing varieties on offer, you’re practically guaranteed to never think that a spud is just a spud again!
Have you had a go at growing any of these cultivars? Which one is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below! If you want to learn more about growing potatoes, be sure to check these out next:
When and How to Harvest Homegrown Potatoes How to Battle Colorado Potato Beetles in Your Garden How to Grow Potatoes in Containers
