Growing new potatoes is much like growing standard potatoes: however, you harvest them when the plant is flowering rather than after the plant has died. New potatoes are delicious, immature potatoes of many different varieties; there is no one particular variety that you must have for new potatoes. However, certain seed potatoes really do make the best new potatoes. Check out the varieties we love below!
What Are New Potatoes?
Really quickly, I’d like to go over what a new potato is and why people eat them, for those who are new to new potatoes. New potatoes are immature potatoes; they are not grown until ripe. Instead, they are harvested early for their flavor. They are far smaller than traditional potatoes with very thin skins. They do not store well either, unlike mature potatoes with thick skins. They have a very tender flesh that is on the sweeter side; they are commonly cooked whole, and the skin is eaten, as well.
Yukon Gold Variety
Yukon Gold potatoes are one of the most popular varieties to grow. They are a multipurpose potato that can be cooked in nearly every way imaginable. Since Yukon Golds can be grown as the sole potato crop for a small homestead, it’s also a great idea to use them for new potatoes, as well. Simply watch for the flowers to appear on the Yukon Gold potato plant, and harvest the tubers from below the soil’s surface, being careful not to kill the plant. You could also harvest the entire plant if you are not interested in collecting mature tubers in the near future.
Katahdin New Potatoes
The Katahdin variety is another largely popular potato that is excellent for use as a new potato. This is a high starch potato variety, and is commonly used in french fries, mashed potatoes, and frying. Since the Katahdin new potatoes are still young, they tend to be far less starchy than their mature counterparts. Try roasting them or boiling them with a freshly prepared chicken! The waxy texture of the young tubers is wonderful.
Adirondack Blue New Potatoes
If you want a new potato that will shock and awe, you should reach for Adirondack Blue seed potatoes. These potatoes are a delightful bluish purple hue; the color fades some when cooked, but new potatoes should hold their color rather well. The tender skin of the young Adirondack is a gorgeous shade of purple as well; they will offer a vibrant pop of color when served whole.
New Carola Seed Potatoes
If you’re looking for a new potato that will offer a strong potato flavor, especially once matured (during the second harvest, if applicable), the Carola potato is a great choice. This one is a waxy variety at maturity, offering an excellent new potato that is loaded with flavor. This is the perfect new potato for early spring roasts and stews. Carola seed potatoes might not be as easy to locate at big box stores, so you may need to look online or in specialty gardening stores.
Red Norland New Potatoes
Red Norlands are an all around excellent variety. I personally love this one! I had many new potatoes out of my Red Norland plants, and they produced quickly. This variety was released in 1957 and is commonly used as baby reds, indicating its success as a new potato. You can find these rather easily since they are incredibly popular.