planting russet seed potatoes Kennebec Seed Potatoes

planting russet seed potatoes Kennebec Seed PotatoesKennebec Potato is one of the most trusted and widely grown potato varieties in North America. Known for its fast growth, heavy yields, and excellent storage life, this dependable mid season variety produces large, uniform tubers with light tan skin and creamy white flesh. Kennebec is prized for its versatility in the kitchen, making it an excellent choice for baking, frying, chipping, boiling, or mashing. Whether grown by home gardeners or market

Kennebec Potato is one of the most trusted and widely grown potato varieties in North America. Known for its fast growth, heavy yields, and excellent storage life, this dependable mid-season variety produces large, uniform tubers with light tan skin and creamy white flesh. Kennebec is prized for its versatility in the kitchen, making it an excellent choice for baking, frying, chipping, boiling, or mashing. Whether grown by home gardeners or market farmers, this classic variety consistently delivers reliable harvests and outstanding flavor.

Want to try several of our most popular and favorite varieties? Try our Sampler

Seed potatoes are sold by the pound for planting.

SHIPPING INFO: Potatoes start shipping mid-March based on region. Orders will ship within the ideal planting window for your growing zone.

Why Grow Kennebec Potatoes?
• High-yielding and extremely reliable variety
• Classic all-purpose potato for baking, frying, and chipping
• Produces large, uniform tubers with creamy white flesh
• Excellent storage life for long-term use
• One of the easiest and most forgiving potatoes to grow

Growing Information
🌱 Potato Type: Mid-season
🌱 Skin Color: Light tan/buff with smooth to lightly netted skin
🌱 Flesh Color: Creamy white
🌱 Days to Maturity: 90–110 days
🌱 Ease of Growing: Very easy
🌱 Planting Rate: About 5–8 seed pieces per pound
🌱 Expected Yield: Approximately 10–20 pounds harvested per pound planted

Cultivation Tips
• Soil requirements: Plant in loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Avoid compacted soils so tubers can develop properly.
• Sunlight: Full sun (6–8+ hours daily) for best yields.
• Planting: Plant seed potatoes once soil can be worked in early spring. Larger potatoes may be cut into pieces with at least one eye per piece before planting.
• Spacing: Plant seed pieces about 9–12 inches apart in rows spaced 30–36 inches apart.
• Watering: Maintain consistent moisture throughout the growing season, particularly when tubers begin forming.
• Hilling: As plants grow, mound soil around stems to protect developing potatoes from sunlight and increase yields.
• Disease resistance: Resistant to late blight (foliage and tuber), PVA, and common scab. Moderately resistant to early blight, black leg, and PVY.

Harvesting
Kennebec potatoes are typically ready to harvest about 90–110 days after planting. For storage potatoes, allow vines to die back before harvesting. This variety is well known for its excellent storage qualities when properly cured.

Click here for our Potato Growing Guide

History
Kennebec potatoes were developed by the USDA and the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station in Presque Isle, Maine, and released in 1948 from a cross between Chippewa and Katahdin. Named after Maine’s Kennebec River, this variety quickly became a dominant potato across the Northeast and Midwest due to its reliability, high yields, and versatility for fresh market and processing.

Non-GMO Commitment: At Growing Farmers and The Farm on Central, all our plants are guaranteed non-GMO and not genetically modified in any way, upholding natural breeding methods and promoting sustainable gardening practices.

Growing method: This product is sourced from a partner farm committed to sustainable, regenerative, and environmentally responsible farming methods that prioritize soil health and biodiversity.

Seed potatoes may arrive with natural soil present. Do not wash before planting.