Dark Red Norland is an early, productive red potato that delivers reliable harvests in 65 to 80 days, making it one of the quickest varieties to reach the table. Its deep red skin and small eyes make it visually striking and easy to peel, while the firm white flesh holds its shape beautifully through boiling, frying, and baking. This compact grower thrives in zones 3 through 10, tolerating cool spring soil and moderate frost, so you can plant as soon as the ground is workable. The variety's resistance to rhizoctonia and scab gives home gardeners peace of mind, especially in seasons when disease pressure runs high.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
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Moderate
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Harvest tender 'new' potatoes in just 7 to 8 weeks, or wait for full-sized tubers after the foliage dies back. The thin skins and small eyes make preparation almost effortless, and the firm texture means your potato salads stay picture-perfect. Cold-hardy enough for early spring planting even where frost still threatens, this variety keeps producing prolifically across most of North America.
Dark Red Norland shines in any preparation where you want the potato to hold its shape and deliver creamy texture. Boil it for warm potato salads, where its firm flesh resists falling apart. Pan-fry it for crispy edges and fluffy interiors, or bake whole for a quick side dish. The thin skins mean you can eat them roasted or boiled without peeling, catching all the nutrients just under the surface. Early harvest timing makes it the potato of choice for mid-spring gardeners craving homegrown spuds weeks ahead of main-crop varieties.
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Plant seed pieces directly in the garden as soon as soil is workable in early to midspring. Soil temperature should be between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Space pieces 10 inches apart in rows 30 to 36 inches apart, planting 2 to 3 inches deep. Cut tubers into pieces roughly 1.5 to 2 ounces (1 to 1.25 inches diameter) each, ensuring each piece has at least one eye; small whole tubers may be planted without cutting.
Plant seed pieces directly outdoors as described above; potatoes are not started indoors.
Begin harvesting tender 'new' potatoes about 7 to 8 weeks after planting by carefully digging around plants and lifting small tubers while they are still marble to golf-ball sized. For full-sized main crop potatoes, wait until the foliage has died back completely, then wait another 2 weeks to allow skins to set and thicken. Carefully dig tubers, brush off soil gently, and allow skins to dry completely before storage. Handle tubers gently to avoid bruising.
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“Dark Red Norland emerged as a modern early red potato variety selected specifically for its rich color and disease resistance. Johnny's Selected Seeds marked it as a 'new' productive variety, reflecting its development to meet the demand for reliable, quick-maturing reds that could handle common potato diseases. While not an heirloom with a century of family gardens behind it, this cultivar represents the practical breeding work that gave home gardeners access to faster harvests and fewer disease headaches.”