BulbPotato
Potato Spring Red Pontiac
Red Pontiac is one of North America's most trusted red potato varieties, a dependable producer that has earned its place in home gardens and commercial fields alike. These waxy-textured potatoes mature in 100-109 days, reaching full size in time for summer harvest in most regions. Growing 24-36 inches tall in a compact bush form, Red Pontiac thrives in hardiness zones 3-9 and needs only full sun and 15-inch spacing to produce abundantly. It's a cool-season annual that's open-pollinated and non-GMO, offering the kind of straightforward reliability that has made it one of the best-selling red potatoes across the United States and Canada.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Loose Loam, High Organic Matter
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeBush
Spacing
15
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Red Pontiac earned its reputation through sheer dependability and consistent performance across diverse growing regions. As an open-pollinated heirloom variety, you're growing the same potato that has fed families for generations, with the satisfaction of saving seed potatoes from your own harvest. Its waxy texture and red skin make it instantly recognizable in the kitchen, and its track record of success means even newer gardeners can expect solid yields from well-tended beds.
Common Uses
Red Pontiac excels in applications where its waxy texture holds up to cooking without becoming mealy. Use them for potato salads, where the firm texture maintains its structure; boil them whole or in chunks for side dishes, soups, and stews; or simply roast them with herbs for a straightforward, satisfying vegetable. The thin red skin is tender enough to eat, adding visual appeal and a touch of earthiness to any dish.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
As a cool-season crop, Red Pontiac seed potatoes are planted directly outdoors as soon as soil can be worked in spring. Choose a location with full sun and loose, well-draining soil. Plant seed potatoes 15 inches apart in rows spaced 36 inches apart, with the soil temperature ideally between 40-70°F. This variety grows as a cool-season annual, so timing your planting for early spring ensures the crop matures before summer heat arrives.
Direct Sow
Plant seed potatoes directly into prepared garden beds in early spring when soil is workable. Bury each seed potato 4 inches deep and space them 15 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Firm the soil over the top and water gently to settle the soil.
Harvesting
Red Pontiac potatoes reach maturity in 100-109 days. Begin checking for harvest-ready tubers once the plants flower and start to yellow; gently dig around the base of a plant to check tuber size. Full-sized potatoes are ready to harvest when plant foliage has died back completely. Dig carefully to avoid cutting the tubers with your spade or fork. Handle harvested potatoes gently and store them in a cool, dark place for best keeping quality.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum tuberosum 'Red Pontiac'
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Bush
Native Status
L48 (I)HI (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Red Pontiac emerged as one of the most commercially successful potato varieties in North America, building a legacy through decades of cultivation across the United States and Canada. Its enduring popularity speaks to careful selection for consistent yields, reliable performance across diverse climates, and the kind of straightforward growing characteristics that appeal to both home gardeners and farmers. As an open-pollinated heirloom, it represents a lineage of seed-saving tradition, allowing gardeners to harvest their own seed potatoes year after year and participate in the long history of potato cultivation that sustains this variety.”