Red Pontiac Potato
Solanum tuberosum 'Red Pontiac'
vegetableRed Pontiac is the heavy-yielding red-skinned potato bred in Florida in 1945, with thin smooth red skin, crisp white flesh, and an oblong-to-round shape. The variety tolerates heavy soils, heat, and rough conditions better than most potatoes, making it a top pick for difficult ground and gardeners in warm zones.
☀️
Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 3 days
🌾
Harvest
~90 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
↔️
Spacing
12 in in row, 30 in between rows
⬇️
Planting Depth
3-4 in
🧪
Soil pH
5.0-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Loose, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 9
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting; side-dress at hilling
Fertilizer
10-10-10 at 1.5 lb per 100 sq ft pre-plant; lower nitrogen at side-dress
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant certified seed pieces 2 weeks before the last frost. Cut and cure pieces for 2 days, then set 3 to 4 in deep and 12 in apart in rows 30 in apart. Red Pontiac is mid- to late-season; tubers size up best when soil is consistently moist during the bulking phase (4 to 8 weeks after emergence). Hill twice during the season. The variety is widely adapted, growing well from Maine to the deep South.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →🌿
Direct sow
Apr 1
🌾
Projected first harvest
Jun 30
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Beans: Bush beans fix nitrogen and may help repel Colorado potato beetle
- Horseradish: Corner plantings may deter Colorado potato beetle
- Marigolds: Root exudates suppress nematodes in the tuber zone
- Cilantro: Flowers attract beneficial insects that hunt potato pests
❌ Keep away from
TomatoCucumberSquash
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Hand-pick adults daily, crush egg masses, and rotate beds out of potatoes for 3 years
Use certified seed; remove infected plants immediately; avoid overhead watering during cool damp spells
Bury potato slice traps in spring and remove weekly; do not plant after sod
Maintain consistent soil moisture during tuber initiation and keep pH below 5.5 in scab-prone soils
🌾 Harvest & storage
Red Pontiac is ready when the vines die down, typically 90 to 110 days after planting. Dig gently with a fork; the skin should resist a thumb rub if cured. Brush off soil and cure in a dark room at 60F for 2 weeks, then store at 38 to 45F with high humidity. Red Pontiac is excellent boiled, mashed, or roasted but not ideal for baking (the flesh stays slightly waxy).
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 77 calories per 100 g cooked with 2 g fiber, 19.7 mg vitamin C, and 421 mg potassium. The red skin carries additional anthocyanins (especially when eaten with the skin on), which contribute antioxidant activity.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Eat the tubers, not the green parts. Potato leaves, stems, sprouts, and any green-tinged or sprouting tubers contain solanine and should not be eaten. Store tubers in the dark, and cut away any green or sprouts before cooking.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.