9 Best Potato Varieties To Maximize Your Vertical Garden Harvest

If you have a small space for growing vegetables but still want a big harvest, potatoes may be the perfect addition to your garden. You can easily grow potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) in a vertical garden, sometimes called a potato tower, for high yields in small spaces. Of course, you will want to avoid common mistakes that limit your potato harvest, and choosing the right potato variety can make a huge difference. Potatoes can be split into two types: indeterminate and determinate. Indeterminate potatoes take a bit longer to mature, but they grow tubers on stems, which works great in vertical potato towers. Determinate potatoes ripen a bit faster, but they only grow in one layer, so if you are trying to maximize your harvest in a tiny space, these probably aren't the varieties for you.

To maximize your vertical garden harvest, you will want to choose an indeterminate potato variety like 'Snowden,' 'Strawberry Paw,' or 'Umatilla Russet.' Most varieties of indeterminates will grow delicious potatoes in containers or potato towers. When shopping, you may not see varieties labeled "indeterminate," but in most cases, if they are labeled "late season," they are an indeterminate variety. Which variety is best for your garden depends on your personal preferences. Some varieties may have higher yields than others, but they also have different uses in the kitchen. Ultimately, you will want to weigh all the factors, including production, growing time, available space, and intended use. Whichever factors you care about, these nine potato varieties are sure to help you maximize your vertical garden harvest this season.

'All-Blue,' or 'Russian Blue,' potatoes are ideal for growers who are not only looking to maximize their vertical harvest but also the health benefits of their food. As the name suggests, these potatoes have a deep blue color to both the skin and the flesh, which indicates high nutrients in the form of vitamins and antioxidants. In cooking, they are usually used for frying or mashing. They reach maturity in 80 to 90 days with a medium yield that produces about five or six potatoes per seed potato.

The 'Bintje' potato is known to produce high to very high yields, but they have one of the longest growing seasons. In the spring and summer, they take between 100 and 120 days to reach maturity, and in the fall and winter, they take between 110 and 130 days to reach maturity. They can be cooked using almost any method with good results, including frying, mashing, roasting, and stewing. They are also praised for having a long shelf life.

'Butte' potatoes are part of the russet family with brown skin and white flesh. They have a particularly long growing season, but they are known to produce high yields and are ideal for vertical planting. They can take anywhere from 110 to 135 days to reach maturity, no matter what season you are growing them in. They are especially rich in vitamin C when compared to other russet varieties. The harvested tubers are large, and they have a strong potato flavor when cooked, which makes them desirable for baked potatoes. However, they are also frequently mashed or fried.

Another russet variety with brown skin and white flesh, 'Canela Russet' potatoes have a medium to high yield. You can expect to harvest between six and nine tubers per seed potato planted. Maturity time can vary depending on the planting season. Generally, they can mature in 100 days in the spring and summer, but fall and winter growing can take up to 130 days. In cooking, 'Canela Russets' are generally reserved for baking or frying.

'Carola' potatoes are a type of yellow potato with gold skin and flesh. They are known for having medium to high yields, with some gardeners claiming they have gotten more than 10 tubers per seed potato. They can reach maturity in 90 to 110 days, regardless of growing season. 'Carola' potatoes have a strong flavor and a creamy texture. Usually, they are used for baking or frying, but they can also be grilled or mashed.

'German Butterball' potatoes are widely favored for their unique flavor profile. They can produce high yields of 10 to 15 pounds of potatoes per pound of seed. In the spring and summer, they can mature in 100 to 120 days. However, some cultivators recommend fall and winter growing for a better harvest, which can take 110 to 130 days. They have golden skin with cream-colored flesh that has a smooth, creamy texture. They are most commonly used for baking, roasting, or mashing, but they can be suitable for any buttery potato dish.

'Snowden' potatoes are a large variety with thin, tan skin and white flesh that are known to produce high or very high yields. It can take anywhere between 82 and 119 days for 'Snowden' potatoes to reach maturity. Though the number of tubers per seed potato can vary, research shows that they consistently produce higher yields than similar varieties. They have a firm, starchy texture. In cooking, they are generally used for baking, boiling, and frying. They are also commonly used for the production of potato chips.

'Strawberry Paw' potatoes have dark red skin with white flesh, and they are widely renowned for their longevity in storage and their high yield capabilities. In fact, they were the third-highest-yielding potato in Cornell University's 2016 Potato Variety Trial. They can produce an average of 8 to 10 potatoes per pound of seed potatoes. It takes between 90 and 100 days for these potatoes to reach maturity. They can be used for any cooking applications with a strong flavor and smooth texture.

'Umatilla Russet' potatoes are a potato variety every gardener should know about. They are one of the top potato varieties grown in the United States due to their medium to high yields and their cooking value in the form of fries. However, they are used for a wide range of cooking applications, including boiling, baking, frying, and chipping. They reach maturity in 95 to 125 days and are ideal for vertical planters. They have brown skin and white flesh and are widely considered more productive than alternative russet varieties.