Caribou Russet Seed Potato

Caribou Russet Potato is a high-performing maincrop potato variety developed by the University of Maine. Known for its excellent yields, strong plant vigor, and versatility in the kitchen, Caribou Russet has quickly become a favorite among home gardeners and commercial growers alike. This variety produces light russeted skin with white flesh and delivers excellent texture and flavor whether baked, mashed, or fried.

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 Caribou Russet Potatoes?
• High-yielding maincrop variety with vigorous growth
• Classic russet potato ideal for baking, mashing, and fries
• Excellent heat and drought tolerance
• Strong disease resistance and reliable garden performance
• Developed for both commercial production and home gardens

Growing Information
🌱 Potato Type: Maincrop / mid-season
🌱 Skin Color: Light russet with light to medium netting
🌱 Flesh Color: White
🌱 Days to Maturity: 105–115 days
🌱 Ease of Growing: Easy
🌱 Planting Rate: About 6–10 seed pieces per pound (approximately 8–10 feet of row per pound)
🌱 Expected Yield: Approximately 5–15 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 10–12 inches apart in rows spaced 30–36 inches apart.
• Watering: Maintain consistent soil moisture throughout the growing season, especially once tubers begin forming.
• Hilling: As plants grow, mound soil around stems to protect developing potatoes from sunlight and encourage larger yields.
• Disease resistance: This variety shows moderate resistance to common scab, Verticillium wilt, and golden nematode (Ro1).

Harvesting
Caribou Russet potatoes are typically ready to harvest about 105–115 days after planting. Allow vines to die back before harvesting for larger storage potatoes. This variety stores well when properly cured, although tubers have a relatively short dormancy period.

Click here for our Potato Growing Guide

History
Caribou Russet was developed by the University of Maine from a cross between Silverton Russet and Reeves Kingpin. It was bred to combine strong agronomic performance with excellent culinary qualities and has become increasingly popular throughout New England and beyond.

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 and farming 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.