Potato - Jester (Organic)
This item is a pre-order item and is expected to ship in March for spring planting. Other seeds, supplies, or kits ordered with this product may ship separately. This product only ships to the lower 48 states. No shipping outside the USA.
60-90 Days to maturity. Solanum tuberosum. Organic Jester Seed Potatoes. Non-GMO, open-pollinated, cool-season annual, seed potatoes. A vibrant early-season tuber with purple to red skin featuring yellow “smiley-face” eyes and variegated purple-yellow flesh. Slightly nutty, buttery flavor, great for salads and roasting. Known for rapid dormancy break (short storage life). About 5 whole tubers per pound, may vary.
Growing Non-GMO Organic Jester Seed Potatoes
Encourage sprouting (chitting) by placing tubers in a warm, bright spot with good airflow until sprouts are about 1 inch long. Plant 3-4 inches deep once the soil is workable, spacing tubers 12-15 inches apart in rows 30-36 inches apart. Begin hilling when plants reach about 8 inches tall; mounding helps cover developing tubers and prevent greening.
Fertilize at planting and side-dress mid-season. Water deeply and consistently until vine dieback. Rotate crops and avoid planting Jester in the same spot for 3-4 years, as it’s sensitive to soil-borne scab organisms.
Jester in the Vegetable Garden
A standout early-season potato with striking color and flavor, great in raised beds and containers when hilled properly. Its eye-catching appearance makes it a garden conversation piece and a fresh “new potato” favorite.
Harvesting Jester Seed Potatoes
For “new” potatoes, dig gently around the flowering stage. For the main harvest, wait until foliage yellows and dies back, then leave tubers in the ground for 2-3 weeks to set skins. Lift carefully, brush off soil, and store in a cool (~45 F), humid (90-95%) environment. Jester sprouts quickly and doesn’t store well long-term, so plan to eat or sell quickly.
About Jester Seed Potatoes
Jester, bred by the James Hutton Institute in the UK (introduced ~2014), is an early-season, open-pollinated potato with striking purple-red skin and yellow flesh. Its distinctive “smiley-face” eye coloration and vibrant variegated flesh make it a gardener and cook's favorite. Jester yielded highly in OSU trials and is notable for its short dormancy and eye-catching appearance. It has moderate resistance to common scab, but is best used fresh due to limited storage life.
Stories From Our Gardeners
"Jester stole the show in my spring garden, beautiful tubers that taste as good as they look in potato salad!"
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- Jerry Sawyer, True Leaf Market Writer |
Jester Seed Potatoes Packages
- 2 Lb Bag
- 5 Lb Bag
- 10 Lb Bag
Certified Organic Jester Seed Potatoes are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Solanum tuberosum |
| Jester Seed Potatoes Color: | Purple-red skin with yellow around the eyes, variegated purple-yellow flesh |
| Jester Seed Potatoes Flavor: | Buttery, slightly nutty, ideal for summer potato salad and roasting |
Growing Info
| Hardiness Zone: | Annual in zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
| Days to Maturity: | 60-90 |
| Planting Depth: | 3-4 inches; hill up as vines grow |
| Plant Spacing: | 12-15 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 30-36 inches |
| Plant Height: | 24-36 inches |
| Growth Habit: | Upright bushy vines |
| Soil Preference: | Loose, well-drained, fertile soil; neutral to slightly acidic |
| Temperature Preference: | 60-65 F |
| Light Preference: | Full Sun |
Other
| Plant Width/Spread: | 18-24 inches |
| Pests and Diseases: | Sensitive to common scab; monitor for late blight and manage with crop rotation and clean seed. |
| Harvest Time: | Late Summer to Fall |
| Easy/Hard: | Easy |
| Direct Sow: | Yes, direct sow. |
| Start Indoors: | No. |
| Landscape Use: | Background, mass planting |
| Tolerance: | Some deer resistance |