Potatoes can be harvested when young – for new potatoes.
Potatoes are grown from seed pieces, which are cut-up sections of potato tubers or small potatoes.  Seed pieces or small potatoes are planted 4 inches deep and 1 foot apart from early April to mid-May.  There are several cultivars of potatoes that produce small or large potatoes with white, yellow, red/pink, or purple skin or interior flesh.  Potatoes can be harvested when young – for new potatoes.  Or they can be harvested when the plant tops turn brown and die in late July or August. After harvest potatoes should be cured in a warm, well-ventilated environment.  This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin so that they can be stored longer. For more information on growing and curing potatoes, check out Potatoes (link) from ISU Extension and Outreach.