Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is La Ratte Fingerling Potato (Solanum tuberosum 'La Ratte')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called La Ratte potato, French fingerling potato, asparges potato.

More about la ratte fingerling potato

About La Ratte Fingerling Potato

Solanum tuberosum 'La Ratte' · also called La Ratte potato, French fingerling potato · edible

'La Ratte' is a classic French fingerling with small, knobbly, elongated tubers, yellow waxy flesh and a distinctive nutty, chestnut-like flavour. A chef's favourite for steaming, salads and warm sides, it holds shape when cooked. This maincrop variety is planted from seed tubers in spring and lifted in late summer once the haulm dies back.

Cold limit: USDA Warm-season annual; plant after last frost in zones 3-10 · RHS H2 (15-20°C)

What la ratte fingerling potato's hardiness rating actually means

Hardiness works differently for la ratte fingerling potato: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". Its RHS rating of H2 means: Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot. On the US scale that maps to USDA Warm-season annual; plant after last frost in zones 3-10 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

Concretely, for la ratte fingerling potato as it gets too cold:

Light frost (around 0 to −2 °C) damages or kills tender summer crops outright; cold-hardy types take a few degrees of frost.
The plant does not "survive winter" — its life cycle simply ends, by design, when frost arrives or it finishes cropping.
A surprise late spring frost can also kill young transplants set out too early, before the season even starts.

Can la ratte fingerling potato go outside or overwinter — and where?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost.
In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window.
Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when la ratte fingerling potato can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H2 figure above.

Frost protection for borderline la ratte fingerling potato

La Ratte Fingerling Potato is right on a hardiness edge in many gardens, so if you are pushing it, these measures buy it the margin it needs:

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks.
Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost.
Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.

La Ratte Fingerling Potato hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is la ratte fingerling potato cold hardy?

Hardiness works differently for la ratte fingerling potato: it is grown as a seasonal crop, not overwintered. The question is not "what zone" but "how long is your frost-free growing window". A seasonal crop, not a perennial. La Ratte Fingerling Potato is grown Warm-season annual; plant after last frost in zones 3-10; you sow after the last frost and harvest before the first one, then start again next year.

What is the minimum temperature la ratte fingerling potato can survive?

As an annual crop, its "minimum temperature" is the first hard frost — that is the end of the plant's life, not a survivable low. Many types are also damaged by light frost (around 0 °C).

What hardiness zone is la ratte fingerling potato?

La Ratte Fingerling Potato is rated USDA Warm-season annual; plant after last frost in zones 3-10 and RHS H2 — Tender — survives a frost-free greenhouse or a very mild, sheltered spot.

Can la ratte fingerling potato survive winter outside?

Time it to your frost dates: sow or plant out after the last spring frost, and aim to harvest before the first autumn frost. In short-season zones, start it indoors or under cover to stretch the effective growing window. Hardier crops in this group can be sown for an autumn or overwintered harvest in mild zones — check the specific crop.

How do I protect la ratte fingerling potato from frost?

Use fleece, cloches or a cold frame at each end of the season to dodge a borderline frost and add growing weeks. Have row cover ready for an unexpected late spring or early autumn frost. Know your local last- and first-frost dates and count back the crop’s days-to-maturity to schedule the sowing.