Growing Potatoes in Bags or Containers

P(caps)otatoes are one of the most common and important food sources on the planet, and they contain a wealth of health benefits that make them all the more essential as a staple dietary item for much of the world’s population. If you don't have big space for planting potatoes, or you don't have a garden. You can grow potatoes using bags or containers ad enjoy harvesting a few of your home grown potatoes in summer . Grow bags and containers for potatoes are an excellent solution for patio or small space gardeners.

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Learning how to grow potatoes in a bag or container will provide you a space-saving solution, and it’s a funny family project. The bag lets the plant spread out its roots and as your plants grow, you can still add layers of soil. The reason for layering is the same as hilling. Home gardeners traditionally hill potatoes to encourage them to produce lots of roots and hence lots of tubers. This method takes some space. That's why grow bags and containers for potatoes are an excellent solution for patio or small space gardener. Keep reading as i will guide you step by step how to successfully start growing your own organic potatoes in gags or containers.

There are three main types of potato to grow

First early potatoes: The earliest to grow, can be planted in June and July,  and should be ready to start harvesting from 10 to 12 weeks after planting. They don't store for long time, so they are best eaten fresh.

Second earlies potatoes: Can be planted from March to late May, and will be ready to harvest in around 13 weeks. These varieties hold a firm texture and are all highly delicious. These also don't store for long, so are best eaten fresh. They are ideal for growing in bags or containers.

Maincrop potatoes: These potatoes are sown in mid to late April. They produce bigger potatoes than the first and second early varieties and take longer to mature. Maincrop potatoes can be  harvested from August to October, and can be stored for a few months.

Why growing potatoes in bags or containers?

Almost any vegetable can be grown successfully in containers, and potatoes are no exception!

• Grown in the garden, potatoes require generous spacing and enough much for “hilling” (periodically mounding soil around all but the tops of the potato vines to encourage tuber production). Potatoes planted in bags grow vertically. Hilling is easy and contained inside the bag.
• Avoiding weeding almost entirely.
• Harvesting your potatoes is easier than digging, and there is less chance of damaging the tubers with a digging fork or shovel.
• Growing potatoes in bags or containers can add a decorative touch to patios and landscapes too!

When growing potatoes?

You can plant potatoes about two weeks before the last frost in your region. Ideally between the beginning of April and the middle of May. The temperature outside should be at least 10°C, preferably 15°C, and at night, and no lower than 5°C.

How to grow potatoes in bags or containers

Potatoes grown in bags or containers are a great investment in space and time that will give you a tasty reward that can be stored for months.

What you Need:

. Seed Potatoes. Avoid using grocery potatoes for growing unless they are organic and have not been sprayed to prevent sprouting.  Always start with “certified seed potatoes” which are disease-free. Good varieties can be found online from HERE!

. Potato Planter Bags . Potatoes can be grown in many different types of bags and containers. Ideally, about 2 to 3 feet tall with a 10- to 15-gallon capacity. Avoid containers taller than this, because it can be hard to water the plants evenly, which can cause potatoes to rot. Whatever you choose, make sure they have good drainage.

. Potting mixes specifically made for containers

. Watering can

Chitting potatoes

After buying your seed potatoes, set them in a cool, dry and bright position to allow them to start sprouting (this process is called chitting). You have to start chitting your potatoes 6 weeks before you plan to plant them.

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Chit your seed potatoes by setting them out in an empty egg cartons in a cool, bright, frost free position (10C/ 50F) to allow them to sprout. 

Seed potatoes, benefit from 'chitting' prior to being planted. This will cause the eyes of the seed potato to start sprouting. The sprouts should be small,  and purple in colour. But if you end up with long, white coloured sprouts, it means there is not enough light, or you are sprouting shop bought potatoes. Once each of your seed potatoes have got 2 or 3 good sized sprouts on them, it’s time to plant them out in soil.

Watch why chitting potatoes and how video

 Preparing the soil for planting

As potatoes are aggressively rooting plants, i found that they will produce the best crop when planted in a light, loose and well-drained soil. But even if the soil conditions and growing seasons are less than perfect and as potatoes are very adaptable the plants will almost always produce a respectable crop.

Multipurpose potting soil is good, but i mix it with my garden soil and some of my own garden-made compost. I also add a couple of handfuls of organic fertilizer, such as well aged chicken manure. Composted chicken manure not only helps to build the health of the soil by adding organic matter and increasing water holding capacity  but it also acts as a fantastic fertilizer adding vital nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to your potato plants. 

 Planting potatoes in bags

• Put the bags in a sheltered spot that gets sun for at least 6 hours.
• Put in the bottom of the pot about 10cm layer of your prepared soil.
• Plant 3 potatoes about 2-3” deep with sprouts facing up.
• Cover with soil and water well.
• Keep plants watered, but not wet. Potatoes need consistent water, you have to keep the soil moist, but not wet. If the soil is too dry, the plants will die and if it’s too wet, the potatoes will rot. The best thing that i like when growing potatoes in bags or containers is that i can visibly see when i have watered deeply enough. Just watch for water to seep out of the container's bottom and you will know that you potatoes have a sufficient amount of water.

• When the leafy shoots are about 6-7” tall, roll the bag up a bit and add couple of inches of prepared soil to cover the growing stems the top few leaves. 

• As the stems grow, repeat this process, and water. 
• Be careful not to break the plants in the process.
• Always keep the soil watered, but not soggy.

Planting potatoes in containers

• Place the container in a sheltered spot that gets sun for at least 6 hours.
• Put in the bottom of the container about 10cm layer of your prepared soil.
• Plant 3 potatoes about 2-3” deep with sprouts facing up.
• Cover them with soil and water well.
• When the shoots have grown to 8cm, cover with 10cm of compost.
• Keep doing this until you have reached the top of the container.
• When the plants start to flower, you know it's time to harvest your potatoes.
• To harvest, simply turn over the container, and let them sift through the soil for delicious rewards.

Potatoes common  problems 

Potatoes are generally hardy and not prone to many diseases, especially when planted in pots away from other plants. But there are still a few issues that might come. Always check for any yellowing leaves or any damage on the plant and cut out the affected parts!

.Potato blackleg
Potato blackleg is a common bacterial disease which causes black rotting at the stem base. Initial infections cause stunted growth and yellowing stems. If tubers form, the flesh may be grey or brown and rotten.
Remove and destroy infected plants. Rotate crops. Buy resistant varieties such as Charlotte, Pixie and Saxon.

. Potato rot
Potato tuber rots are a frequent cause of losses prior to, or after, lifting. Significant problems often follow a wet growing season, particularly if the tubers are then lifted from wet soil.
Use good quality, resistant certified seed tubers when planting and harvest when the soil is neither wet nor very hard and dry. Store in cool, dry conditions.

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. Potato Scab
Common Scab leaves corky lesions on the skins of potatoes and limits their storage potential. Whilst this disease does not affect the taste and can easily be peeled off, it does make potatoes less visually appealing. It is caused by a bacteria that is often present in manures and is exacerbated in limy and sandy soils, and under dry conditions.
Common Scab on potatoes is best controlled by improving poor soil conditions with the addition of organic matter and by keeping potato crops well watered throughout the growing season. Use any infected tubers first and do not store them.

. Slugs
Slugs cause damage to both the foliage and to the developing potato tubers. Damage is fairly obvious as the culprits are easily identified by the silvery slime trails that are left around the plant foliage and on the soil surface.
There are a multitude of ways to kill slugs and snails including homemade remedies such as beer traps.

How to care for potatoes in containers

The only real disadvantage to containers gardening is you have to be more vigilant about regular watering, as container soil dries out faster than the ground. So it's important to keep your soil moist but not waterlogged. If you check the soil moisture regularly and water deeply, you should have an abundant potato harvest.

Potatoes are heavy feeders, so they need plenty of nutrients throughout their growing season. Fertilize every two weeks with a high-phosphorus vegetable fertilizer to support vigorous tuber growth.

Harvesting potatoes

Potatoes mature in about 70 or 100 days. When the leaves will yellow and the foliage will die back, you know the potatoes are ready to harvest.

Storing potatoes 

Homegrown new potatoes are a luxury and should be used the same day that they are dug. But i you want to store. Set the potatoes out in a dry, well ventilated position for a few hours to dry and cure the skin. Once dry store them in paper or hessian potato sacks in a dark, cool and frost free place. Avoid storing in polythene bags as potatoes will rot.

Warning!

Never eat  green potatoes. Green potatoes contain a chemical called solanine, which they develop  when potato skin is exposed to light. It can cause severe stomach upsets.(alert-warning)

Watch how to grow potatoes in bags or pots video

There's nothing like the taste of fresh, home-grown organic potatoes and they're so easy to grow in bags or containers.  So, why not try and grow these resourceful vegetables? All you need is a sunny space to grow, a steady supply of water, some plastic bags or containers and seed potatoes!

 Enjoy the Rewards of Growing Your Own Organic Potatoes!

🛒 Buy potato tubes for planting 🛒

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