Growing potatoes in containers is a highly rewarding process that allows you to enjoy delicious and colorful potatoes right at home. Whether you have limited space or rocky, poor soil, container gardening is an excellent solution to cultivate these versatile root vegetables. Here’s everything you need to know about growing potatoes in containers.
Why Grow Potatoes in Containers?
There are several reasons why growing potatoes in containers is a great idea. Let’s explore some of the top reasons:
Taste Better
Homegrown potatoes have a unique flavor and texture that surpasses store-bought ones. By growing potatoes in containers, you can experience the joy of cooking with fresh and tasty spuds. It’s not only a fun activity for you but also an exciting experience for the kids.
More Compact
Unlike traditional garden planting, growing potatoes in containers saves space. Instead of needing generous spacing and soil for hilling, which can occupy a large portion of your garden, container-grown potatoes grow vertically. With the right conditions, they will produce bumper crops relative to the size of the container.
More Variety
Containers offer the opportunity to experiment with different heirloom and colored potatoes. You can grow a variety of fingerlings in one container and late-season keepers in another. Harvesting container-grown potatoes is easier and more exciting than digging them from the ground.
Decorative Touch
Growing potatoes in pots can also add a decorative touch to your patio or landscape. Potatoes produce attractive flowers before the growing season ends, and pots spilling with sweet potato vines are particularly appealing.
Different Mediums
The same techniques used for growing potatoes in the ground also apply to container gardening. You can use various mediums like coir, perlite, and compost to create a simple and tidy growing environment. Whether it’s chicken wire containers, wooden bins, or even recycled buckets, the possibilities are endless.
What to Look for in a Container for Growing Potatoes?
When selecting a container for growing potatoes, consider these factors:
Size
Choose a container that is at least 14 inches wide at the bottom. The container should be deep enough to accommodate the growing process, allowing for hilling as the season progresses. Ensure there is enough space for the potatoes to grow without crowding, as this can result in smaller harvests.
Depth
Potatoes can be planted closer together in containers than in the ground. A container with a 14-inch diameter at the bottom provides ample room for three starts. However, it’s best to choose a container that is at least 15 inches deep to allow for proper soil and hilling.
Drainage
Good drainage is crucial for container gardening. Ensure your container has drainage holes, or if it doesn’t, create a layer of stones and gravel at the bottom to facilitate drainage. Avoid saturating the soil, as potatoes prefer moist but not overly damp conditions.
Space
Consider the weight of the container when filled with soil, as it can become quite heavy. Find a suitable place for your container before filling it or consider using heavy-duty rolling plant stands. Remember that potatoes thrive in full sun, so place the container accordingly.
Other Types of Containers for Growing Potatoes
In addition to garden pots, here are some other containers you can use to grow potatoes:
Grow Bags
Grow bags are an excellent choice for growing potatoes. Opt for larger bags to provide sufficient space for the potatoes to grow and build up the soil. Burlap bags are a popular option as they allow for proper drainage and airflow.
Chicken Fence
The chicken fence potato tower is a productive and straightforward method of growing potatoes, especially when using straw. You can easily construct potato-growing bins using repurposed wooden palettes or outdoor shades made from bamboo or reeds.
Standing Compost Containers
Standing compost containers, such as the GEOBIN, make excellent containers for growing potatoes. Some commercial wooden potato planters feature doors near the bottom for easy harvesting.
Buckets and Bins
Potatoes have been successfully grown in various containers, from five-gallon buckets to plastic laundry bins. Wooden bushel barrels also work well. Get creative and use containers that suit your space and imagination.
Steel Cans
Galvanized steel cans and containers are gaining popularity among patio gardeners. However, it’s essential to consider the safety of using galvanized containers, as there are differing opinions about their suitability for food crops.
Stacks of Old Tires
Growing potatoes in stacks of old tires is a sustainable option that repurposes tires. However, keep in mind that there are concerns about potential contamination and the release of harmful chemicals from tires.
What’s the Best Soil for Growing Potatoes in Containers?
Potatoes in containers require rich, well-drained loamy soil. A mix of potting soil, compost, and sand (about 20% of the total mixture) creates an ideal growing medium. Add a handful of well-balanced organic fertilizer while preparing the soil-compost mix to provide essential nutrients.
Avoid using garden soil, as it tends to compact easily. Well-finished compost is the preferred choice. It’s crucial to maintain the acidity of the soil around 5.0 to prevent potato scab. Adding elemental sulfur or acid-raising supplements can help achieve the desired pH level.
Once potatoes are planted in the container, they can be covered with more soil, compost, or straw. Ensure that straw is tightly packed to prevent quick drying. Coir, peat, and perlite are alternative growing mediums that work well for container gardening.
Which Varieties for Growing Potatoes in Containers?
For container gardening, choose smaller varieties of potatoes. Fingerling, gem, and red potatoes are excellent options. Large potatoes like russets may not have enough room to grow to full size in a pot, resulting in lower yields.
Early and mid-season potato varieties are better suited for container growing. Early varieties mature quickly, typically in 65-80 days, allowing you to harvest new potatoes in 6-7 weeks. Some recommended early potato varieties include Chieftain, Dark Red Norland, Irish Cobbler, Sangre, Red Gold, and Yukon Gold.
Fingerling potato varieties can also thrive in containers. They have a mild, nutty flavor and a firm, moist texture. Popular fingerling potato varieties include AmaRosa, Banana, French Fingerling, Pinto, and Rose Finn Apple.
When selecting potato varieties, choose cultivars known to do well in your area. Avoid using grocery store potatoes, as they are often treated with tuber inhibitors and may not yield a good crop.
How to Plant and Care for Potatoes in Containers
Here’s a step-by-step guide to planting and caring for potatoes in containers:
Location
Choose a sunny location for your container before planting. Potatoes need at least six hours of full sun per day. Place the seed potato eyes near a sunny window for a day or two to encourage sprouting. Cut the seed potatoes into golf ball-sized pieces with at least two eyes for planting.
Light
Plant the potatoes in the container one to two weeks before the average last frost date. Space them 10 to 12 inches apart and four to five inches from the container’s sides, on a bed of two inches of soil. Wait until the first vines appear before watering but ensure the soil bed is moist.
Water
Potatoes grown in containers require careful monitoring of moisture levels. Keep the soil consistently moist but not overly damp. Containers dry out more quickly than garden soil, so regular watering is necessary. Aim for at least an inch of water per week, or 1 1/2 inches for maximum production.
Fertilizer
During watering, introduce a liquid fertilizer to provide essential nutrients. You can also use foliar sprays or seaweed extract during the growing period to promote healthy tuber growth.
Hilling
When the vines reach around ten inches in length and start to trail, it’s time to hill the potatoes. Gently tuck soil or compost around the stems, leaving only the top leaves visible. Repeat hilling as the plants continue to grow, ensuring to keep some leaves above the soil.
How to Harvest Potatoes Grown in Containers
Harvesting container-grown potatoes is a simple and enjoyable process. Here’s what you need to do:
When the potatoes are ready for harvest, tip the container over, and the potatoes will spill out. If you’re growing potatoes on a deck or patio, use a tarp to make cleanup easier. Towers filled with straw or other growing medium can be lifted off, or the potatoes can be dug out as needed.
The plants will produce attractive flowers before the vines start to die off, signaling that the potatoes are ready to harvest. You can also harvest some potatoes early for a delightful treat. However, avoid eating potatoes with a greenish tint, as it indicates a high solanine content that can be bitter and upset the stomach.
Stop watering when the vines begin to yellow and wither. For storage potatoes, allow the vines to die back completely before harvesting. Dry the harvested potatoes for a day or two before storage.
Bonus Tips & Tricks for Growing Potatoes in Containers
- Plant early-harvest potatoes in containers starting in March or April to enjoy fingerlings and baby potatoes in July.
- Wondering if container growing is as productive as ground growing? Check out the head-to-head contest conducted by the University of California Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco.
- Remember to choose potato varieties that are suitable for your area and purchase from reputable nurseries or local growers.
- Avoid using grocery store potatoes as they may be treated with tuber inhibitors and carry diseases that can spread to your garden.
Now that you have all the essential information, it’s time to start your potato-growing adventure! Enjoy the process and savor the delicious rewards of your container-grown spuds. Happy gardening!
