Potatoes grown in pots can make gardening more accessible to those with limited space. Harvesting potatoes in a container is easy because all of the tubers are in one location. A potato tower, garbage can, Tupperware bucket, or even a gunnysack or burlap bag can be used to raise potatoes. From planting to harvesting, the process is simple and enjoyable for the entire family.
Early-maturing potatoes are the finest choice for container gardening. Seed potatoes that have been confirmed as disease-free are the best option. In 70 to 90 days, the potatoes should be ready to eat. You can also select a preferred variety from the supermarket.
Keep in mind that certain potatoes take 120 days to mature, so you'll need a long growing season to cultivate them. Although most potatoes are grown in garden soil, they can be grown in any well-drained medium. Make sure to drill multiple drainage holes if you're using a rubber or plastic container.
Burlap bags breathe and drain well, making them great containers. Make sure there's enough area in the container for the spuds to develop and build up the soil. This encourages the growth of additional tubers in layers.
Where to Grow Potatoes in a Container:
The optimal conditions for growing potatoes in containers are full sun with six to eight hours of light and ambient temperatures of roughly 60 F (16 C). You might want to plant potatoes on the deck so that you can get the smallest young potatoes quickly.
Outside the kitchen, grow young potatoes in a pot or in large 5-gallon (19 L.) buckets on the patio.
How to Grow Potatoes in a Container:
After all risk of frost has passed, plant your potatoes. Mix a handful of time-release fertilizer into a free-draining soil mixture. Fill the container with the previously soaked medium to a depth of 4 inches (10 cm). Seed potatoes should be cut into 2-inch (5-cm) portions with multiple eyes.
Small potatoes can be planted directly in the ground. Plant the chunks 5 to 7 inches (12.5 to 18 cm) apart in damp soil and cover with 3 inches (7.5 cm).
Cover container potatoes with more dirt until they reach 7 inches (18 cm) in height, and keep covering the little plants until the bag is full. Potatoes in containers should be kept moist but not waterlogged.
How to Harvest Potatoes in a Container:
Harvest potatoes when the plants have finished flowering and have turned yellow. Before flowering, you can also remove new potatoes. Stop watering once the stems turn yellow and wait a week.
Dig out the potatoes or simply empty the container and look for tubers in the medium. Clean the potatoes and store them for two weeks after cleaning.
