How to Grow Potatoes in Containers: An Easy Guide for Beginners
If you’re like me, you love potatoes. They are a versatile vegetable that can be used in so many different dishes. But sometimes it’s hard to find organic potatoes at a reasonable price. What’s a potato lover to do? Grow your own, of course! In this blog post, I’ll explain how to grow potatoes in containers. This is a great option for beginners, and it’s much easier than growing them in the ground. I’ll also talk about what types of potatoes work best for container gardening, and I’ll give you some tips on how to get the most out of your potato plants!
What kind of potatoes should you grow?
Hopefully, I’ve piqued your interest in growing potatoes in containers. So, let’s talk about what types of potatoes work best. There are two main types of potatoes: waxy and starchy. Waxy potatoes, such as red potatoes, have a lower starch content and are good for boiling and steaming. Starchy potatoes, such as russet potatoes, have a higher starch content and are good for baking and frying. When choosing potatoes for your container garden, it’s best to choose a mix of both types. This will give you the most versatility in the kitchen!
But, of course, grow what you like to eat! If you eat a lot of mashed potatoes, grow more red potatoes. If you prefer baked potatoes, grow russets.
Planting your potatoes
Now that you have an idea of what type of potatoes to choose, let’s talk about how to plant them. Potatoes are usually planted in the spring, after the last frost. If you’re planting in containers, you have more flexibility but potato plants are NOT frost hardy, so if temps drop below freezing and you’ve got green plants above ground, cover them!
Any time you grow in containers, the primary concern is to make sure that the container is big enough to accommodate the roots of the plant. One 5 gallon bucket is perfect for one potato plant. When planting in larger containers, make sure to put the seed potatoes about 12 inches apart. This will give them enough room to grow!
When you first plant a seed potato, you want to have a mix of soil, compost, and sand and/or peat moss because they need well-draining soil. If they lack enough drainage, your potatoes will rot. Start with about 6 inches of mix in the bottom of your container, place your seed potato on top of the mix, then add more mix until the potato is covered.
As the potato plant grows, you will add your soil mix around the stem of the plant so that only the top leaves are exposed. This provides the space for the new potatoes to grow along the stem.
If you are gardening organically, then you will need to be extra vigilant about adding organic matter to the soil since potatoes are a heavy feeder. They also like a lot of nitrogen, so a special fertilizer called manure tea can also be added to the soil prior to or after planting.
Harvest time and beyond
When it comes time to harvest your potatoes, you’ll really appreciate your containers. Simply tip them and let your potatoes spill out. Once you have harvested your potatoes, brush off any dirt and store them in a cool, dark place until you are ready to enjoy them!
When stored properly, potatoes can last several months. If you’re like me, you’ll store them, bake some, mash some, stick some in a stew, and save a few to be your seed potatoes for next year. Your garden can provide so much bounty. I hope you find as much joy in yours as I do in mine.
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