How To Grow Potatoes In Containers

Growing potatoes in a container is a great way to produce your own home grown potatoes. Obviously, potatoes are mostly grown in the ground but if you are in a smaller space growing in containers can be just as effective. Growing potatoes in containers can also make for a much easier harvest when it comes time to do so.

Here are some simple steps to follow for success:

1. Choose a container: You can use any large container with good drainage holes, such as plastic or ceramic pots. The optimal size is roughly 16 inches deep and 16 inches wide, but many other sizes will work too.

2. Prepare the Soil: Use a well-draining soil mix with plenty of organic matter. Compost or aged manure to improve the soil fertility and organic content levels. Some people even use mixtures of hay or straw with their dirt to grow potatoes.

3. Plant the Potatoes: You can cut your seed potatoes into small pieces making sure that each piece has at least one "eye" (the small indentation where new growth will emerge). Plant the pieces about 6 inches deep, with the eye facing up. The number of potatoes will depend on your containers, make sure each plant has roughly a 10x10-inch area to grow.

4. Water and fertilize: Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, watering the container when the top inch of soil feels dry. Fertilize the potatoes every 2-3 weeks with a balanced fertilizer or apply homemade compost to the top.

5. Add more soil: As the plants grow, they will start to emerge from reaches the top of the container. You want to make sure that there are no potatoes exposed to the surface as this can cause them to produce slightly toxic compounds.

6. Harvest: Potatoes are ready to harvest when the foliage starts to die back. One of the benefits of growing in containers is that harvesting the potatoes in containers is as easy as dumping out the containers and sifting through the dirt. Try to avoid damaging the potatoes as this can cause them to go bad quicker.

By following these simple steps, you can easily grow potatoes in a container ad enjoy the delicious taste of fresh, homegrown potatoes.