How to Grow Potatoes in Containers

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If you are looking for an easier way to garden, this article on how to grow potatoes in containers is the perfect solution. You might be surprised to know that almost any plant you usually see in a backyard garden will do almost as well in a container. And containers mean you can grow your entire garden right outside your back door.

Gardening 101 is all about making a backyard garden easy, especially when all you need is a container and some great healthy soil.

A few years ago, I relocated my garden closer to my home. One of the things they don’t tell you as you get older is that your back and legs don’t want to do all the things they once did when you were in your 30s. Who knew?

To help my aching body a bit, I moved my entire gardening operation to right outside my kitchen door. Yes, all of it.

My tomatoes, peppers, peas, zucchini, and garden veggies are now all growing in pots on my patio or they are growing in straw bales mixed among my flower beds. The one thing I had not tried yet was growing potatoes in containers.

Until now.

Container gardens are quickly gaining popularity, and for good reason, this way of gardening gives another great and helpful option for people who don’t have a lot of space yet still want a hearty crop of homegrown vegetables.

You can grow more than you might realize in very little space allowing you to set up a mini garden almost anywhere. If you live in the city, you can grow potatoes right outside on your balcony. Not a fan of tearing up your suburban yard? Put a container of delicious potatoes on your back deck or right in your flower beds.

Luckily for us, potatoes are not picky as to where you plant them and grow quite nicely in various containers. Now, before heading out to the store to go potato container shopping (try saying that three times real fast), look at what you have first. If you look around your home and property, you will find a few perfect options. Trash cans, washtubs, buckets, and plastic totes work as a DIY potato container garden.

Not only are Potatoes delicious, but they are also rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They help control blood sugar, reduce your risk of heart disease, and boost your immunity. 

What Are the Benefits of Growing Potatoes in Containers?

1. You can place your DIY potato containers just about anywhere you have space. On your porch, tucked into a flowerbed, off the back end of your garage or carport. Start it out in one area and move it if you need to later on. 

2. Containers make harvesting potatoes easy, and you’ll have less chance of damaging the tubers with gardening tools. Instead of digging, you can dump out the pot and remove your harvest with little fuss. 

3. The soil is less likely to be contaminated since you’ll be using good organic potting soil. You won’t have to worry about soil-borne diseases or pests that may still be around from the previous year’s crop.

4. No need to worry about rodents because the containers protect the potatoes from common pests like moles, gophers, and chipmunks simply because they can’t tunnel through the ground and eat your tubers. The containers also protect from other pests like grubs and wireworms.

How Many Potato Plants Do I Need?

You may be thinking, “How many potatoes do I really need to grow?” And I instantly want to reply, “How many potatoes do you need?” With so many dishes just waiting to be created, I say as many as you have room for. Potatoes are so versatile that they make meal planning simple and inexpensive. The options are endless, from baked potatoes to roasted potatoes, homemade French fries and chips to soup, stews, and potato salad.

If you are looking for a more specific answer, it will depend on how many people you’re feeding and how often you plan to put potatoes on the menu. On average, you’ll need 10 potato plants per person if you want a potato-based meal served up to 2-3 times per week. If you plan to eat potatoes less often or have people in your household who eat smaller portions, you can scale down from there.

SLCG PRO TIP: Now is the time to break out that garden planner! Keep track of what you grow and how much each plant yields. You will also want to make notes on whether you had enough produce to last your family and, if not, any suggestions on how to do better the following year. When you have a garden, notes are the key to always improving from year to year.

More Container Gardening Resources:

• How to Grow a Back Porch Garden
• Container Gardening Supply List
• How to Grow Herbs in Containers

How Deep of a Potato Container Do I Need?

When choosing your container, you will want one at least 18 inches deep. One of the biggest issues when growing in containers is crowding. If there is not enough room, and you will have very small potatoes at harvest time. To ensure a large harvest, always lean towards more room than you feel you will need. 

What Kind of Containers Can I Use?

There is no rule of thumb here, and that is great news. This will allow you to use up some of the items lying around your property. Remember that whatever containers you choose, needs to be deep enough and somewhat wide and have plenty of drainage at the bottom.

SLCG PRO TIP: If you choose a container without any drainage, you can easily add your own. Either use a drill to make holes or a hammer and nail.

Since potatoes grow underground, they’ll need plenty of depth to do so. they also need to have a bit of space width-wise. Aim for 12 inches and more if you are able. Be sure to use the space you have in the best way. For example, a round container can hold about 3-4 plants when planted in a triangular or square pattern.

Good options for containers include:

• Large trash cans
• Buckets 
• Grow Bags – 15 gallon
• Wash tubs
• Plastic totes
• Straw bales
• Deep planter boxes
• Burlap bags or old feed bags
• Any barrel that you have lying around.
• Grow bags
• Fabric pots

Best Potatoes to Grow in Containers

Early potato varieties are best for containers because they mature quickly and produce their entire crop at one time. In most cases, they mature within 65-80 days, allowing you to harvest in about 6-7 weeks from the time you planted.

Early potato varieties include Dark Red Norland, Irish Cobbler, Chieftain, Sangre, Red Gold, and Yukon Gold.

Fingerling potatoes are also a good option for containers. Fingerlings are small potatoes, about 2-4 inches long, and narrow, oblong-shaped. They come in a variety of colors, including red, purple, orange, and white. They have a mild, earthy and nutty flavor with a firm but moist texture.

A few varieties of fingerlings include Banana, French Fingerling, Pinto, AmaRosa, and Rose Finn Apple.

How to Grow Potatoes in Containers

When you’re ready to start your DIY potato container garden, here are some tips that help you grow a plentiful harvest.

1. Know what kind of potato you want to grow. If you’re not sure, you can find a wide variety at most grocery stores. Try a few to see what you might like. Once you’ve decided on a variety, you’ll need to purchase a few potatoes for planting. These are called seed potatoes and can be purchased at most farm and garden stores or feed mills. 

For the best planting, allow the potatoes to grow a few eyes, then cut them into pieces, with each piece containing at least two eyes. Wait for the cut sides to harden and grow thick by leaving them to sit out for a few days before planting.

2. Use a lightweight soil mix. Potting soil mixes made specifically for containers will work well. If you decide to mix your own, your mixture should contain 1/3 good-quality compost, 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss, and 1/3 vermiculite or perlite.

If you’re purchasing soil, make sure it’s fast-draining, especially if your container of choice is plastic.

3. Add fertilizer. Mix in organic, slow-release fertilizer to provide plenty of nutrients for your potatoes. You’ll also want to consider adding a diluted liquid fertilizer, like fish emulsion, every couple of weeks.

SLCG PRO TIP: Organic fertilizer is much more forgiving, which is helpful if you add too much. Conventional fertilizer can burn your plants if you add more than you need, so keep this in mind when you are choosing what option works best for you.

4. Position your seed potatoes for proper growth. Fill your container with about 4-6 inches of soil that has been mixed with compost and fertilizer. Place the seed potatoes in the soil with eye buds facing up. Give them plenty of room to grow and breathe by spacing them a few inches apart.

For instance, a 20-inch round container should hold no more than 4 small seed potatoes. To utilize the space of your container most efficiently, plant your potatoes in a triangular shape. 

5. After properly placing your seed potatoes, cover them with a couple of inches of prepared potting soil. Be sure to only use about 1-4 inches of soil. Too much, and you will affect the growth of your potatoes. Note: If you live in a cooler climate, use only 1-2 inches of soil to cover. 

6. Water your potatoes well. Potato plants grown above the ground require more water than plants grown in the ground. Since the soil in the containers isn’t insulated as well as the ground, any water will evaporate more quickly. If you do not have enough water, your potatoes will stop growing, especially if they get dry and overheated.

SLCG PRO TIP: Potatoes that are grown in containers need plenty of water, which can leach the nutrients out of the soil. For that reason, it is important to ensure you are keeping your soil healthy and fertilized.

To know how much and how often to water, stick your finger into the soil. If the top two inches of the soil feels dry, you need to water. Water until it begins to drain out of the bottom holes of your container. This will ensure that water has had the chance to reach the roots in the bottom.

7. Keep your potatoes in full sun. Potatoes need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight every day to flourish, but it is important to know they don’t like the heat. If there is too much heat, your plants may stop growing. What is too much heat? Any temperatures above 80°. If you live in warmer temperatures, you will want to place your containers in an area that receives morning sun with partial shade in the afternoon. This is one of the biggest benefits of growing in containers. You can easily move plants around to get the very best of the weather. 

8. Keep the tubers covered. If potatoes are exposed in any way to direct sunlight during growth, they’ll develop green skin. The green areas are toxic and need to be trimmed away before eating. To avoid this, always make sure your potatoes are well covered with soil or add a layer of mulch to prevent the sunlight from doing any damage. 

SLCG PRO TIP: Each time you water, do a soil inspection to confirm that everything is covered and protected. You can have a small can of extra soil with a shovel nearby that you can access if you see things are getting a bit thin.

How to Care for Your DIY Potato Container Garden

Watering Potatoes

Water and sunlight are the two most important things your potatoes will need. Make sure your containers are in an area that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. The nice thing about container gardening is that you can move your containers if need be to follow the sun or if you need to protect them from too much heat. 

After planting, make sure your potatoes receive plenty of water. The soil should be moist but not wet. Too much water can cause rot, so be sure your containers have plenty of drainage to prevent overwatering issues. Water the containers with a good garden nozzle set to shower. Water your potatoes until you see water draining out of the container’s drainage holes. This will ensure that the water reaches the root system.

Remember, to test if your potatoes need watering, stick your finger into the soil. The top two inches should be moist. If they’re not, it’s time to water. Check your containers daily for moisture, especially if the temperatures are very hot, as you may need to water more than once a day.

Hilling Potatoes

Once your potatoes start to grow and reach about 6 inches, you’ll need to “hill” them. This means adding a few inches of prepared soil around the plant. To do so properly, aim to cover the bottom of the growing stem being careful not to break the stem in the process. Your goal is to bury about a third of the plant, covering the lower leaves. The buried stem will produce more potatoes, giving you a bigger harvest.

Continue the hilling process while the plants grow or until the soil reaches the top of your container. Since potato plants grow quickly, keep an eye on them and do this as much as necessary.

Potato Issues

You’ll want to watch out for disease and pests, but luckily they are less prevalent in plants grown in containers. Insects, including the Colorado Potato Beetle and the Flea Beetle are common, as are Wireworms. When inspecting for pests, look for larvae and eggs planted on the leaves of your plant.

Mulching Potatoes

Mulching your containers can help to reduce pests and diseases as well as keep the soil moist and cool. Add 2-3 layers of mulch to the top layer of soil when planting. You can use dried leaves, cut grass, straw, or other healthy matter. As the plants grow and you need to hill them, you can add the soil directly over the top of the mulch.

SLCG PRO TIP: Since the mulch will become part of the soil, it is always best that you use healthy, disease-free, and organic. The nutrients from the mulch will affect the potatoes so when in doubt, go organic.

How to Harvest Potatoes in Containers

You can harvest your potatoes anytime after the plants that are above the soil have flowered.

There are two very simple methods for harvesting your potatoes. For the first, you’ll need some garden gloves and a small trowel. Carefully reach down into the soil and remove a few potatoes at a time. This is the best method if you still have potato plants in the container that are in the growth process.

If it’s late in the season, the plants will turn yellow and start to die back. This means that any potatoes left in the container are ready for harvesting.

At this point, you can simply dump the container over on a tarp or in a wheelbarrow and start digging around for any potatoes. You may even find a few small potatoes. Don’t throw these away; they can be delicious and sweet, perfect for a soup or stew.

You should discard any potatoes with a large majority of green skin, though. They contain a bitter chemical known as solanine which is mildly toxic and can cause digestive issues. If just a portion of the potato is green, you can cut that part away prior to cooking and use the rest of the potato.

Storing Potatoes

Potatoes can be stored quite easily in a root cellar for later use. Simply brush off the dirt and let them dry for a day or two, then store them in baskets or paper bags to allow for ventilation and keep them in a cool, dry place. Storing this way, you can expect your potatoes to last up to 2 months. 

If you do not have a root cellar, as mentioned above, you can also store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Wrap them in plastic or in a storage bag to keep them firm and fresh. Just make sure they’re dry before putting them in the fridge.

If you plan to store your container potatoes over the winter, do not wash them. Instead, brush off the excess soil and let the potatoes dry indoors, out of the sun. This is known as curing. You will also want to be sure you choose larger potatoes as these tend to store better. Pack your potatoes in boxes that have plenty of holes for airflow.

You can use recycled paper to pack the potatoes in single layers so they are not touching each other. Keep the boxes in a cool, dry, and dark place. You are looking for 45-50F and 80-90% humidity. When stored this way, most potatoes can last up to 8 months. 

SLCG PRO TIP: When storing over winter, you will want to check your potatoes routinely to ensure they are in good shape. One spoiled potato can quickly turn the others. To avoid this, check your supply and remove any that are questionable. Never eat a potato that is in bad or spoiled condition.

Growing potatoes in containers is a great way to feed your family and spend some time gardening, even if you are short on room. With so many ways to use potatoes in dishes and so many options for containers to grow them in, it’s the perfect vegetable for beginner gardeners.

Remember the final rule of thumb. Choose a container with good drainage, find a sunny spot that is not too hot, fill it with good-quality organic soil, and get gardening with your family. Get ready to create some fun family members in the soil this growing season! 

More Gardening Resources:

• Cleaning up the Garden Fall Checklist
• Use Chickens to Heal Your Garden 
• How to Compost in Your Own Backyard 

Find this article over at the Homestead blog Hop!