Growing Potatoes in Containers

So you want to learn more about growing potatoes in containers. Who can blame you? Growing potatoes in containers is a great way to have fresh potatoes year round, no matter where you live!

There are a few benefits to growing potatoes in pots:

1. The plants are less likely to be harmed by bugs or other pests.

2. The potatoes will grow more quickly, giving you fresh potatoes earlier in the year

3. Because you control all aspects of the environment of the potatoes, you won't have to worry about the potatoes rotting.

Here is how you go about how to grow potatoes in containers:

When growing potatoes in a container, you will want to find a clean garbage can or a container that is similar in size and shape. Plastic is the best material because it doesn't rust. You will want to drill some holes into the bottom of the container. The holes need to be about a half inch in diameter and you will also want to drill a few holes in the side of your container, about a half an inch from your container's bottom. Fill the bottom of the container with about six inches of high quality potting soil that has been mixed with some Osmocote fertilizer (14-14-14 works best). Rhododendron fertilizer also works well. After a couple of months you will want to add some high quality and water soluble fertilizer to the soil every couple of weeks.

Place two potato seed into the soil in your container making sure that the seeds are around five inches apart (if you have a large trash can, you can probably plant three or four potatoes, depending on the size of the container). Cover the seeds with a couple inches of soil, making sure that the seeds are completely covered. Make sure that when you are growing potato in containers that you water them immediately after they are planted.

After you have started growing potatoes in container, start measuring the potato vines. When the vines are about four inches, cover them with an inch thick layer of compost. Do this every time the vines grow four inches. When the vines get very long, tie them to stakes with twine so that they will not fall over. Potatoes will grow all along the vines as soon as the vines have begun to flower as long as the vines are covered in compost.

You can stop thinking about planting potatoes in containers or pot, As soon as they have reached a couple of inches in size and start thinking about eating the potatoes in container. Small, two inch potatoes are called "new potatoes" and go well in soups, stews and are easy to roast. If you want baking potatoes or larger potatoes, simply let the potatoes keep growing! When the potatoes vines start to die back, harvest all of the potatoes that are left and store them to eat throughout the winter. You see? Growing potatoes in containers is easy and convenient!

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