I grew potatoes in my pants, t-shirts, pillowcases, trash bags, and even my husband’s shorts! But when the “spuds split our duds,” I knew things had to get stricter!
That’s when I gave it another shot using a burlap coffee sack. I had so much fun that I ordered a whole pallet of used coffee bags and brought them to school to play with.
Then opened up a farmers market booth to sell gourmet potato grow kits. I was on a roll!
I was seriously having fun! Potatoes grow well in recycled coffee sacks, grow bags, pots and raised beds.
I learned a few things about growing potatoes the hard way. One important thing is to pile up the soil to keep the potatoes out of the sun.
The best containers for potatoes are tall, hence the stacking tire method that many folks use. But tires, just no. I think we’re past that.
Growing potatoes in burlap sacks is an ingenious gardening hack for small space gardeners. The vertical nature of a sack allows you to easily mound soil over the developing plant, forcing tubers to form along the stem. Burlap breathes better than plastic, improving drainage while the durable fabric holds the weight of hilled soil without collapsing.
Potatoes thrive when grown this way, and the novel technique adds visual interest to patios balconies and compact gardens. Read on for tips on selecting, preparing, and planting potatoes in burlap sacks or bags for a bountiful, space-saving harvest.
Why Use Burlap Sacks for Potatoes?
Traditionally potatoes are grown by hilling up soil over the plants as they grow or in containers where soil is added in stages. Burlap sacks make this process easy by allowing vertical expansion. Other advantages include
- The breathable fabric improves drainage and airflow compared to solid containers.
- Sacks can be rolled down incrementally to make room for hilling soil over the potatoes.
- Potatoes grow well in the flexible, forgiving environment inside a sack.
- The natural look of burlap fits into garden beds and patio containers.
- Coffee bean sacks repurpose an eco-friendly agricultural byproduct.
Almost any tubular fabric container with decent drainage can work, but burlap is ideal for its durability, soil retention, and aesthetic appeal.
Selecting Seed Potatoes for Burlap Bags
Choose certified disease-free seed potatoes from a garden center or online supplier. Organic grocery store potatoes can also work if sprouting. Look for varieties suited for your climate. Some top options include:
- Russets – Large, brown-skinned potatoes great for baking. Good keepers. Grow well in sacks.
- Yukon Gold – Smooth, yellow potatoes with creamy texture. An excellent all-purpose choice.
- Red Potatoes – Small, round red potatoes that hold their shape when cooked. Very sack-friendly.
- Fingerlings – Cute, small finger-shaped potatoes in red, purple or yellow. Fun for burlap grow bags.
Buy intact tubers or specially cut “seed potato” sections. Each piece should have at least one sturdy eye. Store in a dark, cool spot until planting.
Preparing and Planting Potatoes in Burlap Sacks
A bit of prep and planning will ensure your burlap potato planting goes smoothly:
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Pick a sunny spot with at least 6 hours of direct light daily. Morning sun is ideal.
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Prepare the soil. Potatoes thrive in loose, fertile soil amended with compost. Moisture-retentive but well-draining.
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Allow room for hilling. Leave a 1-2 foot perimeter around sacks for mounding up soil as plants grow.
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Start sacks short. Roll down the top to around 6-10 inches high to begin. This prevents soil from spilling out when hilling up later.
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Plant sprouted potatoes or pre-sprout 2-3 weeks before planting. Space 3-5 tubers per sack. Bury 2 inches deep with the sprout end up.
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Water thoroughly after planting and keep soil consistently moist. Add a layer of mulch to retain moisture.
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Move sacks 2-3 times a week for even sunlight exposure. Rotate rather than dragging to avoid stem damage.
With attentive care during the growing season, your potato-filled burlap bags will reward you with an abundant harvest!
Caring for Potatoes Growing in Burlap Sacks
Proper care while potatoes are growing is vital for a successful burlap sack harvest:
Watering
Potatoes require consistent moisture for healthy development. Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry. Thoroughly soak the sack at soil level rather than overhead. Add mulch to prevent evaporation and keep soil evenly moist.
Sunlight
Ensure potato plants get full sun. Turn or rotate sacks every 2-3 days so all sides get adequate light exposure. Morning sun is ideal.
Hilling Up
Once plants are 8-12 inches tall, add 3-5 more inches of soil, compost or straw to the sack, burying lower stem and leaves. Continue mounding every 1-2 weeks, unrolling sack as needed, until it’s nearly full.
Fertilizer
Applying a balanced liquid fertilizer when hilling up provides nutrients. An organic fish emulsion or compost tea feeds plants and boosts harvests.
Pest Control
Check underneath leaves for common pests like aphids, potato beetles and leafhoppers. Remove bugs by hand or use insecticidal soap if infestations occur.
With attentive care and hilling throughout their growth, your potato plants will thrive inside burlap sacks!
Harvesting Potatoes from Burlap Bags
Potatoes take 80-100 days to reach maturity. Harvest time has arrived when:
- Plants start dying back and yellowing.
- Stems wither and fall over.
- Flowers have faded.
To harvest:
- Gently dump out sack onto a tarp to avoid losing potatoes.
- Remove potatoes with a trowel, shaking off excess soil.
- Discard any potato pieces or damaged tubers.
- Place intact potatoes in a cardboard box to cure for 1-2 weeks in a dark, well-ventilated spot.
- Store cured potatoes long-term in a cool, humid location like a basement.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor! Homegrown potatoes from burlap sacks make fresh boiled, mashed, fried or baked spuds a true delight.
Troubleshooting Potatoes in Burlap Sacks
Overall, potatoes thrive with the vertical hilling environment inside burlap sacks. But occasionally issues can arise:
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Poor drainage causes rotting tubers. Amend heavy soil with perlite or sand for improved drainage before planting.
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Insufficient sunlight results in low yields and undersized potatoes. Turn bags regularly so all sides get sun.
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Nutrient deficiencies show as yellow, stunted plants. Fertilize when hilling up to provide needed nutrients.
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Pests/diseases like beetles, blight or mildew may require treatment with organic solutions. Maintain overall plant health and act promptly if problems occur.
With attentive care focused on prevention, your potato crop can flourish in burlap sacks!
Ideas and Inspiration for Growing Potatoes in Burlap
Beyond standard sacks, there are creative ways to use burlap bags to grow potatoes on a small scale:
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Stack two sacks together for extra hilling capacity and larger yields.
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Use colorful art print sacks for added visual appeal.
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Line wire cylinders or mesh towers with burlap to contain hilled soil.
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Grow different potato varieties in separate sacks for a sampler harvest.
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Add sack potatoes to ornamental garden beds or edible landscapes.
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Match sack shape to your space – columnar, rounded, half-moon, etc.
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Mix in flowers at the top once hilled for extra color.
With the right care techniques, burlap potato sacks let anyone grow pounds of spuds in limited spaces. Try this simple, sustainable planting method and enjoy an eco-friendly harvest!
Frequently Asked Questions About Burlap Sack Potatoes
What size burlap sack do I need?
Aim for 2-3 feet wide and 3-4 feet tall when starting. This allows vertical expansion by unrolling the bag as you hill soil upward.
How many seed potatoes per burlap sack?
Plant 3-5 tubers in each sack, spaced 8 inches apart with sprouts facing up. More plants = higher yields.
Can I grow sweet potatoes or yams in a burlap sack?
Regular sweet potatoes will grow well in burlap using this same process. True yams require warmer conditions than most sack potatoes.
How often do I water potato-filled burlap sacks?
Check soil moisture 1-2 times a week. Water whenever the first 3-4 inches become dry. Moisten deeply without saturating.
When do I hill or mound soil over the burlap potato plants?
Once plants are 8-12 inches tall, start hilling. Bury lower stems and leaves under 3-5 inches of soil. Repeat every 1-2 weeks.
What’s the maximum height I can hill the soil in a potato-filled burlap sack?
You can keep mounding soil and expanding the sack vertically until it’s about 3/4 full. Just leave the top 6+ inches of plant exposed.
Can I reuse burlap sacks for multiple potato plantings?
With care, sacks often last 2-3 seasons before fibers start breaking down. Avoid dragging sacks when moving to extend longevity.
Growing potatoes in burlap sacks is a fun, productive way for container gardeners to enjoy homegrown spuds! With the right potato variety, preparation, planting, and care, this method reliably produces an abundant harvest. Give it a try in your compact garden or patio this season.