The first spring we farmed in New Hampshire, we excitedly planted several beds of potatoes. After that, it was very cold and wet all spring and into summer, which made plants sad and soggy. We were forced to harvest tiny potatoes before they rotted in the ground. Our haul may have been smaller than the amount we purchased in seed potatoes. But alas, the farmer pushes onward!.
It was scary to try again after that year, but with each year of experience, no-till methods, and making the soil more fertile, the pests got less of a problem, the plants did better, and we learned from our mistakes. Eventually, we successfully grew them.
If you are starting a new garden or don’t have much room to grow things, growing potatoes in bags is a fun and easy way to get this beloved comfort food. Let’s dive in.
Growing potatoes in fabric grow bags is an excellent option for gardeners with limited space. The vertical design allows you to efficiently grow a good harvest of potatoes on a patio, balcony, or any small area with sunlight. Planting seed potatoes in grow bags only requires a few special considerations compared to in-ground planting. In this comprehensive guide we will cover everything you need to know about using grow bags for potatoes from purchasing and preparing materials to planting, care, and harvesting.
What Are Potato Grow Bags?
Potato grow bags are soft-sided fabric containers specially designed for growing potatoes. They are made of porous, breathable materials that allow for drainage and airflow to the roots. Grow bags come in a range of sizes from 2-20 gallons. The most common sizes used for potatoes are 10-15 gallons.
Grow bags offer many advantages over traditional in-ground planting:
- Take up less space with vertical design
- Good for poor soil or compacted areas
- Better drainage and aeration for roots
- Easy to move to optimize sunlight
- Reusable for multiple seasons
- Higher yield potential
When selecting grow bags for potatoes, look for durable fabrics with reinforced seams that will last. Breathable polypropylene or landscape fabric works well. Sturdy handles make moving and hilling easier.
Best Potato Varieties for Grow Bags
While all potatoes can work well in grow bags, some varieties are better suited for container growing:
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Yukon Gold – High yielding with buttery flavor. Matures fast in 65-75 days.
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Red Norland – Early season red potatoes Very high yields
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Kennebec – Vigorous plants produce high number of large tubers.
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French Fingerling – Smaller plants with elongated tubers. Fun to watch grow.
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Caribe – Compact plants with round yellow tubers Great container variety
Choose determinate, early-mid season potatoes. Late maturing or indeterminate sprawlers require more space.
How to Plant Seed Potatoes in Grow Bags
Follow these simple steps for planting seed potatoes in grow bags:
1. Purchase Supplies
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Grow bags – 10-15 gallon capacity recommended.
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Seed potatoes – Choose smaller, early season varieties. Allow 2-3 tubers per bag.
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Quality potting mix – Look for mixes formulated for vegetables.
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Granular fertilizer – Slow-release, balanced NPK formula.
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Support cage – Helps stabilize tall foliage.
2. Prepare Grow Bags
Rinse used grow bags and let them air dry. Fill bag 2/3 with moistened potting mix. Mix in granular fertilizer as directed.
3. Cut Seed Potatoes
Cut seed potatoes into chunks 2-3 ounces each. Each piece should have 1-3 robust eyes. Let cuts heal for 1-2 days.
4. Plant Seed Potatoes
Bury pieces 3-4 inches deep and 8-12 inches apart in grow bag. Space towards sides for easy access. Cover with 2-3 more inches of soil.
5. Care for Plants
Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Add more soil as stems grow to “hill” plants. Protect from pests like Colorado potato beetles.
6. Harvest Potatoes
Harvest when foliage turns yellow and dies back. Just reach into bag and remove mature tubers. Cure harvested potatoes before long-term storage.
Steps for Getting Started Growing Potatoes in Bags
If you’re ready to get planting, follow these simple steps:
Select a Grow Bag
Choose a 10-15 gallon potato grow bag for best results. Look for thick, breathable fabric with double stitching for durability. Side windows are useful but not necessary. Sturdy handles will make moving and hilling easier.
You can certainly use other containers like 5 gallon buckets, but the taller, vertical bags are ideal for potatoes.
Pick Your Potato Variety
Select an early or mid-season potato variety suited for containers. Avoid late-season or indeterminate varieties that require lots of space.
Yukon Gold, Red Norland, Kennebec, French Fingerling, and Caribe are excellent choices. Buy certified disease-free seed potatoes if possible.
Prepare Growing Medium
Use a quality potting mix formulated for vegetables, or make your own mix with compost, peat moss, and vermiculite. Mix in a balanced granular fertilizer like 10-10-10 before planting.
Moisten the soil but don’t saturate it. Potato tubers can rot in overly wet soil. Fill bag 2/3 full to start.
Plant Seed Potatoes
Cut seed potatoes into 2-3 inch chunks, making sure there are 1-3 vigorous eyes on each piece. Allow pieces to heal for 1-2 days before planting.
Bury pieces 3-4 inches deep and 8-12 inches apart along the sides of the grow bag. This allows for easy access once they start growing.
Hill Plants as They Grow
As foliage reaches 6-8 inches tall, add more soil mix to cover the lower 2-3 inches of stem. This is called “hilling” and helps develop more tubers along the buried stem.
Keep hilling every 8 inches or so of new growth until you reach the top of the bag. Support tall foliage with cages as needed.
Harvest Your Potatoes
Once foliage starts dying back, discontinue watering. After 1-2 weeks, empty the bag and dig for potatoes. Cure them in a dark, ventilated place for optimal storage.
Grow Bag Care Tips for a Healthy Potato Crop
Caring for potatoes in grow bags is relatively simple, but consistent care is important. Follow these tips:
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Place in full sun – at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. Move to optimize light.
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Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil become dry. Don’t let plants wilt.
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“Hill” plants by gradually adding more soil mix as they grow taller.
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Watch for Colorado potato beetles and hand pick off plants.
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Fertilize mid-season with a balanced liquid fertilizer to support bulking tubers.
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Once flowering begins, really mound soil over developing potatoes near soil surface.
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When foliage starts yellowing and dying back, stop watering and get ready to harvest.
Grow Bag Potato Harvest and Storage Tips
Potatoes take 90-120 days to reach full maturity. Here are some harvest and storage tips:
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Harvest potatoes once foliage has mostly died back and discolored.
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Carefully dump out the grow bag onto a tarp to dig up potatoes. Handle gently to avoid cuts and bruises.
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Rub off excess soil but don’t wash tubers before curing them.
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Cure potatoes 1-2 weeks in a dark, humid location around 60-70°F. This toughens skins.
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Store cured potatoes in paper bags or cardboard boxes in a cool, dry place like a basement.
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Check periodically for any rotting tubers and remove immediately to prevent spreading.
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New potatoes can be harvested early, around 60 days after planting. Enjoy their delicate flavor right away.
Getting a Bountiful Potato Harvest from Grow Bags
Fabric potato grow bags offer a very simple way to grow a bountiful harvest of potatoes in a small space. Well-suited varieties, proper preparation of materials, and consistent plant care throughout the season will ensure success. Just be sure to provide plenty of sun, maintain even soil moisture, and hill plants for optimal results. With just a bit of effort, you’ll soon be harvesting piles of homegrown potatoes from your grow bags!
Frequency of Entities:
potatoes: 22
grow bags: 20
soil: 12
seed potatoes: 11
foliage: 7
tubers: 6
plants: 6
harvest: 5
varieties: 4
hilling: 4
eyes: 3
water: 3
compost: 2
drainage: 2
fabric: 2
roots: 2
container: 2
season: 2
Step 2: Select the Right Spud
Different types of potatoes are best for different culinary uses, so pick one that suits those needs. Here are a few popular types and what they’re commonly and best used for:
- Russets (starchy): baking, mashing, and frying
- When cooked, red potatoes hold up well in potato salad, soups, and stews.
- Yukon gold potatoes have soft, creamy flesh and can be boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted.
- Fingerlings (waxy, tubular, keep their shape): grilling, pan-frying, roasting
- To bring out the color of blue potatoes, use them in dishes that stand out.
Pro tip: If your season is short, look for varieties that mature in 80-100 days.
Step 4: Location, Location, Location!
For best results, put potatoes somewhere that will get at least 6 to 8 hours of sun a day. If that’s not possible, you can put them somewhere with no shade at all. Ensure easy access to water.
Drip irrigation with tubing is going to work best for potatoes. When grow bags are placed in line, you can efficiently set up an irrigation system right across them.
How to Grow Potatoes in Grow Bags
FAQ
How many seed potatoes can I put in a grow bag?
Do seed potatoes need to sprout before planting?
Do grow bags work well for potatoes?
What are the best potatoes to grow in a grow bag?
How do you plant potatoes in a grow bag?
Plant Your Potatoes in the Grow Bag Fold down the top edge of the bag to form a 4″ cuff. Fill the bag with the moistened soil mixture until it’s about 4″ deep. Place the seed potatoes on the soil surface, spaced evenly. Cover with another 3″ of soil. 5. “Hill” Your Potato Plants, Covering with More Soil
How many seed potatoes can you grow in a bag?
Luke says maybe five seed potatoes, depending on the bag size. “We might get around two kilos to three kilos per potato, so they grow quite well. Grab your bag, your soil and your seed potato. Place your seed potato in the bag, with the ‘eye’ facing up. You want your shoots to grow up. Lightly cover your potato seed with soil.
How do you grow a seed potato?
As long as a seed potato piece has one or more “eyes,” it should grow into a new potato plant. Place the seed potato chunks – three to five per bag – on the surface of the soil, spacing them around evenly. Fill with just enough medium to cover the tops of the tubers.
How much soil do you need to plant potatoes in a bag?
Hilling is crucial to allow tubers more space to grow. When planting potatoes in a bag in just four to six inches of soil, they’ll be pretty low down in the bag, giving you lots of space to build up. Once there are about eight inches of foliage above the soil surface, it’s time to hill.