Growing potatoes is easy, especially in containers and even more so in bags. We prefer to use hessian or ‘burlap’ bags as they are biodegradable (no plastic) and generally you can get these bags for free.
Potatoes grown in containers is a very good method if you have limited space, unsuitable soil or you want a no dig solution.
Harvesting potatoes from bags is easy, and planting them is just as easy.
How to grow potatoes in bags.
We use two hessian or burlap bags, one inside the other, just for extra strength.
You can use soil with added compost, coir or a normal potting mix. Any open loamy soil will do.
Bags drain easily and this is great for potatoes.
When and Where to plant Potatoes in Bags
- Choose a sunny position
- Plant the potatoes in late winter to mid spring. The exact time will depend on your climate zone as well as the type of potatoes you are growing.
Step By Step
- Start with around 4 inches (10cm) of soil in the bottom of the bag.
- Place the potatoes around 4 – 6 (10 – 15 cm) inches apart.
- Cover them with 2 inches (5cm) of soil
- Water in just a little.
- Once the potatoes shoot, add some more soil, covering up the lower part of the stem. You can use straw, compost or any weed free material.
- A little low nitrogen liquid fertiliser every 4 weeks can be beneficial.
- Keep adding soil or straw, always with a layer of soil on top of the straw.
- As the plants begin to die back, foliage dies back and goes yellow in late summer to autumn the potatoes are ready to harvest.
- Simply lift the bags off the potatoes as the bottom will usually have rotted to.If not, just split the bag open with a sharp knife.
The old bags can be composted or added to the bottom of next years bags for extra strength.