Grow an abundance of potatoes easily in a potato planter.
Potatoes can be planted in a variety of planters from bags to upright wooden bins. The key to successful potato plants and high yields of healthy potatoes lies in choosing certified seed potatoes and in using the right kind of soil.
Instructions
1. Buy from a reputable seller. The variety of potato depends on what you are looking for in a potato. They vary in color from red to white to yellow to blue and they vary in texture and flavor as well.
2. Choose the type of container you will use to plant your potatoes. It should be deep and allow water and air to flow through. Canvas and burlap bags work well for this, and there are vinyl woven bags on the market that are made especially for growing potatoes. A variety of bins is also available to home gardeners, and many gardeners have been successful growing potatoes in expandable wooden bins by adding planks around the sides of the planter to add height as the potatoes grow.
3. Fill the bottom of the container with 8 to 12 inches of rich potting soil. Do not compact the soil, but spread it around gently with your hands to level off the soil.
4. Add 2 inches of composted materials in the bag and gently spread along the surface of the soil to distribute.
5. Cut your potatoes with a paring knife if they are larger than 2 inches. Each piece should be about 1 1/2 inches square and must include at least one eye. Cut them larger, if necessary, to be sure that there is an eye in each piece.
6. Place the seed potatoes on the dirt approximately 6 inches apart. As a rule of thumb, if you are using a bag, position them like the dots on the number five side of a game die; with one in the middle and one at least 3 inches from each corner. If your container is wider than 2 feet by 2 feet, you will be able to fit more in, just keep the spacing at about 6 inches apart.
7. Cover the potatoes with 2 more inches of compost, then cover with 4 to 6 more inches of potting soil or peat moss. This last covering can also be done with 4 to 6 inches of straw, if desired.
8. Water as needed to keep the soil moist without being saturated. Periodically add a layer of soil as the potatoes grow out of the soil. Ideally you should cover one-third of the new plant growth every week or two to encourage potato tubers.
9. Harvest after the vines have flowered and died off. Simply dump the container gently out and collect the potatoes out of the dirt.
Tags: seed potatoes, about inches, certified seed, certified , growing potatoes