Comments on: Potato Project: Growing Potatoes in a Container

By: Planting in Tight Spaces with Smart Pots | North Coast Gardening

Planting in Tight Spaces with Smart Pots | North Coast Gardening — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 03:51:14 +0000

[...] (Kerry Michaels from About.com grows her potatoes in them – see the video here. Fern also has a step-by-step guide to growing potatoes in Smart Pots.) [...]

By: Growing Potatoes in a Pot | bay dirt

Growing Potatoes in a Pot | bay dirt — Thu, 12 May 2011 16:05:00 +0000

[...] 8: I haven’t gotten to this step yet. But instructions from Life on the Balcony say that the plants will keep growing and after a couple months the stems and leaves will turn [...]

By: melanie watts

melanie watts — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:00:27 +0000

what great ideas. I think I might try growing some of my potatoes in big pots this year.

By: Sara

Sara — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:08:33 +0000

Last year I grew potatoes in 3 plastic garbage cans. I planted Yukon Golds and Red Pontiacs. I got 60 lbs at harvest time and that didn’t count all the new potatoes I dug out early. One thing I didn’t see you mention is that potatoes are considered “cool season” crops. They don’t like to get too hot and this can be a problem in a container as I found out when I tried plant another batch in August. I didn’t move my cans into the shade and the seed potatoes cooked in the cans. I re-planted in October and now my Yukon Golds have flower buds. Hopefully, on Wednesday I will be able to harvest some new potatoes, which is one of the advantages of growing in a container. You can carefully dig out new potatoes once the plant starts blooming (but some, like Yukon Golds don’t so this isn’t always a good indicator) just be sure not to damage the stems or knock off any pea-sized potatoes. There will be plenty of big potatoes at the bottom of your containers at harvest time. Mine were the size of softballs. This year I got wheels for my cans so I can move them into the shade if it gets too hot. Also, its a good idea to have your container off of the ground for drainage. Good luck with your potatoes. Mine were the sweetest I’d ever tasted.

Sara in Silicon Valley

By: Fern

Fern — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:13:43 +0000

Shari–That will produce a plant…but no sweet potatoes!

By: Fern

Fern — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:12:48 +0000

Adriana–Maybe I could trade some Smart Pots for the seed potato?

By: Adriana @ Anarchy in the Garden

Adriana @ Anarchy in the Garden — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:13:06 +0000

Yes yes yes! I have potato tubers for you. Those Smart Pots look awesome. I’ve been curious to try.

I still want to try the trash can method. I wonder if you could grow potatoes in Woolly Pockets? Can’t wait to see your results!

By: Kathryn/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com

Kathryn/plantwhateverbringsyoujoy.com — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:08:32 +0000

Hi, thanks for directions. Handy. I have a cousin in Ohio who told me they used to grow potatoes in old half wine barrels so at the end of the season they could just dump it over and out they would come. I like the idea of having them contained. Thanks again.

By: Crafty Gardener

Crafty Gardener — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:47:24 +0000

I grew potatoes in bushel baskets last year as a first time experiment and they did really well. I plan to use lots more baskets this year.

By: Genevieve

Genevieve — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:15:39 +0000

Shari, potatoes may be cheap at the grocery store but you can’t even compare the taste of fresh homegrown ones to supermarket ones. I actually grow potatoes in a pot too because they’re easier to harvest in a container.