Growing potatoes in containers like buckets or bags can be a practical solution for those with limited garden space or poor soil quality. Follow these steps to grow potatoes in containers:
Select your container: You can use any container that is at least 12 inches deep and wide, such as a bucket, bag, or large container. Ensure it has proper drainage holes at the bottom.
Fill the container: Fill the container with potting soil mixed with compost until it is about 4 inches from the top.
Plant the potatoes: Cut seed potatoes into chunks that have at least 2 eyes each. Plant them about 4 inches deep into the soil, with the eyes facing upwards.
Water regularly: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Be sure to water the container thoroughly once the top inch of soil is dry.
Fertilize: Add a balanced fertilizer to the container once the potato plants are 6 inches tall and then every few weeks thereafter.
Hill the soil: As the potato plants grow, mound soil around the stems to cover the bottom half of the plant. This encourages the growth of more potatoes and prevents them from turning green.
Harvest: When the potato plants start to die back, usually around 2-3 months after planting, it's time to harvest. Simply dump out the container and collect the potatoes.