10 Best Potatoes To Grow In Containers: A Complete Guide
Potatoes are one of the most commonly consumed vegetables in the world. That's why more and more people are growing their own potatoes these days.
And, if you do not have a big garden or yard for potato farming, don't worry! Growing potatoes in containers is a great alternative solution.
This complete guide contains all the details you need to know to grow potatoes in containers successfully.
Why grow potatoes in containers?
There are many reasons to grow potatoes in containers, which include:
- Space-saving: containers can be placed anywhere, including a balcony, patio, or backyard.
- Pest and disease control: You can keep your container away from pests and diseases, and monitor them easily.
- Yield: Container-grown potatoes have been known to yield more potatoes per square inch than those grown in the ground.
- Convenience: It's convenient to grow potatoes in containers because you don't need to weed or till the soil.
What are the benefits of growing container potatoes?
Growing potatoes in containers offers several benefits such as:
- Easy Maintenance: Since materials like compost, perlite, vermiculite, and other additives will improve soil conditions and quality in containers, your plants will need less watering and maintenance overall. They will also produce crops faster and with less effort.
- Controlled Environment: Container gardening helps you to create the perfect environment for your plants. You can adjust soil, sunlight, temperature and humidity levels to suit your plant's needs.
- Extended Harvest Window: Since container gardening allows you to move or protect plants from weather, pests or disease, you’re likely to have vegetables for a longer period of time compared to when plants are grown in open fields.
Top 10 Best Potatoes To Grow In Containers
Here are the top 10 potatoes perfect for growing in containers:
Red Pontiac
Yukon Gold
Russet Burbank
Russian Banana Fingerling
German Butterball
Kennebec
Purple Majesty
LaRatte Fingerling
All Blue
Bintje
When selecting potatoes, remember to select those that can grow well in a container's limited space.
How to grow potatoes in containers?
Growing potatoes in containers is not so different from growing them in open fields. Here are the steps you can follow:
Choosing the right container
When choosing a container, size matters. You need enough space for new potato growers to grow and expand.
A 5-gallon container should be sufficient for most people. However, you could use larger ones if your containers' dimensions provide enough soil to meet the plant's needs adequately.
Preparing the soil mix
Good soil preparation is critical to growing healthy potatoes in containers. The soil should be well-draining, light, and loose.
Here is a soil mix that performs well: (per 5-gallon container)
- 1/3 compost or manure
- 1/3 peat moss or coconut coir
- 1/3 Vermiculite, Perlite or sand
- A tablespoon of bone meal
- A tablespoon of blood meal
Mix everything well.
Planting the potatoes
It's best to start with sprouted seed potatoes. Place two or three seed potatoes on top of the soil mixture and cover them with about 2 inches of soil.
Once they begin growing, keep the soil moist but not overly soaked.
Once your plants have started growing well and have reached about 10 - 12 inches tall, it’s time to "hill" them. That means adding more soil to the potato container, burying the lower stems, and leaving a few inches of green leaves poking out.
Watering and fertilizing
Regular watering and feeding will help your potato plants grow healthily.
Water the plants deeply every three to four days to ensure that the soil stays moist, but don't overdo it. Overwatering could result in root rot.
Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer twice during the growing season. It would help if you also misted or foliar fed the plants to increase yields.
Controlling pests and diseases
Potatoes in containers are generally less susceptible to pests and diseases. However, it doesn't mean they are entirely safe.
Ensure you keep an eye on your container's plants regularly so you can detect any early signs of bugs or diseases.
Harvesting the potatoes
The time it takes for the potatoes to grow and mature varies depending on the variety.
Once the plants begin to flower, wait a couple of weeks before starting to harvest them. Carefully upturn each entire plant to excavate new potatoes.
Conclusion
Growing potatoes in containers is an enjoyable way to have fresh potatoes from the comfort of your home, even with limited space for gardening. By choosing the right seed potato varieties, preparing good soil mix, and following the correct planting rules, anyone can enjoy growing this vegetable in containers.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding growing potatoes in containers:
What size container do I need for growing potatoes?
A 5-gallon container is best for most small-toned potatoes. You can go up to a 10-gallon if more than four seed potatoes are planned for one bucket.
Do I need to sprout potatoes before planting them in containers?
It's not necessary, but it can help you get a faster start on growth.
Can I reuse the soil mix from last year’s potato containers?
Yes, as long as there were no significant pest or disease problems last season. The addition of fresh compost and organic material may be needed, supported by vermiculite, perlite, or sand.
How often should I water my container potatoes?
Roughly every three days. Keep the soil moist, but do not overwater.
What kind of fertilizers should I use when growing container potatoes?
Most balanced NPK commercial formulations will work fine.
How do I know when my container potatoes are ready to harvest?
Potatoes take around 70-100 days until they're ready to harvest. Once the potato plant stops developing, wait two weeks and then carefully dig around the roots for fresh growth.
Can I use store-bought potatoes to grow container potatoes?
No, fresh seed potatoes are required, whether from a reliable online supplier or local nursery.
Are potato containers expensive to set up?
Not really. Standard plastic buckets or grow bags can be used as containers. Compost, soil and fertilizer can be bought inexpensively at garden centers.
What kind of pests and diseases should I watch out for when growing container potatoes?
Watch out for aphids, spider mites, Colorado potato beetles, hornworms, and flea beetles which could damage your crops.
How long do potatoes take to grow in containers?
Potatoes will be ready to harvest around three months after planting.
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