How to Grow Potatoes in a Plastic Bin

Growing potatoes in your backyard garden is easy but takes up a lot of space. You can increase your harvest in less space by going vertical. Plant your spuds in a large plastic bin or trashcan and come harvest time you'll have plenty of fresh, flavorful potatoes for your family -- the grocery store variety can't compare.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large plastic bin or trash can
• drill with 1/2-inch or larger bit
• seed potatoes
• soil

1. Choose a container. I selected a large tub formerly used for storing Christmas decorations. Clean your tub or other container thoroughly. Drill the bottom and sides with numerous holes for drainage and aeration.

2. Prepare your seed potatoes. Purchase seed potatoes from your local garden center, mail order supplier or even grocery store. Early in the spring, my local Kroger's stocked seed potatoes alongside regular potatoes in the produce department. Grocery store potatoes can work, but are often treated with chemicals to retard sprouting - you'll get the best results with seed potatoes. This is also an opportunity to try out different varieties.

3. 
    

   Prepare your potatoes. Cut your seed potatoes into pieces, leaving at least one eye per section. Let air dry for a day or two.

4. 
    

   Plant your potatoes. Fill your container with about 4 inches of soil. Place your seed potatoes into your containers - a few inches apart. Cover with several more inches of soil and water.

5. 
    

   Wait. Lush green plants should pop up in 2 weeks or so depending upon your weather.

6. 
    

   Hill Up. When your plants have grown several inches, add soil (gently so you don't snap the stems) so the leaves are just peeking out.

7. Repeat. As the plants grow, continue adding soil until you reach the top of the container. Potatoes like about an inch of water per week -- don't overwater or they may rot.

8. Harvest. Potatoes take approximately 100 days from planting to harvest. They are ready when the green growth of the plant has died back. It can take several weeks for the vines to totally die, so be patient - the potatoes are still maturing. Once this has occured you're ready to harvest. The beauty of container planting is that you can simply tip the bin to harvest your buried treasure.

9. Store. Depending on the size of your harvest, you may need to store your potatoes to eat later. Properly stored, they can keep up to 3 months. Clean your containers for use next year.

Tips & Warnings

• Burlap bags, perforated trash bags and stacks of old tires can also be used to grow potatoes.

Resources

• Oregon State University Extension Service Hints for Storing Potatoes
• Burpee Seed Potatoes

[mikes197131]

on 8/5/2009 Nice article, I will have to try this, thanks.