How to Plant Potatoes in a Bag

Bag potatoes

Many people love home grown potatoes, but not everyone has the the room to grow their own. Whether you live in the city, or are simply lacking in space, there is a simple way to grow a batch of your own potatoes. All you need is a sunny spot on a porch or balcony, some good soil and a plastic garbage bag.

Things You'll Need

• Two 30 gallon garbage bags
• Potting soil
• Peat moss
• Potatoes that have sprouted
• Paper towels
• Hay, straw or mulch

Instructions

1. 

   Cut the sprouted potatoes, leaving an eye (or a sprout) in each piece. Place the cut pieces of potatoes on a paper towel on a counter and allow them to dry for 48 hours.

2. Place a 30 gallon garbage bag down where you will be leaving the planted bag of potatoes. If you will be leaving your potatoes on the ground, this is not necessary as the ground will provide natural drainage. However, if your potato bag will be on a deck or patio, you will want something underneath the bag to protect the deck or patio from water drainage.

3. Place the bag you will be planting the potatoes in on top of the other bag. Fill the bottom of this bag with at least 6 inches of potting soil. For good quality, light soil, make 1/3 of this amount peat moss.

4. Place the potato sprouts 2 to 3 inches down into the soil, with the sprouts pointed up. Use no more than four sprouts per bag. Roll the sides of the bag down so they are an inch above the soil.

5. Poke a few holes in the bottom sides of the bag for drainage, and water well. Make sure that your bag is getting several hours of sun per day.

6. Wait for the sprouts to be 6 inches high, and then roll up the sides of the bag and add more soil until the sprouts are almost covered, leaving only the top leaves visible. Keep watered well.

7. Continue to add soil as the plant grows as you did in Step 6. When you have reached the top of the bag, cover the top of the soil with hay or mulch and let the plant continue to mature.

8. Wait for the leaves to turn brown, and when they have, discontinue watering. Wait two weeks after the last watering, and harvest the potatoes by cutting the bottom of the bag and pulling them from the soil and plant.

9. 

   Clean the dirt off the potatoes, and allow them to air dry in a shady area. Do not wash them until you are ready to eat them.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't skimp on trash bags, but use heavy duty ones so they will withstand weatherization and heavy growth. Potatoes can also be grown in large planters or garbage cans using the same method above.

• Do not over water your potatoes, as too much water that doesn't drain well can cause mold growth.

References

• Do It Yourself Network
• Organic Gardener for more about growing bag or bin potatoes

Resources

• Health benefits and types of potatoes