Things You'll Need:
- Several 5-gallon or larger plastic buckets
- Hand or power drill, 1/4-inch or 1/2-inch diameter bit
- Potatoes
- Potting soil
- Shredded newspaper
- Small gravel
- Water
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Step 1
Cut all your potatoes into small pieces with at least one eye.
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Step 2
Drill three 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch diameter drain holes into the bottom of each bucket for drainage.
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Step 3
Cover the bottom of each bucket with small gravel. Add a 2- to 3-inch layer of shredded newspaper. This increases the drainage, which prevents late blight and blackleg, according to "Potato--Diseases, Pests and Problems (Reference 1)." It also prevents pink rot (Reference 2).
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Step 4
Fill bucket halfway with potting soil. Place two or three pieces of potato, cut side down, 3 to 6 inches apart on top of the soil. Turn the pieces so that at least one eye faces the top of the bucket.
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Step 5
Cover potato pieces with an additional 1 to 2 inches of potting soil. Water just enough to moisten the soil without exposing the potato pieces. Cover with additional soil if that happens.
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Step 6
Water every three to seven days as needed. Water should not pool on the surface, and the bucket should not stand in a puddle. Harvest by turning the bucket over and removing the potatoes from the vines when the vines turn yellow.
