How to Plant Potatoes in a Bucket
Requiring little in terms of space, time and resources, the humble potato is well suited to life in containers. Low-maintenance and easy to grow, potatoes can be successfully planted in anything from trash cans to wading pools. A fun project for younger members of the gardening community or for those with limited growing space, planting potatoes in buckets enables gardeners to experiment and try varieties not commonly found in the grocery store. Not only is this an entertaining, educational gardening project; the end result is a small pile of tasty tubers that can be eaten immediately or stored for later use. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Bucket - 5 gallons or larger
- Drill with 1/4-inch bit
- Seed potatoes
- Knife
- Paper towels
- Commercial potting soil
- Mature compost
Instructions
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1
Find a large bucket. If you do not have a bucket that holds at least 5 gallons, purchase one from the local home improvement store or ask for a used one from a nearby restaurant. If the bucket is not new, be sure to clean it thoroughly prior to planting potatoes in it.
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2
Drill holes in the bucket. Use a drill with a ¼-inch bit to create holes along the bottom of the bucket. Place the holes evenly around the perimeter and across the center. Leave approximately 4 inches of space between openings to allow for adequate drainage.
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3
Cut the seed potatoes into pieces with a small knife. Be sure each piece has at least two "eyes." Scatter the cut potatoes across the surface of a paper towel and let them dry for 48 hours prior to planting.
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4
Combine equal measures of commercial potting soil and mature compost and mix until the two are thoroughly blended. Scoop the planting medium into the bucket until it is one-third full.
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5
Place the cut potatoes on top of the potting soil. Arrange them so that they are at least 4 inches from the side of the bucket and 6 inches away from each other. In general, plant one potato for every three gallons of container capacity.
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Cover the potatoes with 2 inches of planting medium, pressing gently on the surface to firm the soil.
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7
Add water until fluid begins to trickle from the bottom of the bucket. Decant the water slowly so as not to disturb the newly planted potatoes. Check the surface of the soil daily and add water as needed to maintain a moist growing environment.
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8
Move the bucket to a warm, sunny location. Visually inspect the potatoes on a regular basis. As the green potato tops grow, add more soil to the bucket, mounding it around the stems while leaving the foliage exposed.
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Harvest the potatoes in late summer or early fall, once all of the foliage has begun to turn yellow. Grab the potato plants firmly near the base and pull, tugging the mature potatoes from the soil. Eat immediately or store in a cool, dark place for up to six months.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
