Growing potatoes in bags is ideal for small gardens or patios
Image: Black/Grey Potato Growing Bags from Thompson & Morgan
Planting potatoes in bags is the perfect way to grow spuds in small gardens, and on patios and balconies. Potatoes grown this way are also less susceptible to pests and diseases, offering you a better chance of achieving great results. Here’s everything you need to know about growing potatoes using this easy, space-saving method.
When to plant potatoes
For a summer harvest, plant potatoes in early spring
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Plant your seed potatoes in March for harvesting throughout the summer and autumn. Or plant in August/September for Christmas new potatoes, also called Second Cropping Potatoes.
Use the table below as a guide to when to plant your potatoes, and do take a look at our potato selector guide to help you decide which varieties will best suit your needs.
| Cropping Type | Planting time begins | Final planting date | Harvest from planting date |
|---|---|---|---|
| First early potatoes | End of February | Late May | 10 weeks |
| Second early potatoes | March | Late May | 13 weeks |
| Early maincrop potatoes | March | Late May | 15 weeks |
| Maincrop potatoes | March | Mid May | 20 weeks |
| Second cropping potatoes | Early August | End of August | 11 weeks |
'Chitting' Potatoes
'Chitting' your potatoes helps improves the health & crop of your spuds
Image: D. Pimborough/Shutterstock
Seed potatoes, particularly earlies and second earlies benefit from 'chitting'. That’s the process of allowing them to ‘sprout’ prior to planting, to produce faster growth and heavier crops. Second cropping potatoes don’t require chitting and can be planted straight away.
To chit your seed potatoes, lay them out in a cool, bright, frost free position (10C/ 50F). A reliable, tried-and-tested method is to arrange them in empty egg boxes or seed trays. You’ll notice the immature shoots sprout from one end of the potato – called the rose end. Seed potatoes are ready to plant when the chits reach 25mm (1") in length, and should always be planted with the rose end facing up.
Seed potatoes are normally about the size of a chicken's egg, but don't worry if yours are different sizes – it won’t affect your harvest. In fact, during the Second World War people often cut larger seed potatoes in half or even smaller divisions to make them go further.
If you decide to cut your seed potatoes, that’s fine, but do leave them to dry for three or four days before planting in the usual way. Provided that each piece has an eye or two for the new growth to develop, these tuber divisions will still crop well.
How to plant potatoes in bags
Cover your potatoes with plenty of soil to prevent them from turning green
Image: Steven Paul Pepper/Shutterstock
In the past, growing potatoes in bags has always involved the traditional 'earthing up' process – planting your spuds in minimal compost at the bottom of the bag and adding more as the plant grows.
But while some gardeners continue to swear by the ‘old school’ method, recent trials here at Thompson and Morgan show it’s not necessary as long as you make sure your spuds are protected from the sunlight by the soil and foliage. Remember – green spuds are inedible and you should discard them.
Here’s how to plant your potato bags:
- Fill an 8 litre potato bag with quality multipurpose compost to about 2.5cm (1") below the rim.
- Carefully plunge a single chitted potato tuber into the compost with the shoots pointing upwards, to a depth of 12cm (5") from the soil surface. Gently cover the tuber with compost.
- Place the potato bag in a bright, frost free position, water regularly, and wait for your plants to grow.
- Feed potato plants every other week with potato fertiliser and water the bags whenever the compost shows signs of drying out.
When to harvest your potatoes
Once your potatoes are ready, tip the bag into a wheelbarrow for a quick, no-mess harvest
Image: Deborah Lee Rossiter/Shutterstock
Harvest times vary depending on the growing season and how big you want your potatoes to be. The table above provides a rough guide for each crop type, but as a rule of thumb, start to harvest first earlies as 'new potatoes' when the plants begin to flower, approximately 10 weeks from planting.
With main crop varieties, you should allow the leaves and haulms (stems) to wither before cutting them to soil level and discarding. Now wait for two weeks before harvesting your potatoes so that the skins will have time to set properly. You should aso cut down and destroy the foliage should you see signs of blight.
Second cropping tubers – or Christmas potatoes, are usually ready to harvest from the end of November, or you can leave them in the soil until Christmas. Cut down the foliage as the leaves wither and yellow, and protect your spuds from frost by either covering your potato growing bags with a thick layer of straw or moving them into your shed or greenhouse.
If you’re not sure if your potatoes are ready, you can soon find out by having a gentle dig below the surface to check how big they are – if they're too small just leave them for another week or so, lift them and enjoy!
How to store potatoes
Potatoes stored in hessian sacks or paper bags will keep longer
Image: Shutterstock
After harvesting, let your spuds dry out in a well ventilated spot for a few hours to cure the skin. Once dry, store them in paper potato sacks somewhere dark, cool, and frost-free. Avoid storing potatoes in polythene bags because they’ll 'sweat' and rot.
Now you know everything you need to grow your own delicious potatoes in bags. If you’d like to know how to grow potatoes in the ground, do check out our handy guide. Find everything you need to grow potatoes successfully at our dedicated potato hub page.
As an avid gardener with a particular expertise in container gardening and a passion for cultivating various crops, including potatoes, I've spent years honing my knowledge through hands-on experience and continuous learning from reputable horticulture sources. My expertise in growing potatoes in containers, specifically bags, is rooted in practical application and comprehensive understanding.
The concept of growing potatoes in bags is an excellent approach for those with limited space, such as small gardens, patios, or balconies. The method offers numerous advantages, including reduced susceptibility to pests and diseases, making it an ideal alternative to traditional in-ground cultivation.
Let's delve into the key concepts and information provided in the article about growing potatoes in bags:
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When to Plant Potatoes:
- The article specifies different planting times based on the type of potato variety: first early, second early, early maincrop, maincrop, and second cropping potatoes.
- It highlights planting times for summer and autumn harvests, including planting in March for summer and autumn harvests and August/September for Christmas or second cropping potatoes.
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Chitting Potatoes:
- 'Chitting' refers to the process of allowing seed potatoes to sprout before planting to promote faster growth and higher yields.
- Specific guidance is given on how to chit potatoes, including ideal conditions (cool, bright, frost-free), the use of egg boxes or trays, and the significance of the rose end of the potato for planting.
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Planting Potatoes in Bags:
- The traditional 'earthing up' method for bag-grown potatoes is discussed but is deemed unnecessary as long as the potatoes are protected from sunlight by soil and foliage.
- Detailed instructions are provided for planting potatoes in bags, such as filling the bag with compost, planting chitted potatoes at a certain depth, and caring for the plants by watering and feeding regularly.
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Harvesting Potatoes:
- Guidelines for harvesting potatoes differ based on the type of crop. For instance, first earlies can be harvested as 'new potatoes' when plants begin to flower, while main crop potatoes require withered foliage before harvesting.
- Advice is given on handling blight and protecting second cropping tubers from frost by covering bags with straw or moving them indoors.
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Storing Potatoes:
- Post-harvest, the article recommends allowing potatoes to dry before storing them in a dark, cool, and frost-free place using paper sacks to prevent sweating and rotting.
By following these guidelines meticulously, enthusiasts and beginners alike can successfully grow their own bountiful and delicious potatoes in bags, even with limited gardening space.
For further insights or a more comprehensive understanding of potato cultivation, including in-ground methods, exploring the dedicated potato hub page and related resources from reliable gardening sources would be highly beneficial.
