How To Grow A LOT Of Potatoes In A Bag
If you have a small garden, no garden or maybe just a balcony, you can still garden and grow a lot of potatoes, you just have to grow them in an old bag, like an old dog food bag or even burlap sacks, like the old coffee grounds come in at coffee shops.
Growing potatoes in a bag has several advantages over growing them in the ground:
- Space Efficiency: Growing potatoes in a bag is an efficient use of space. The bags can be placed on a balcony, patio, or any small area where there may not be enough space for a traditional garden bed.
- Mobility: Growing potatoes in a bag allows for mobility, as the bags can be moved around as needed. This is especially useful if the plants need more or less sunlight, or if they need to be protected from harsh weather conditions.
- Soil Quality: When growing potatoes in a bag, you have complete control over the quality of the soil. This means that you can use the ideal soil mix to ensure that the plants have the nutrients they need to thrive.
- Pest Control: Growing potatoes in a bag can also help with pest control. By keeping the plants in a confined space, it is easier to monitor them for pests and diseases. Additionally, the bags can be covered with a protective netting or mesh to keep pests out.
- Harvesting: Harvesting potatoes from a bag is much easier than harvesting them from the ground. Simply tip the bag over and sift through the soil to find the potatoes. This makes it a great option for those who may have mobility issues or difficulty with traditional gardening tasks.
I tried this a few years ago with small “new potatoes” and I actually had great success. With a few modifications you can turn an old bag that would normally be thrown away and turn it into a potato growing sac.
How to do it
Growing potatoes in bags is a convenient and practical way to grow your own fresh produce, even if you have limited space. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to grow potatoes in bags:
Choose your potato variety
The first step in growing potatoes in bags is to choose the right potato variety. Some popular varieties for container gardening include Yukon Gold, Red Pontiac, and Fingerling potatoes.
Important: Choose a variety that is suited for your climate and growing conditions.
Select your bags
You can use a variety of different bags for growing potatoes, including burlap bags, grow bags, or even reusable shopping bags. The important thing is that the bags have drainage holes to allow excess water to drain out.
Prepare your soil mix
Potatoes prefer loose, well-draining soil. Mix together a combination of potting soil, compost, and sand to create a soil mix that will provide the ideal growing conditions for your plants.
Plant your potatoes
Fill your bags with about 4-6 inches of soil mix, then add your seed potatoes. You can either plant whole potatoes or cut them into pieces that each have at least one “eye” or sprout. Space the seed potatoes evenly in the bag, then cover them with another layer of soil mix.
Water and fertilize
Potatoes need consistent moisture to grow well. Water the bags regularly to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged. You can also fertilize the plants with a balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks to provide additional nutrients.
Hill your plants
As your potato plants grow, they will produce new stems and leaves. As soon as the plants are about 6 inches tall, cover them with another layer of soil mix, leaving just a few leaves sticking out. Repeat this process every few weeks until the bag is full, which will help promote the development of more potatoes.
Harvest your potatoes
After about 10-12 weeks, your potatoes will be ready to harvest. When the plants start to yellow and die back, it’s time to start harvesting.
Simply tip the bags over and sift through the soil to find your potatoes. You can either harvest all of the potatoes at once or leave some in the bag to continue growing.
Check out the video below and see if this would work for you
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