Potatoes thrive in loose, deep soil, making them ideal candidates for container plants.

Choosing a potato container

Just about any container will work for potatoes, from plastic and metal trash bins to fabric grow bags and wooden crates. Even old tires will work by stacking them as the plants grow.

We bought a couple of the collapsible bags advertised specifically for growing potatoes, parsnips, and beets, but have since realized that these are not necessary—pretty much any container that is a few feet deep will work.

The container should have drainage holes. If it doesn’t, make some drainage holes with the appropriate drill bit.

Growing Potatoes in a Container

Starting potatoes in a container is easy and can begin as early as two weeks before the last frost date for your zone.

To get a jump-start on the growing process, place seed potatoes or pieces of potatoes with at least two eyes in a dark spot until a couple of the eyes sprout. If you cut the potatoes into pieces, allow them to dry for a couple of days before planting.

Add six inches of well-draining compost in the bottom of the container, then place the seed potatoes or pieces of potatoes on top of the compost with the eyes pointing upwards. Cover with another couple of inches of compost and water well. For a twelve-inch container, use a maximum of three seed potatoes, increasing the number planted by one for every additional two inches of container size. Don’t forget to feed!

Care Instructions for Container Potatoes

Watering is the most difficult part of growing potatoes in containers.

They must never dry out, but they can’t remain soggy either. This will take daily attention, maybe even twice a day depending on the temperature and how porous your container is, so place your containers near your water source for easy access (as long as they are in full sun).

Continue adding compost to cover the potatoes and foliage as the plants grow. Leave an inch of foliage sticking out the top each time until soil depth reaches about two feet. New potatoes may be harvested after the plant finishes flowering by reaching into the container and fishing around. Or just wait until the top of the plant dies back and tip the whole container over for an easy harvest. Remember, green potatoes are poisonous and should always be avoided.