how to grow potatoes in a pot

Whether you’re growing potatoes in a raised bed or in a vegetable garden, you’ll need to plant them with care. Cultivating your own potatoes is a rewarding experience, and learning how to grow potatoes in containers can set you up for success.

Explore the best techniques for planting potatoes, whether in containers or raised beds. With expert tips on potato growing, you’ll be able to harvest a bountiful crop from your own garden. From selecting seed potatoes to mastering organic gardening practices, growing your own produce is both fulfilling and eco-friendly. Whether you’re gardening in a small space or expanding your vegetable patch, there are plenty of ways to grow potatoes that fit your needs.

Types of Potatoes to Grow

Choosing the right potato variety is crucial for success. Here are the main categories:

• First Early Potatoes (Harvest in June-July)
  Perfect for small gardens, these mature quickly and have thin skins. Great for boiling and salads.
  Recommended varieties: ‘Rocket’, ‘Swift’
  Buy seed potatoes on Amazon
• Second Early Potatoes (Harvest July-August)
  Slightly larger than first earlies, excellent for roasting and potato salads.
  Recommended varieties: ‘Charlotte’, ‘Maris Peer’
  Buy second early potatoes on Amazon
• Maincrop Potatoes (Harvest August-October)
  Ideal for winter storage, baking and mashing.
  Recommended varieties: ‘Maris Piper’, ‘King Edward’
  Buy maincrop seed potatoes on Amazon

Essential Potato Growing Supplies

Before you start, make sure you have these essential gardening tools:

• Seed potatoes (never use supermarket potatoes)
• Garden fork for soil preparation
• Grow bags for container growing
• Organic fertilizer for healthy growth
• Garden hose for watering

How to Grow Potatoes at Home

1. Prepare the Soil: Loosen the soil and remove weeds. Dig trenches about 12cm deep and 60cm apart.
2. Planting: In spring, plant seed potatoes 30cm apart in the trench and cover them with soil.
3. Earthing Up: Once shoots grow to about 20cm tall, mound soil around the base of the shoots to protect the developing tubers from light exposure.

Potatoes can also be grown in containers or bags, making them an excellent choice for those without garden space.

When to Plant Potatoes

• First Early Potatoes: Plant by mid-March.
• Second Early Potatoes: Plant two weeks after the first earlies.
• Maincrop Potatoes: Best planted in April.

For warmer climates, consider planting a second batch of maincrop potatoes in late summer for a Christmas harvest.

Chitting Potatoes for Bigger Crops

Chitting encourages stronger, larger potato crops. Allow seed potatoes to sprout shoots by placing them in trays or egg cartons in a cool, light area for about six weeks.

Planting Seed Potatoes

Avoid using regular grocery store potatoes, as they may carry diseases. Instead, purchase certified seed potatoes for reliable growth. Plant them in rich, well-drained soil in an area with plenty of sunlight.

• Earlies and Salad Varieties: Plant 12cm deep and 30cm apart.
• Maincrop Varieties: Plant 12cm deep, 38cm apart, with rows 75cm apart.

Caring for Your Potato Plants

• Watering: Ensure regular watering, especially during dry spells.
• Weeding: Keep the area free from weeds to reduce competition for nutrients.
• Earthing Up: Continue mounding soil around growing shoots to protect tubers and promote healthy growth.

Common Potato Problems and How to Solve Them

• Slugs: These pests can damage potatoes, particularly when grown under black plastic.
• Potato Blight: Caused by fungi, blight can damage crops. Remove infected plants and harvest tubers as soon as possible to minimize loss.

When to Harvest Potatoes

• First Early Potatoes: Harvest when plants are flowering, and the potatoes are the size of a large egg.
• Second Early Potatoes: Harvest in late July or early August, best enjoyed fresh.
• Maincrop Potatoes: Harvest when plants die back, and leaves turn yellow. Be sure to harvest on a dry day to aid storage.

Preparing and Cooking Potatoes

Always wash and scrub potatoes before cooking. Never eat raw potatoes, as green potatoes contain solanine, a harmful chemical. Experiment with different cooking methods like frying, boiling, baking, or mashing to enjoy the variety potatoes offer.

For recipe inspiration, check out our curated collection of delicious potato recipes, including the ultimate roast potatoes.

Storing Potatoes

Home-grown potatoes, especially maincrop varieties, can last for months when stored properly. Store undamaged potatoes in a cool, frost-free area, away from light to prevent them from turning green. Use hessian or brown-paper sacks for the best storage conditions. Regularly check and discard any rotten potatoes.

Buying Potatoes: Expert Tips

• Where to Buy: Garden centers and nurseries often sell seed potatoes, sometimes offering discounts if you’re part of an allotment association.
• Varieties: Choose from first earlies, second earlies, or maincrop potatoes based on when you want to harvest.
• Seed Potatoes: Inspect them for firmness, and avoid those with long roots or moldy patches.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: My potato leaves have brown spots. What should I do?
• Brown spots can be caused by magnesium deficiency or blight. Fix magnesium deficiency with a foliar feed of Epsom salts. Remove infected plants to prevent the disease from spreading.
• Q: My seed potatoes are sprouting and going soft. Is that normal?
• Sprouting is normal and actually encourages better yields. If potatoes are very soft, they may be rotting, so discard them.
• Q: What can I plant after harvesting potatoes?
• A: After potatoes are harvested, you can plant crops like carrots, leeks, and brassicas in the same soil. Brassicas are particularly good for crop rotation after potatoes. If you don’t have ready-to-plant crops, visit your local garden centre for young plants like broccoli, cabbage, kale, or swede. You can also explore more about growing Swiss chard for a great follow-up crop.
• Q: Can I save potatoes for seed next year?
• Yes, but there’s a risk of spreading disease. If you store them properly in a cool, dark place, they should sprout by late winter and be ready to plant in late March.

This guide provides everything you need to grow, prepare, and store potatoes, plus expert tips on buying and troubleshooting. Enjoy your potato-growing experience!

Growing potatoes is a great introduction to gardening, and it pairs wonderfully with other crops. Consider adding a Liriodendron tulipifera tree to your landscape for added beauty and shade. With careful attention and some patience, you’ll enjoy a successful harvest that will keep your pantry stocked for months to come!