How to Grow Organic Potatoes in a Bag

Potatoes are one of the most common and important food sources on the planet, and they contain a wealth of health benefits that make them all the more essential as a staple dietary item for much of the world’s population. These health benefits include their ability to improve digestion, reduce cholesterol levels, boost heart health, protect from polyps, prevent cancer, and manage diabetes. They strengthen the immune system, reduce signs of aging, protect the skin, increase circulation, reduce blood pressure, maintain fluid balance, reduce insomnia, and aid in eye care.

There's nothing like the taste of fresh, home-grown potatoes, and they're so easy to grow. They're also packed with nutrients, a great source of vitamin C, B6, and Potassium to name just a few.  So, why not try and grow these resourceful vegetables? All you need is a sunny space to grow, a steady supply of water, some plastic bags or containers and seed potatoes!
Potatoes are a great investment in space and time that will give every gardener a tasty reward that can be stored for months.

If you don't have big space for planting potatoes, or you don't have a garden. However, everyone can enjoy harvesting a few of their homegrown potatoes in summer using plastic bags, containers, or you purchase Potato Planter Bags from HERE!

It is very important to start with “certified seed potatoes” which are disease-free. Good varieties can be found online from HERE!

. How to Grow Potatoes.

. Chitting Potatoes.

After buying your seed potatoes, set them in a cool, dry and bright position to allow them to start sprouting (this process is called chitting). You have to start chitting your potatoes 6 weeks before you plan to plant them.

Chit your seed potatoes by setting them out in an empty egg cartons in a cool, bright, frost free position (10C/ 50F) to allow them to sprout. 

Seed potatoes, benefit from 'chitting' prior to being planted. This will cause the eyes of the seed potato to start sprouting. The sprouts should be small, and purple in colour. But if you end up with long, white coloured sprouts, it means there is not enough light, or you are sprouting shop bought potatoes. Once each of your seed potatoes have got 2 or 3 good-sized sprouts on them, it’s time to plant them out in soil.

Watch Why Chitting Potatoes and How Video

. Preparing The Soil for Planting.

As potatoes are aggressively rooting plants, I found that they will produce the best crop when planted in a light, loose and well-drained soil. But even if the soil conditions and growing seasons are less than perfect and as potatoes are very adaptable, the plants will almost always produce a respectable crop.

Multipurpose potting soil is good, but I mix it with my garden soil and some of my own garden-made compost. I also add a couple of handfuls of organic fertilizer, such as well aged chicken manure. Composted chicken manure not only helps to build the health of the soil by adding organic matter and increasing water holding capacity, but it also acts as a fantastic fertilizer, adding vital nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to your plants. 

. Planting Potatoes.

Plant potatoes about 2-3” deep with sprouts facing up. Cover with soil and water. Keep plants watered, but not wet. Potatoes need consistent water, you have to keep the soil moist, but not wet. If the soil is too dry, the plants will die and if it’s too wet, the potatoes will rot. The best thing that I like by growing potatoes in container is that I can visibly see when I have watered deeply enough. Just watch for water to seep out of the container's bottom, and you will know that your potatoes have a sufficient amount of water.

When the leafy shoots are about 6-7” tall, roll the trash bag up a bit and add soil mix to cover all but the top few leaves. As the plants grow, repeat this process, keeping the potatoes buried and mulched. keep soil watered, but not soggy.

. Common Potatoes Problems.

. Potato blackleg

Potato blackleg is a common bacterial disease which causes black rotting at the stem base. Initial infections cause stunted growth and yellowing stems. If tubers form, the flesh may be grey or brown and rotten.
Remove and destroy infected plants. Rotate crops. Buy resistant varieties such as Charlotte, Pixie and Saxon.

. Potato rot
Potato tuber rots are a frequent cause of losses prior to, or after, lifting. Significant problems often follow a wet growing season, particularly if the tubers are then lifted from wet soil.
Use good quality, resistant certified seed tubers when planting and harvest when the soil is neither wet nor very hard and dry. Store in cool, dry conditions.

. Potato Scab
Common Scab leaves corky lesions on the skins of potatoes and limits their storage potential. Whilst this disease does not affect the taste and can easily be peeled off, it does make potatoes less visually appealing. It is caused by a bacterium that is often present in manures and is exacerbated in limy and sandy soils, and under dry conditions.
Common Scab on potatoes is best controlled by improving poor soil conditions with the addition of organic matter and by keeping potato crops well watered throughout the growing season. Use any infected tubers first and do not store them.

. Slugs
Slugs cause damage to both the foliage and to the developing potato tubers. Damage is fairly obvious, as the culprits are easily identified by the silvery slime trails that are left around the plant foliage and on the soil surface.
There are a multitude of ways to kill slugs and snails, including homemade remedies such as beer traps.

. Harvesting Potatoes.

Potatoes mature in about 70 or 100-plus days. When the leaves will yellow and the foliage will die back, the potatoes are ready to harvest. 

Homegrown new potatoes are a luxury and should be used the same day that they are dug.

 Start to harvest first Earlie's as 'new potatoes' when the plants begin to flower, approximately 10 weeks from planting. Tubers will generally become larger the longer their growing period. Main crop varieties are usually left for at least two weeks after the leaves and stems have withered, to allow the skins to set. Cut down the stems with secateurs to just above soil level as the leaves wither and yellow, or if they show signs of blight. 

. Storing Potatoes.

Set the potatoes out in a dry, well ventilated position for a few hours to dry and cure the skin. Once dry, store them in paper or hessian potato sacks in a dark, cool and frost free place. Avoid storing in polythene bags as potatoes will rot.

The taste and texture of fresh homegrown potatoes are very different from those you buy from the store. Enjoy the Rewards of Growing Your Own Organic Potatoes!

Potatoes seeds are available Here!

Happy Organic Gardening!

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