The Best Guide for Growing Potatoes

Potatoes are the unsung heroes of the vegetable garden. They’re delicious, versatile, and surprisingly easy to grow—even if you don’t have a massive plot of land. Whether you have a sprawling backyard or just a tiny patio, growing potatoes is within your reach! But before you start tossing spuds into the soil, let’s dig into everything you need to know, from growing potatoes in containers to the best DIY potato-growing hacks.

Why Grow Your Own Potatoes?

First of all, homegrown potatoes taste better than store-bought ones. Because they don’t go through long storage and transport times, they’re fresher, sweeter, and have a better texture. Additionally, store-bought potatoes are often treated with sprout inhibitors. When you grow your own, you get natural, chemical-free tubers that are healthier for you and your family.

Moreover, potatoes are one of the most productive vegetables per square foot. Even if you have limited space, planting potatoes in bags, buckets, or crates allows you to maximize your harvest without taking over your entire garden.

Getting Started: Growing Potatoes from Seed or Sprouted Spuds

Many gardeners ask: “Can I just throw potatoes in the ground?” The short answer? Not quite. While potatoes will sprout in soil, you’ll get a much better harvest by following the proper method.

What You Need to Grow Potatoes

• Seed potatoes (these are different from grocery store potatoes because they haven’t been treated with anti-sprouting chemicals)
• Loose, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter
• A growing method (raised beds, containers, bags, or even laundry baskets—yes, really!)
• Plenty of sun (at least 6 hours a day)

Creative Ways to Grow Potatoes

Now, let’s get into the fun part—choosing your potato-growing method. You don’t need a huge field to grow potatoes. In fact, potatoes thrive in containers, bags, baskets, and even tires!

1. Growing Potatoes in Containers

If you’re short on space, growing potatoes in containers is a fantastic option. A 10-gallon container can produce several pounds of potatoes, and you can move it around your patio or balcony as needed.

Tip: Use a container with drainage holes and add soil gradually as the plants grow.

2. Growing Potatoes in Buckets

Similarly, growing potatoes in buckets is a great way to grow spuds on a budget. Simply drill drainage holes in the bottom, plant a few seed potatoes, and keep adding soil as they grow.

3. Growing Potatoes in a Bag

Don’t have buckets? No problem! Growing potatoes in a bag is another simple method. Use a large reusable shopping bag or a fabric grow bag. Roll down the sides at first, then unroll and add more soil as the plants grow.

4. Growing Potatoes in Milk Crates

For a structured and breathable option, try growing potatoes in milk crates. Line the crate with burlap or landscape fabric, fill it with soil, and watch your potatoes thrive.

5. Growing Potatoes in Raised Beds

If you have more space, growing potatoes in raised beds is ideal. Raised beds provide good drainage, make hilling easier, and can produce large yields.

6. Growing Potatoes in Laundry Baskets

Yes, you read that right—growing potatoes in a laundry basket is possible! The holes in the basket provide great drainage and airflow, reducing the risk of rot.

7. Growing Potatoes in Crates

Wooden crates work much like raised beds but offer a more compact option. Growing potatoes in crates allows for easy layering of soil and hilling as your potatoes grow.

8. Growing Potatoes in Straw

If you want a no-dig method, try growing potatoes in straw. Simply lay seed potatoes on the ground and cover them with a thick layer of straw. As they grow, add more straw instead of soil.

9. Growing Potatoes in Tires

Some gardeners swear by growing potatoes in tires—stacking old tires and filling them with soil as the plants grow. Just make sure to use non-toxic tires to avoid chemical leaching.

10. Growing Potatoes Indoors

For year-round harvests, growing potatoes indoors is an option! Use large pots with ample light and make sure to control temperature and humidity.

How Long Does It Take to Grow a Potato?

Potatoes typically take 90 to 120 days to mature. However, new potatoes (small, tender potatoes) can be harvested in as little as 60 days.

Companion Planting: What Should You Not Plant Next to Potatoes?

While potatoes grow well with many plants, there are some you should avoid planting nearby. Choosing the right companions can improve yields, deter pests, and even enhance the flavour of your potatoes. However, the wrong neighbours can lead to poor growth, increased disease risk, and competition for nutrients.

Bad Neighbours for Potatoes:

• Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant – All part of the nightshade family and share diseases like blight, which can spread rapidly between them.
• Carrots & Onions – Compete for underground space and nutrients, potentially stunting each other’s growth.
• Sunflowers – Release chemicals that inhibit potato growth and attract pests like aphids.

Great Companion Plants for Potatoes:

• Beans & Peas – Naturally fix nitrogen in the soil, improving soil fertility for healthier potato plants.
• Marigolds – Their strong scent repels nematodes and other common potato pests.
• Cabbage & Lettuce – These shallow-rooted crops don’t compete with potatoes for nutrients and can provide ground cover to retain soil moisture.
• Horseradish – A powerhouse companion, horseradish is known to deter potato beetles and fungal diseases, helping to keep your crop healthy.

Additionally, consider planting herbs like basil or chamomile nearby, as they can improve potato flavour and attract pollinators to your garden. By carefully selecting your potato companions, you can create a healthier, more productive garden while reducing the need for chemical pest control.

Companion Planting for Healthier, Happier Potatoes

Companion planting isn’t just about keeping bad neighbours away—it’s also about creating a balanced, biodiverse garden where plants support each other. By pairing potatoes with the right companions, you can improve soil health, attract beneficial insects, and even enhance your harvest.

Pest-Repelling Companions for Potatoes

One of the biggest challenges when planting potatoes is dealing with pests like Colorado potato beetles, aphids, and nematodes. However, strategic companion planting can help deter these troublemakers.

• Nasturtiums – These vibrant flowers act as a trap crop, luring aphids away from your potatoes. Plus, they attract pollinators!
• Garlic & Chives – The strong smell of alliums confuses and repels potato beetles.
• Catnip & Mint – While you might enjoy a cup of mint tea, potato beetles do not. Planting mint or catnip near your potatoes can help keep pests at bay.

Soil-Improving Companions for Potatoes

Potatoes are heavy feeders, meaning they deplete the soil of nutrients quickly. Planting nitrogen-fixing companions can help replenish the soil while keeping your potatoes well-fed.

• Bush Beans & Peas – These legumes pull nitrogen from the air and return it to the soil, helping to nourish your potatoes naturally.
• Clover – A fantastic cover crop, clover not only fixes nitrogen but also helps suppress weeds around your potatoes.

Weed-Suppressing & Moisture-Retaining Companions

Potatoes thrive in loose, well-draining soil, but keeping moisture levels steady is key for a healthy harvest. Planting leafy, low-growing companions can help retain moisture and keep weeds from competing with your spuds.

• Spinach & Lettuce – Their shallow roots don’t compete with potatoes, and their broad leaves help shade the soil, reducing evaporation.
• Radishes – A quick-growing crop, radishes can be planted between potato rows to break up compacted soil and keep weeds at bay.

The Three Sisters Method – A Potato Twist

You’ve probably heard of the traditional “Three Sisters” planting method—corn, beans, and squash. While this trio is usually used for growing corn, a similar concept can work with potatoes!

• Pair potatoes with beans for nitrogen-fixing benefits.
• Add a leafy green like spinach to shade the soil and reduce evaporation.
• Plant marigolds or nasturtiums nearby to keep pests under control.

By combining these principles, you create a garden ecosystem where plants work together rather than compete, leading to healthier, more resilient potatoes!

DIY: How to Build a Potato Tower

A potato tower is a space-saving vertical method that increases yields.

What You’ll Need:

• Wire mesh or wooden stakes
• Straw and soil
• Seed potatoes

Instructions:

1. Form a cylinder with wire mesh and stake it in place.
2. Add a layer of straw, then soil, then place seed potatoes on top.
3. Repeat until the tower is full.
4. Keep adding straw and soil as the plants grow.

This method works well for small spaces and produces a surprisingly high yield!

Conclusion: Dig In and Enjoy Your Homegrown Spuds

In the end, growing potatoes isn’t just about harvesting delicious, homegrown spuds—it’s about embracing the joy of gardening, experimenting with different methods, and savouring the satisfaction of watching tiny seed potatoes transform into a bountiful crop. Whether you choose growing potatoes in containers, planting potatoes in bags, or even trying the unconventional approach of growing potatoes in tires, you now have all the knowledge needed to get started.

Moreover, the versatility of potatoes means you can plant them almost anywhere. From growing potatoes in raised beds for maximum yield to the space-saving ingenuity of planting potatoes in a laundry basket, you have endless possibilities. Even if you’re limited on space, you can explore the idea of indoor growing or experiment with milk crates to fit your gardening needs.

Now that you’ve mastered the art of potato growing, you might be wondering: “Can I just throw potatoes in the ground?” While that’s not the best approach, with proper soil preparation, watering, and hilling techniques, you can maximize your harvest and ensure healthy plants.

So, what’s next? Keep track of your growing season, experiment with different methods, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a complete beginner wondering, “How do you grow potatoes for beginners?”, the journey of having your own food is incredibly rewarding. If you plant to grow potatoes this year, send us a picture over on our social media pages.