Maya Ellison
Growing potatoes in plastic tubs is a great option for those with limited garden space or for those who find digging difficult. Plastic tubs are lightweight, inexpensive, and can be easily moved around the garden. To grow potatoes in plastic tubs, start by drilling holes in the bottom of the tub for drainage. Fill the tub with a mixture of compost and soil, and plant your seed potatoes with at least two eyes or growth nodes. Water the potatoes regularly, and add more soil as the potatoes grow. The potatoes will be ready to harvest in about 8-10 weeks or when the foliage dies back.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Container type | Plastic tubs, plastic containers, plastic storage tubs, plastic bins, plastic buckets, plastic barrels, plastic bags, plastic laundry baskets, burlap sacks, canvas tote bags, wooden half-barrels, garbage bins |
| Container size | At least 5 gallons, 12-20 gallons for multiple plants, 45-75 litres |
| Container depth | At least 18 inches |
| Container preparation | Drill holes in the bottom for drainage, fill with soil/compost |
| Potato type | Seed potatoes, small potatoes, full-size potatoes |
| Potato preparation | Cut into pieces with at least 2 eyes, let cut surfaces callus over |
| Soil type | High-quality, fast-draining, commercial potting soil, compost, peat moss, coarse vermiculite, leaf mould |
| Soil preparation | Mix soil with compost, add bonemeal, nitrogen |
| Planting time | 15-30 days before the last frost of the season, two weeks before in regions with sun exposure |
| Maintenance | Regular, generous watering, add soil when shoots emerge, cover any exposed tubers, remove foliage before harvesting |
| Harvest time | 8-10 weeks, 90-120 days, when foliage dies back |
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What You'll Learn
Container and potato preparation
Container preparation is key to successfully growing potatoes in plastic tubs. The container should be at least 5 gallons in size, with a capacity of 10 to 15 gallons being ideal for optimal growth. Opaque containers with a height of 2 to 3 feet are recommended, as anything taller may hinder even watering. Suitable containers include plastic storage tubs, plastic laundry baskets, and plastic barrels or dustbins with a capacity of 45 to 75 litres. Ensure your container has good drainage by drilling holes at the bottom. Aim for four holes around the perimeter and one in the middle, each about 1 inch in size.
Now, onto potato preparation. First, source your seed potatoes. These are mature potatoes that you will cut up and plant. You can purchase these from garden centres or local gardening stores, or you can use supermarket-bought potatoes. If you opt for the latter, let them grow "eyes" in a dark cupboard before cutting them into halves, ensuring each half has some eyes. Alternatively, you can use "seed potatoes", which are virus-free and can be purchased or sourced from early, early main, or main categories. If you choose to chit your potatoes, store them in a dry place at room temperature for a week or two before planting. This will encourage sprouting and reduce the time to maturity.
Before planting, fill your container with about 4 inches of soil. Place your potato halves with the eyes facing up and spaced about 6 inches apart. Then, cover them with another 4 inches of soil and water them well.
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Planting
To begin, source your seed potatoes. Seed potatoes are mature potatoes that you cut up and plant. You can purchase these or use potatoes from the supermarket. If you're using potatoes from the supermarket, let them grow "eyes" in a dark cupboard. If you're using seed potatoes, store them in a cool, dry, dark place at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Some people wait for their seed potatoes to sprout before planting them, which is called chitting. To chit your seed potatoes, store them in a dry place at room temperature for one to two weeks before planting.
Next, cut your seed potatoes into halves, ensuring each half has some eyes. If you're using seed potatoes, each piece should have at least two eyes or growth nodes. Leave the cut surfaces to "callus over" by letting them sit for a couple of days before planting.
Now it's time to prepare your plastic tubs. Drill holes in the bottom for drainage—if you're using a container that's around 45 to 75 litres (12 to 20 gallons), you'll need around four holes around the perimeter and one in the middle. The container should be at least 5 gallons in size. A container 2 to 3 feet tall with a 10- to 15-gallon capacity is ideal.
Once your container is ready, fill it with about 4 inches of soil. Place your potato halves, eyes up, at 6-inch intervals. Then, cover them with another 4 inches of soil and water them well.
As your potatoes grow, continue to add more soil when the shoots emerge through the earth. This process is called earthing up or hilling, and it encourages more tubers to appear along the stems, increasing your yield. Always leave the leaves out of the soil. Finish adding soil about 2 inches from the top of the container.
Keep your potatoes well-watered. Water them about every 3 to 4 days, depending on rainfall. The soil should be moist but not saturated. You can add a handful of bonemeal around the plants once they start to develop.
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Maintenance
- Watering: Potatoes grown in containers require frequent watering, as the soil dries out faster than in the ground. Water your potatoes about every 3-4 days, depending on rainfall. The soil should be moist but not saturated. Give your container at least one to two deep waterings per week. Ensure reliable water supply for a good harvest.
- Soil and Compost: Maintain the quality of soil and compost in your container. Potatoes prefer well-drained soil. A good option is to mix commercial potting soil with quality compost. You can also add a handful of bonemeal to the soil once the plants start to develop.
- Sun Exposure: Keep your container in a sunny and warm place. Avoid direct sun exposure on the potato tubers, as they may turn green.
- Earthing Up: As the potatoes grow, continue to add more soil when the shoots emerge through the earth. This encourages more tubers to form and increases your yield. Finish adding soil about 2 inches from the top of the container.
- Hilling: When the potato leaves are about 4-5 inches tall, add more compost around them. This strengthens root growth and provides support to the stems.
- Drainage: Ensure your container has good drainage. If your container doesn't have drainage holes, add them to the bottom. Drainage is crucial to prevent your potatoes from rotting.
- Harvesting: Potatoes are usually ready to harvest in about 8-10 weeks or when the foliage dies back. You can also harvest new potatoes earlier, once the plants have flowered. Cure your potatoes for long-term storage to toughen the skin.
- Container Cleaning: If reusing the container, clean it with hot, soapy water before adding new soil to prevent viruses.
By following these maintenance steps, you can successfully grow and harvest potatoes in plastic tubs.
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Harvesting
Before you begin harvesting, remove the foliage from the plant. Then, slowly turn the soil, sifting through it as you go. You can remove the soil into another planter to ensure you don't miss any potatoes. If you have a large crop of mature potatoes, cure them before storing to toughen the skin.
If you are growing baby potatoes, you can harvest them about a week or two after the flowers form. For full-size potatoes, wait until the foliage has died back and then harvest them as described above.
Growing potatoes in containers makes harvesting easier, especially for those with limited mobility or garden space. It also makes it easier to control growing conditions and protect the plants from pests. However, container soil dries out faster than the ground, so frequent watering is essential.
When harvesting, it is essential to use clean containers and soil to prevent viruses and mould. Clean your containers with hot, soapy water and use new soil for each crop.
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Storage
If you have a large crop of mature potatoes, you should cure them for long-term storage. Curing toughens the skin of the potatoes.
Before planting, store seed potatoes in a cool, dry, dark place at about 50°F (10°C). If you're storing potatoes throughout the winter, requirements are different. Some people wait for their seed potatoes to sprout before planting them. This is called chitting and is achieved by storing the potatoes in a dry place at room temperature for one to two weeks before planting. Chitting shortens the amount of time it takes the potatoes to sprout and mature.
When you're finished growing potatoes in the container, remove the soil and clean the container with hot, soapy water. Add completely new soil to the container to keep it virus-free for the next crop.
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Frequently asked questions
You can use any large plastic container or flexible plastic storage tub. The container should be strong and capable of having drainage holes pushed through it. If it doesn't have holes in the bottom, you'll need to add them. The size of the container should be around 45 to 75 litres (12 to 20 gallons) if you're growing several potato plants at once. For a single or pair of potato plants, a smaller container will work.
You can use seed potatoes, or potatoes from the supermarket. If you use seed potatoes, store them in a cool, dry, dark place before planting. If you use supermarket potatoes, let them grow eyes in a dark cupboard before planting. Smaller varieties of potatoes are better suited to the confined space of a container.
First, drill holes in the bottom of your tub for drainage. Fill your tub with about 4 inches of soil. Place your potato halves, eyes up, at 6-inch intervals. Cover them with another 4 inches of soil and water them well. Water your potatoes about every 3-4 days, depending on rainfall. As the potatoes grow, continue adding more soil when the shoots emerge through the earth.
