Another easy way to grow potatoes in a small space is using a Potato Grow Bag. I purchased this Potato Grow Bag from Gardener's Supply because I have been wanting to try one of these bags for a couple years now.
I love growing potatoes and any new way that I can grow them I'm willing to try. Growing potatoes in the grow bag is a quicker substitute over the Potato Tower. It's cheaper as well, only costing $12.95 for the regular-sized, black grow bag.
A friend on the Veggie Gardener Facebook Page mentioned that she used burlap bags to grow potatoes, and it works really well. That could be an even cheaper way of growing potatoes in a bag.
Now that you have your Potato Grow Bag, here's how to plant the seed potatoes in it.
Choosing the Right Seed Potatoes for the Potato Grow Bag
Before we jump into the planting of spuds, let's talk about the spuds a bit first. The best potatoes to use for a grow bag is typically mid and late season, or fingerling type potatoes.
Good mid and late season potatoes to use are Kennebec, German Butterball, Butte, or Bintje.
Fingerling types include Russian Banana and Swedish Peanut varieties.
Even though it is considered an early season variety, Red Pontiac potatoes work pretty good, too.
Avoid using russet potatoes as they do not typically grow well in grow bags.
I'm planting the Red Pontiac variety for this Potato Grow Bag. I love "stealing" the little red new potatoes when they are about an inch to an inch and a half in diameter.
Preparing the Seed Potatoes for Planting
Now that we have the right kind of potatoes for the grow bag, you may need to prep them some before planting. You would prepare the seed potatoes for the grow bags in the same manner you would ordinarily prepare them for any other planting.
Any large seed potatoes should be cut into smaller pieces so they are about the size of a lime. Make sure it piece has at least two eyes, and the eyes have about 1/2" to 3/4" of potato surrounding them.
![Let the Potato Seed Pieces Dry Before Planting]()
Once the pieces are cut, you can spread them out on a sheet of newspaper to allow them to dry out. This is not necessary but can help keep the seed potato pieces from rotting, or developing possible diseases.
How to Plant Potatoes In a Potato Grow Bag
Now we are finally getting to the fun part - planting the potatoes! With the seed potatoes all ready to go it is time to prepare the grow bag and plant.
First, place the Potato Grow Bag in the desired location. It might be difficult to move the grow bag once you have the soil in it so make sure wherever you placed it that's where you want it to stay.
![Place the Potato Grow Bag In the Desired Location]()
Remember, you want to place it in a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day.
To make it easier to work with, cuff the sides of the grow bag over a few inches. This will keep the sides from flopping over and getting in the way. Cuff the sides over until you have about seven inches of depth inside the grow bag.
![Cuff the Sides of the Potato Grow Bag]()
Now fill the Potato Grow Bag to a depth of four inches with an organic potting soil mix. Gardener's Supply recommends using their Organic Energized Potting Mix.
I'm actually using an organic garden soil mix with some compost added. You want to have a mixture of 1/3 compost and 2/3 potting mix.
![Fill Potato Grow Bag with 4 Inches of Potting Soil Mix and Compost]()
With four inches of the soil mix added to the grow bag, it is time to plant the seed potato pieces. Use three to five seed potato pieces and lay them an equal distance apart into the soil.
I like to give them a slight twisty-push into the soil to kind of "seat" them in place. This helps to make sure they contact the soil well. Don't push them too deep - just a very gentle push so they go down into the soil about 1/8" to 1/4" deep. Remember to plant them with the eyes pointing up!
![Place Seed Potatoes on the Soil Mix]()
Once the seed potatoes pieces are good to go, cover them with an additional three inches of the soil mix. This is why I cuffed the Potato Grow Bag over until the depth of it was about seven inches. I can now fill it up to the top and I know I have covered the seed potatoes with three inches of soil.
![Cover the Seed Potatoes with Three Inches of Soil Mix]()
It is now time to thoroughly water the Potato Grow Bag. Water it well so the water reaches the bottom of the bag and you begin to see water trickle from underneath. You will know for sure you have watered it enough.
That's it - you now have your potatoes planted using the Potato Grow Bag!
More Potatoes for Your Vegetable Garden
I love growing potatoes and any new way that I can grow them I'm willing to try. Growing potatoes in the grow bag is a quicker substitute over the Potato Tower. It's cheaper as well, only costing $12.95 for the regular-sized, black grow bag.
A friend on the Veggie Gardener Facebook Page mentioned that she used burlap bags to grow potatoes, and it works really well. That could be an even cheaper way of growing potatoes in a bag.
Now that you have your Potato Grow Bag, here's how to plant the seed potatoes in it.
Choosing the Right Seed Potatoes for the Potato Grow Bag
Before we jump into the planting of spuds, let's talk about the spuds a bit first. The best potatoes to use for a grow bag is typically mid and late season, or fingerling type potatoes.
Good mid and late season potatoes to use are Kennebec, German Butterball, Butte, or Bintje.Fingerling types include Russian Banana and Swedish Peanut varieties.
Even though it is considered an early season variety, Red Pontiac potatoes work pretty good, too.
Avoid using russet potatoes as they do not typically grow well in grow bags.
I'm planting the Red Pontiac variety for this Potato Grow Bag. I love "stealing" the little red new potatoes when they are about an inch to an inch and a half in diameter.
Preparing the Seed Potatoes for Planting
Now that we have the right kind of potatoes for the grow bag, you may need to prep them some before planting. You would prepare the seed potatoes for the grow bags in the same manner you would ordinarily prepare them for any other planting.
Any large seed potatoes should be cut into smaller pieces so they are about the size of a lime. Make sure it piece has at least two eyes, and the eyes have about 1/2" to 3/4" of potato surrounding them.
Once the pieces are cut, you can spread them out on a sheet of newspaper to allow them to dry out. This is not necessary but can help keep the seed potato pieces from rotting, or developing possible diseases.
How to Plant Potatoes In a Potato Grow Bag
Now we are finally getting to the fun part - planting the potatoes! With the seed potatoes all ready to go it is time to prepare the grow bag and plant.
First, place the Potato Grow Bag in the desired location. It might be difficult to move the grow bag once you have the soil in it so make sure wherever you placed it that's where you want it to stay.
Remember, you want to place it in a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight per day.
To make it easier to work with, cuff the sides of the grow bag over a few inches. This will keep the sides from flopping over and getting in the way. Cuff the sides over until you have about seven inches of depth inside the grow bag.
Now fill the Potato Grow Bag to a depth of four inches with an organic potting soil mix. Gardener's Supply recommends using their Organic Energized Potting Mix.
I'm actually using an organic garden soil mix with some compost added. You want to have a mixture of 1/3 compost and 2/3 potting mix.
With four inches of the soil mix added to the grow bag, it is time to plant the seed potato pieces. Use three to five seed potato pieces and lay them an equal distance apart into the soil.
I like to give them a slight twisty-push into the soil to kind of "seat" them in place. This helps to make sure they contact the soil well. Don't push them too deep - just a very gentle push so they go down into the soil about 1/8" to 1/4" deep. Remember to plant them with the eyes pointing up!
Once the seed potatoes pieces are good to go, cover them with an additional three inches of the soil mix. This is why I cuffed the Potato Grow Bag over until the depth of it was about seven inches. I can now fill it up to the top and I know I have covered the seed potatoes with three inches of soil.
It is now time to thoroughly water the Potato Grow Bag. Water it well so the water reaches the bottom of the bag and you begin to see water trickle from underneath. You will know for sure you have watered it enough.
That's it - you now have your potatoes planted using the Potato Grow Bag!
More Potatoes for Your Vegetable Garden
