Beginner Gardening: Growing Potatoes in Fabric Bags?, 0 by Gymgirl

Gymgirl wrote:
I've grown potatoes in SmartPots before, and in old washing machine tubs (with the perforated holes) Worked like a charm.

Two things:

#1 Go buy some of the green plastic fence mat'l at HD or Lowes and wrap it around the pot. Anchor it closed with some zip ties. This'll extend your height and keep the vines from toppling over.

#2 Depending on which variety of potatoes you planted and whether they are long-season varieties or not, you will only get potatoes at the same level as where you set the seeds in the dirt. Only long-season varieties will make potatoes as high up as you hill the soil.

We kept wondering here in the south (an experiment with several southern gardeners) why the only potatoes we got grew at the same level as where we set our seeds, and why we didn't get potatoes all the way up in our potting mix (NEVER put potting soil in a container...). And some folks hilled up pretty high!

I called the Potato Farm and spoke with a rep who told me that only long-season potatoes, grown usually in the north and in colder climates, with a very long growing window, would produce potatoes similar to a "tree" underground.

It's too hot down here for a very long season, so we all grow short day varieties...

I grew Yukon Golds, Kinnebecs and another variety I can't recall. You'll get a very nice harvest of potatoes, since you have a long, cold growing season.

If you're into containers, next time try growing them in a plastic trash can or deep RubberMaid tubs (drill some drainage holes), which will give you more depth. Situate the containers so the sun hits the greenery most of the day...

Linda