When you don’t have a lot of space to grow things or even if you do, it is always fun to try new ways of doing things. One of the new things we are trying this year is growing potatoes in a trash bag. Why you might ask? Well for a few reasons…… Even if you live in an apartment, with a small patio or balcony, you can grow your own potatoes. You can place the bags anywhere in your yard, thus using “empty” areas like between trees or behind a bush. And best of all, to me, is at harvest time you simply cut the bag open! No back breaking digging required. So how does one grow potatoes in a trash bag? In just a few easy step!
First you need to get your seed potatoes and cut them into sections that contain two “eyes.” You know the eyes, that area where things grow from if you leave your tators sit to long in your kitchen! They look like little dimples if there is no sprout yet. Once the seed potatoes are cut up, you need to let the pieces sit for a few days to dry out and scab over.
Once your pieces are ready, simply pick a spot where you want your bag. Roll the bag down and cut a few drain holes in the bottom before you place dirt in the bag. Make sure your pieces are placed with the “eyes” up and at a depth of about two inches. Now ours started that way, but then the chickens found the bags and had to scratch through them. Rotten chickens. So I had to replant my pieces (a few times LOL).
Now you sit back and wait. Our potatoes FINALLY sprouted. Stupid chickens….. Once the plants are about six inches tall you simple add more soil to the bag. Add enough soil so that just the top few leaves are poking threw. Keep rolling the bag up and adding soil when the plant gets six inches above the current level. You do this a couple times. Makes sure to keep your potatoes watered but not soaked. Once the leaves start to turn yellowish and die back STOP watering your potatoes and leave them alone for a few weeks. This allows the skin of the potatoes time to set.
When the harvest time rolls around (depending on the type of potatoes you are growing), simply cut the bag open and send in the kids to dig threw the dirt. If you don’t have any children you could always do it yourself or maybe you can con a neighbor kid into it! LOL Either way, the satisfaction of growing you own potatoes will taste delicious!
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| Our bags of potatoes that we have placed behind our green bean tee pee! |
This is so great; thanks a ton for sharing! I've been wanting to grow potatoes, but was waiting for my hubby to get me some barrels to do this same thing! So easy! And I can do this myself! Love your posts and the things you share, thanks!
Who needs a hubby!?!? LOL Just joking 🙂 Glad you will finally get to plant those taters!
You make it look so easy! I really want to try potatoes but I haven't had much luck in the past. Of course I haven't tried this method yet. Perhaps next season 🙂
Thanks for sharing your great ideas. I love reading your blog!
It really was easy! LOL And they are growing great! You should give it a try 🙂
I have my potatoes going in towers right now, but the trash bag idea is a good one as well.
I have never done a tower…. might check that out. Trash bags were so easy and the potatoes are growing really well… a little too well LOL
Thanks for sharing, I will bookmark and be back again
Trash Bag
So glad you liked it!
What a clever idea! My only concern is that trash bags are coated with insecticide, and I would imagine this could seep into the soil :-(. A large bag not designed for trash (such as the over-sided bags you might get when you purchase a large item at Wal-Mart or Target) would probably be a better choice.
Ummm the bags I got are not coated…. but yes, you could grow them in any sturdy bag!
How many potatoes did you end up getting (approximately) from each bag? Love your blog btw. I'm just getting started on mine. 🙂
Not many LOL… the chickens kept scratching in, on and around the bags. 🙁 I could not for the life of me get those dang birds to leave the bags alone! We will be putting a fence around the garden next spring.