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How to grow potatoes in a compost bag

How to grow potatoes in a compost bag

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Friday, 19 April 2019 at 12:20 pm

Potatoes grow really well in large bags - find out how to grow them this way.

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Growing your own potatoes needn't require lots of hard work and space in the garden. Any space will do - you can even grow potatoes on your patio or balcony by growing them in bags.

Producing a healthy crop of potatoes in a bag, such as a compost bag, is much easier than you might think, and it's space-saving too. There's no earthing-up required, no digging and minimal mess. You can simply plant your seed potatoes in the bag, and wait for them to grow.

Plant potatoes in bags from February to April (depending on their type) for a crop between June to October. You can also plant successively to extend the harvest period.

You Will Need

Large pot or old compost bag
Multi-purpose, peat-free compost
Chitted seed potatoes

Total time: 30 minutes

Step 1

Adding drainage slits to the bag

Salad potatoes grow well in compost bags inside the greenhouse or in a frost-free part of your garden. Start by making drainage slits in the base of the bag with a knife.

Step 2

Adding compost to the bag

Remove half to two- thirds of the compost and put it aside to reuse later for covering the shoots as they develop.

Step 3

Burying potato tubers in the compost

Bury two or three well- sprouted seed potatoes in the compost – any more and you’ll reduce the yield from each bag.

Step 4

Watering the bag

Water well, two to three times a week, to ensure the compost never dries out. Once shoots break through, roughly every seven to 10 days, cover over with compost, until the bag's full.

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