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How to grow potatoes in a compost bag

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

A table displaying which months are best to sow, plant and harvest.
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
At its best
At its best

Plant is not at its best in January

Plant is not at its best in February

Plant is not at its best in March

Plant is not at its best in April

Plant is not at its best in May

Plant is at its best in June

Plant is at its best in July

Plant is at its best in August

Plant is at its best in September

Plant is not at its best in October

Plant is not at its best in November

Plant is not at its best in December

To do
To do

Do not To do in January

Do To do in February

Do To do in March

Do To do in April

Do not To do in May

Do not To do in June

Do not To do in July

Do not To do in August

Do not To do in September

Do not To do in October

Do not To do in November

Do not To do in December

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.

There's no earthing-up required, no digging and minimal mess.
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You Will Need

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

Total time:

Step 1

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.

Adding drainage slits to the bag
Adding drainage slits to the bag

Step 2

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

Adding compost to the bag
Adding compost to the bag

Step 3

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

Burying potato tubers in the compost
Burying potato tubers in the compost

Step 4

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.

Watering the bag
Watering the bag
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