Can Potatoes Be Grown in Pots?

Pot Considerations

• Potatoes grow well in a variety of pots as long as they provide enough soil depth for the plants to produce an abundance of tubers. Larger pots that are 5 gallons or more in size provide enough room for the plants to produce a maximum amount of potatoes. Use pots that are at least 14 inches deep. Large garden pots, plastic tubs or wooden boxes that hold between 5 and 20 gallons of soil are sufficient. Use pots with bottom drainage holes or drill holes in the bottom of homemade pots to allow excess moisture to escape from the soil.

Soil Needs

• Soil in containers tends to compact more quickly than soil in garden beds. Use a loose potting soil or a soil-less medium instead of plain garden soil to prevent compaction problems. Alternatively, mix your own potting medium by combining equal parts compost, sterilized soil and perlite. Some commercial potting mixtures have pre-mixed fertilizer -- these require no additional fertilization before use. Homemade mixtures don't contain enough nutrients for the potatoes. Add 1/2-tbsp. of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer per gallon of soil before planting.

Planting Method

• Potatoes don't grow from seeds but from small seed potatoes. Fill the pot one-third full with moistened, prepared potting mix. Set the seed pieces on top of the soil with the potato eyes facing upward. The amount of seed for a single pot depends on the size of the container. Plant one seed piece per 5 gallons of pot size, spacing the pieces at least 8 inches apart. Once the seed pieces are in place, add enough moist potting mix to cover them to a 1-inch depth. Place the pot in an area that receives sunlight all day.

Basic Care

• Container-grown potatoes require regular attention to produce the most potatoes possible. Water the soil, when it begins to dry, as often as once a day in warm weather. Potatoes produce more tubers along their stems if you keep the stems buried. Add more potting mix to the pot when the stems are 6 inches tall, burying the entire stem and only leaving the topmost leaves uncovered. Continue to add soil, as the plants grow, until the pot is filled to within 2 inches of the rim. The plants also require additional fertilizer. Feed the potatoes with a soluble 15-30-15 fertilizer every two weeks, beginning six weeks after planting.