growing potatos outside of the beds

HouseofWool 5/7/2011, 3:52 pm

We go through TONS of potatoes and there is no way I can devote enough space in the beds themselves to grow enough for us.

However, we have 5 gallon pails all over the place. I am thinking of using them to grow the potatoes, just like I normally would, adding more MM as necessary to keep them covered until they get close to the top. If I add gravel to the bottom with drainage holes, I am thinking it will work.

Has anyone tried something similar?

**Furbalsmom** 5/7/2011, 4:22 pm

HouseofWool

5 gallon buckets are great for growing potatoes. I grow lots of things in5 gallon buckets. My potatoes are actually in an old seed bag (woven plastic stuff) but the concept is exactly the same. Other members use garbage cans, tote bags, tote boxes and seem to have great results.

Just drill holes in the bottom and on the bottom part of the sides to allow for proper drainage.

There is no need to put gravel in the bottom, your Mel's Mix will retain moisture but drain well without gravel. Besides, the gravel could easily cause bumps and stuff on your potatoes.

stripesmom 5/7/2011, 4:37 pm

I'm growing potatoes in old tires. I've not done it before, but read that you just add more tires as they grow. It was suggested that you could use 3 tires stacked on top of each other, adding dirt (or MM in our case) as they leaf out. You can get away with 4 tires, but that could be a risk with children. They might want to play on them and it could possibly fall over.

cabinfever 5/7/2011, 5:17 pm

I'm doing mine in 5 gallon pails too. I'm gonna drill holes in the bottom, add a piece of weed cloth, fill with organic potting soil and some compost.

Aub 5/7/2011, 11:46 pm

I have a 2x2 potato box, a rubbermaid tub, and a pile of almost compost all with potatoes in them.
One of my clients told me her husband does his in piles of leaves. He saves all the leaves from the fall and puts them along the fence. They sit over the winter and break down a bit, then on St. Patty's Day he plants his potatoes.

LentilSoup 5/8/2011, 7:39 am

Mel and SFG Foundation did a video on this.
https://www.youtube.com/user/SFGFoundation?blend=3&ob=5#p/u/0/oH1Z_dUEgIg

I'm growing mine in a 15 gallon Geoplanter pot. I'm using a mix of 2 kinds of compost to fill it.

madnicmom 5/8/2011, 1:00 pm

That geoplanter looks really cool. I'm growing some in a 18 gal buckets bought at Menards. They are the ones with rope handles on them. I'm using MM minus the vermiculite to "mound" them.

HouseofWool 5/8/2011, 3:47 pm

Thanks for all of the advice. I managed to find 3 HUGE garbage cans that are no longer in service and will be co-opting them to grow our potatoes.

I am very excited to have the extra room in the beds for other plants.

jbh29 5/8/2011, 6:55 pm

I planted potatoes today in 2 half wiskey barrels, an old ash tub, 1 5 gallon bucket, and an extra large patio planter. Oh, I also planted a short row in the ground (not sfg). I've never planted potatoes and I too didn't want to take up the space in my beds. I can't wait to see which containers do best and then compare them to the row in the ground. I'm goint to keep an eye out for large garbage bins for next year.

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