An easy way to grow potatoes!

In the Indy metro area, you’ll be planting your grow bag potatoes two to four weeks before the predicted last frost date of April 26th, 2022.

Once you learn how to grow potatoes, you'll wonder why you ever bought them from the grocery in the first place. Homegrown potatoes are packed full of flavor and are perfect for all your favorite dishes, from creamy mashed to roasted with rosemary. 

You can buy seed potatoes from most garden centers from late winter on. Also, there is still time to order online from your favorite seed supplier. If you’re just getting started with grow bags, try an early season potato like Yukon Gold or Red Pontiac. You can find grow bags on amazon.com and garden supply sites, like gardeners.com.

Before planting, you'll need to ‘chit’ your potatoes, which means letting the seed potatoes grow shoots so you get a bigger crop. Simply place the seed potatoes in trays of cardboard egg cartons with the part that has the most eyes facing upwards. Stand in a cool, light space until 1 to 2” shoots form, which usually takes about six weeks. Once your potatoes are ‘chit,’ follow these easy steps to start growing. Remember to water regularly ( do not let bags dry out) and use a liquid fertilizer such as fish fertilizer every two weeks.

1. Cut the seed potatoes into 2-inch chunks about the size of a small lime. Or, If your seed potatoes are small you can plant them whole.

2. First, add a 4-inch layer of moistened potting mix with compost to your bag.. The small potato grow bags will hold about 50 quarts of soil. (I use the small size so I can move the bags around if the need arises.)

3. Place about 3 chunks or small, whole potatoes (for a small growing bag) on the surface of the mix, spacing them evenly. Then cover the potatoes with a 3-inch layer of your planting mix. Water thoroughly to settle the planting mix and eliminate air pockets. Put bags in full sun, 6 to 8 hours each day.

4. Once the plants have sprouted and grown 8 inches, it’s time to add more soil.

5. Gently pour moist soil mix over the plants in a layer about 4 inches deep. Bury some of the stems and foliage so that just the tops of the plants are peeking out.

6. Allow the plants to grow another 8 inches. Repeat the process until the grow bag is full.

7. Several weeks later, the plants will begin to flower.

8. Eventually, the leaves will start to turn yellow. Stop watering and wait a week.

9. It’s time to harvest. Dump your potato bags upside down and start gathering your potatoes!

FAQ

1. What is a seed potato?
   First, seed potatoes are not actually seeds. They are potatoes specifically grown to be planted and produce more potatoes. Using the potatoes that are sprouting in your pantry will probably not yield a good crop.

2. What is the best environment for growing potatoes in grow bags? Potatoes need full sun and the early season potatoes can be planted two to four weeks before the predicted last frost date in our area. They need to be watered well but not allowed to get soggy in the bags.

3. How many seed potatoes do I need to grow 10 pounds of potatoes? You will need 1 pound of seed potatoes per 10-pound crop.