I started growing 2 little potatoes for the first time, in two five gallen buckets. I cut drainage holes in each, put the proper soil in, and put my potatoes by the bottom but not touching the bottom. That was in early July. Then recently I've been bringing them into my garage as cold weather creeps in. One of my plants died, and I looked online, and the internet said I should harvest it bc the stem is dead, so the potatoes can't grow anymore. Did I do something wrong? Why are they so small?
by Interest-Inner
18 Comments
Not totally sure, but I’ve grown potatoes in buckets before and drainage is SUPER important. The time my potatoes looked like yours was my first time and I hadn’t drilled enough drainage holes and my soil was regular potting soil with just a bit extra perlite
So I probably shouldnt answer because I have the same problem (Although I have a high yield, they’re just all tiny) but I’ll give my two cents anyway:
AFAIK you are not supposed to plant them deep, you are supposed to plant just below the surface. I’ve heard coating them with lime powder helps massively but I haven’t tried it yet.
Also I’ve heard they grow to match their container and a 5 gallon bucket doesnt seem like a lot of room but I’m not sure about that. I grow mine in a 15 gallon container.
Good luck in the future!
You should start growing them earlier, in May. Also they should sprout before you out them into ground. You should plant them about 5cm from the top, otherwise it will take a long time for the plant to grow so that it gets sun.
I put mine halfway in. I amend heavily with compost and perlite. Heavy nitrogen in the beginning to get the plants bushed up and those solar panels working. Switch to a high phosphorus fert to help enlarge the tubers.
They rather be slightly dry than overly wet.
Thanks. I’ll put more drainage holes next time and planet them higher up.
I’ve tried in compost bags, I’ve tried in garden waste bags, I’ve tried in huge pots. I always said I’d never waste my raised beds on spuds. They’re 3×6 feet and 18 inches tall.
This year I caved and planted em up.
https://preview.redd.it/6m2nujyb5iyf1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d9a5e13824c3c62e051830b289f15379ee566adf
I regret waiting til this year to do it. Never again. I’ll dedicate a raised bed to spuds yearly.
It’s space where you’re going wrong IMHO.
I think you planted them too deep. I plant my seed potatoes ~4-6 inches deep.
I think you:
Planted too deep
Planted without enough drainage and
Planted too late.
Potatoes are a cool season crop. Here in Ohio we plant potatoes in March-early April. In Georgia, you could probably plant in February.
They don’t like hot weather I plant mine at 40 temps so in three or four months temps are reaching 90 and plants die out
Generally the size of the potatoes will relate to the size and health that the plant had at its peak. How big did the plant grow to?
Mine have been small the last couple of years but I realized I was planting too deep, into the very clay rich soil.
Some potatoes like to grow near the surface, some do not. My red pontiacs are like that, my kennebecs are not. Some varieties are naturally small, some are not. What variety were they? You probably don’t know. Plant a variety suitable for your climate.
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You should share this with r/mightyharvest
r/mightyharvest
Potatoes are cheap compared to everything else. I dont even bother most of the time to grow them. I recommend focusing on other things that are more fun and save you money.
I’ve had lots of luck just nestling them in the dirt and covering them with 2 feet of fallen leaves!
Get good seed stock. I’ve been trying a few different ones from tractor supply. Reds always work. Golden is better than russets for me.