I planted about 20 sets from a nursery. None in the ground, all in 1 gal or 5 gal pots... to see if they sprouted. Some have sprouted and will be transplanted into raised beds. I am a new potato farmer. Have read that I need to mound up soil around the plant as it grows. So...do I transplant to the same soil level as was in the pot or would I plant deeper to simulate the mounding aspect ?

Also, can I leave some in their 5 gallon pots to maturity? Would it be better to find 10-15 gallon pots and us these ? These are 4-5 varieties, names of which are long gone. Thank you.

 

Potatoes are generally an easy crop. I have never planted sets I have always just cut up potatoes and stuck them in the ground but hilling the plant is the same. As the plant grows just mound the rows with a hoe. I mound right up above the lower leaves. This keeps the potatoes from turning green. It also makes tipping easier to get at some of the tasty new potatoes without damaging the plant.

 

Here is one idea:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThePQs6kDpo

 

I've never grown potatoes in a container but I would think the biggest problem with doing that is heat.

I have heard of people growing them in tires and adding soil / mulch / straw and more tires as the potatoes grow. When the plant is 6-8" tall it's time to hill (add more soil). Then repeat when they grow another 6-8".

 

As you probably know, potatoes are grown in rows, the soil is taken between rows and laid on potatoes. So between the rows, you get a ditch, and on the rows an elevation. Something similar needs to be done at home as well. The higher is the pot, the easier it is to do it.

 

Thanks for the replies.......especially Wirepuller38. A very interesting method.