3 Ways I Am Growing Potatoes In My Garden

Being in zone 10b I am fortunately able to get away with fall planted potatoes with out fear of a winter kill. In this video I go over 3 different ways to plant your potatoes with 2 container options and a new, to me, method of no-dig planting called the Ruth Stout method.
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:06 - Potato 101
01:23 - Soil Preparation
01:45 - Method 1: Container Potatoes
02:55 - Method 2: Hilling Potatoes
04:21 - Method 3: No-Dig Potatoes
DISCLAIMER
Epic Gardening occasionally links to goods or services offered by vendors to help you find the best products to care for plants. Some of these may be affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if items are purchased. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. More info on our process: www.epicgardening.com/disclai...

[@Sharon-zt6hh]

Hi Jac. Where did you purchase your Sapro Miro seed potatoes? I can't find anyone that ships to the US. I live in Indiana.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Wood Prairie Farms!

[@Gardeningchristine]

My 80+ year old uncle sent me a red potato sprout, and a sweet potato slip. Just the sprout and slip, no potatoes attached. So I planted the sprout in a 4 gallon pot and the slip I tucked in the corner of my fish pond raised bed. I got 10 good sized red potatoes and 7 decent sweet potatoes, plus the sweet potato greens. It was great! And I learned that a potato sprout may still grow, even if it’s knocked off the potato.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Its wild how little a potato needs to get started!

[@joshuahoyer1279]

This is encouraging to hear! I went a little crazy with potato experiments whole waiting for temps to rise here. I chitted all my seed potatoes, then stuck a few in some seed starting mix for a week or two. Roots and shoots started pretty quickly, so I cut all of the baby potato plants off each of those potatoes and planted them individually in single serve yogurt cups and 4in pots. By the time March rolled around, I had a bunch of potato plants with a head start on our growing season. I put them and the remaining seed potatoes all in the ground, and they've grown magnificently so far! I'm starting to see the leaf die off starting, so I'm eager to see what we get!

[@Gardeningchristine]

@@joshuahoyer1279 Cool. I’ve also been experimenting like crazy this year with the potatoes. I’ve got some purple potatoes in ground, some kinda ruth stout method in a raised bed and on the ground, and I’ve got a couple huge wooden crates like watermelons come in with leaves from last fall, and I’ve planted right in the leaves. I’ve had to feed the ones in the leaves more than the ones in ground, but they all seem to be growing quite well. Last year’s harvest didn’t seem huge for anyone I talked to locally. Hopefully this year will be better.

[@petpawteek8776]

Oh c’mon now, that wheelbarrow trick is genius! Love the Ruth Stout method, I grow mine in a modified Stout method and love it. Each year I have a small section of my garden that I reserve for straw bale growing, mostly sweet potatoes and determinate tomatoes. In the following year, I flatten those bales (which by then have beautiful compost in the center of them), drop my potatoes on top and cover with new straw. I usually add more straw 2-3 times during the season. I won’t ever go back to in ground growing…waaaaay too much work!😊

[@luckyelfie]

The wheel barrow tip was EVERYTHING!

[@toddmain]

Thanks! I also love the Ruth Stout method. Even though I've seen good or even great results online from container-grown potatoes, it always seems that they need a significant amount of supplemental nutrients to match the results of an in-bed patch. And I consistently struggle to keep them at the right moisture level. Of course, maybe that's just my lack of container experience... My favorite approach for potatoes is "Ruth Stout with a handful of compost under each potato", unless the bed has been an RS bed for a few years already and is pretty rich. I don't bother adding compost to the whole bed since RS takes care of that, but the finished compost under each potato seems to give them a quick burst of available nutrients when they need it most (when they're just getting started).

[@siobhanmacleod7957]

I just wanted you to know how amazing your videos are. I’ve been watching from the beginning and have enjoyed watching you become more at ease and confident with your videos. Keep kicking ass!😊

[@clarencesmith9882]

Extra credit for that genius wheelbarrow tips. OMG! I love it I just ordered the Sapro Miro potatoes for next spring from Wood Prairie Farms. Never heard of them. Thanks for the referral and can't wait to grow these potatoes using the bag and Ruth Stout methods! Love your channel- I always learn really helpful stuff. Thanks so much and Keep on growing! 🤗

[@teresaedwards3659]

I'm in the foothills S.E. of Seattle, watching the snow fly. I remember digging up small red potatoes with my Grandma. She boiled them and then put just the right amount of butter and salt. we call them 'new potatoes'. I am planting some in bags in the spring, as I want to use my beds for other veggies.Thanks for the inspiration!!!

[@telly4kelly]

Great suggestion about the wheelbarrow. Thank you.

[@RonniR2]

The pumpkin patch in Bonita was giving away truckloads of straw bales. Free! They still had leftovers after the community garden next door helped themselves to the bales.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

That's a score!

[@oneoveralpha]

We planted potatoes in some old hay years ago, and while it was easy and we got a fair number of potatoes, we also had a lot with slug and chicken damage. I've been wanting to retry the method with at least a fence to keep the chickens out.

[@Carmen-ok]

I like all three methods of growing potatoes. The third one is the winner for me😊

[@elizabeths5520]

Every time I watch these videos I learn something so useful! Thanks for that tip on hilling up, so smart!!

[@roserainy7586]

Smart idea with tipping the wheel barrow back 👌

[@KarIiah]

I'm in love with the curious doggos, they're so adorable

[@user-rx2ur5el9p]

I've heard several people say that their yields seem to be smaller when they try cutting a seed potato into multiple pieces, although that's still anecdotal.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I usually only bother if a) I need more potato seed, b) the potato is bigger than say an orange

[@blackgem1055]

Used watch Eliot Coleman religiously back in the 1990's. He did a show once all about the footwear he had for the garden!! I wonder if instead of straw a whole lot of dry leaves could work.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Straw might get too mated down once wet, but could be worth a try!

[@myurbangarden7695]

Crazy...I have just been throwing the eyes in a growbag full of garden soil. I bet these tips will yield better results

[@CurtisBrandt]

Appreciate this video! We grew potatoes in grow bags last year and two of the three varieties we tried, did well! Super fun and pretty easy to harvest out of grow bags, too. Thanks for the tip on season length!

[@sherylwhited7380]

I really like the Ruth Stout method…but I have 7 “garden/ feral” cats who LOVE straw. So I either lay weed fabric over the straw - with holes cut into it for the plants, or I lay orange construction fencing on top. Plants are happy and cats can’t use the bed for a litter box:::win, win!

[@megmoore335]

I found a bag of potatoes that fell behind a kitchen shelf. It had grown the plants(that eventually died)! I was kinda shocked they grew into plants with absolutely no soil or sun lol 😂

[@MrAngelmiguee]

Always look forward to your videos!

[@Seraph318]

Has there been an update to this? I'm going to be planting potatoes coming up soon and would love to see how these results came out!

[@pickleslabs]

Thanks, Jacques! Great video 😊

[@AjArpopP52]

Thank you for this information. That wheelbarrow idea is genius!

[@SuperStruct]

I wonder if any animals could possibly dig them out but maybe the straw covers the scent. I did a DIY seed tape with flour water mixture to "glue" seeds to a paper towel but some mice ran in and dug them up, just like perfectly where the flour was located even though it was covered with like half inch of soil... Crazy beasts. Anyways many traps later I think they are gone.

[@lsherylc2524]

animals don't eat straw... it's not hay

[@dzdncnfzd3]

Brilliant tips all through it

[@jendell9035]

Do you know (or how do you know) if your straw has been treated with herbicide - especially when it's left over from fall decor?

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I have been using it for a while now and haven't noticed any herbicide issues. One way to test it is growing beans in a container with some of the straw mixed in. If the beans come out all contorted and messed up then its got herbicide in it. Of course nothing is fool proof outside of buying organic straw and that is quite expensive.

[@sloanschwindt9718]

Couldn't find all our potatoes this year. Then the ground was super cold and partially frozen. I'm definitely doing the straw method next year! Hopefully I'll be able to find clean straw!

[@umaumalei14]

Great video. I could not find the follow-up video you promised. Did you make such? Thanks.

[@michaelayala5394]

After watching this, a bunch of people gonna be putting wheelbarrows on their Christmas list this year 🤣😂 I know *I* need to invest in one!

[@helenmcclellan452]

I live in TN, zone 7b and it rains frequently and I have tons of slugs and snail issues, as well as squirrels and vols. QUESTION: 1. Will the water cause damage if I just hill with straw? 2. Will using straw increase the slug problem. 3. Will the critters eat the potatoes if not planted deeper (with soil) and use netting to prevent pets from eating the spuds? What can I do to get a early spring planting in my area?

[@JulianJP21]

Another great vid ✌️ friend!!

[@heylo757]

Aye, perfectly timed, as I'm planting in 10a/NorCal soon. Somewhat related: did y'all post a sweet potato harvest video here or on Epic's main? Curious how the whisky barrels worked out.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

They have not been harvested yet!

[@user-en7eo8nl6d]

Thanks for this great video! Could I use the Ruth Stout method, but in a grow bag? A base of soil and then mound with straw as they grow?

[@thuthiehiker]

I like that third method. I live in the high desert. Zone 9. When can I plant potatoes.

[@Gardeningchristine]

I’d google it. Also might see which kinds grow better in your area too. I planted 3 kinds last year and some did better than others.

[@misstweetypie1]

You could also ask local growing centres, they should know, and have potato varieties that will work well in your climate.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

You might want to wait until your late frost, or plant them slightly ahead of your final frost.

[@thuthiehiker]

@@jacquesinthegarden so next year? Thank you.

[@stevenlehmann4432]

How would these nelods work for sweet taters? Looking forward to updates on all 3 methods

[@sonnyamoran7383]

How do you know which potato is early, mid-season or late season?

[@lsherylc2524]

wondering how you water the straw method? Or how oftern?

[@karenwaybright3283]

How do you keep grow bags watered? Mine tend to be too dry and plants don't do well.

[@enigmaticreverieproduction5169]

When do you water and how often?

[@angelaschettino1327]

Can the straw method also be done in zone 7b?

[@suegendron2260]

Jacques, are you saying that a combination of compost and potting soil is all that's needed to feed these potatoes? I'm skeptical that there would be enough nutrition for 100+ days of growing?

[@lisag9752]

My potatoes had beautiful growth until we had frost this week. The leaves are looking traumatized. Lesson learned to cover the spuds on frost nights. 😕

[@garymichael162]

Can you use straw instead of hay for the Ruth Stout method? Doesnt hay attract mice?

[@jacquesinthegarden]

Hay or straw is totally fine, hay tends to be seedy though so it would be more effort to manage.

[@garymichael162]

@@jacquesinthegarden Thank you

[@catiepower3550]

How many seed potatoes would you put in a half whiskey barrel?

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I think you could easily put 4 without issue

[@catiepower3550]

@@jacquesinthegarden thank you! That’s my container of choice for potatoes. Any suggestions for amending the soil after harvest?

[@cj5782]

Being the timing of this video is December, can I do this in zone 7b now?

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I would wait until your final frost or just ahead of it, potatoes can be killed back by frost

[@mamabear8401]

I heard you could overwinter potatoes by burying them deeper, not sure if it’s true though? I’m in zone 7b as well and was thinking about giving it a try 🤷‍♀️

[@juliecade3986]

Eric's lead-in from his email said you can grow potatoes in containers inside, but you didn't say anything about that. Is it possible?

[@wade4747]

What came first the potato or the potato?!?!

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

😍😍😍😍👍👍

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

Potato’s are the mist grows

[@PlantObsessed]

The British call them chits. Much more potential comedy.

[@rhkean]

$8 for a bale of almost moldy straw!?!?

[@Mandiikinz]

Who is that new shmuppie??????

[@AlvinMcManus]

No technically about green potato toxicity it is a fact. No ambiguity involved. LOL

[@jacquesinthegarden]

It's too a degree of how green they are and the effects can be as minor as light discomfort.

[@tinguspingus295]

Second lol

[@novastar2486]

Your price for straw hurts my brain... $8 USD! for a rotted bale? I can get 7 cubic feet of that compressed premium chopped garden straw you guys use for $7 CAD. Not a boast, just sad to see it is that pricey for you/ happy it isn't here.

[@jacquesinthegarden]

I think a compressed straw bale is equivalent to 20 cubic feet but yeah being down in the desert means all my straw has to come from somewhere else!