5 Reasons Why I'm Not Growing Potatoes in Raised Beds | Growing Potatoes in Containers

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Today's video is all about one of the most important crops in the garden...potatoes! I wanted to share why I am no longer growing potatoes in raised beds as I move towards container growing and allowing more space for the crops I'm growing for my mission of flavour over productivity. I really hope you get a lot of useful tips on growing potatoes, and towards the end of the video, you will also learn how to plant maincrop potatoes in containers.
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Why this video 0:00
Reason 1 0:29
Reason 2 1:48
Reason 3 2:44
Reason 4 4:15
Reason 5 5:20
Container benefit 1 5:39
Container benefit 2 6:04
Container benefit 3 6:22
This Changed Everything 6:57
How to Grow Potatoes in Containers 8:36
How to water containers less 9:26
#potatoes #gardeningtips #vegetablegardening

[@HuwRichards]

How many times did I say potato in this video?😂 By the way the container sizes in this video are 30litres :)

[@lornaodonoghue5925]

Huw, I can't find the link for the buckets. Can you add it please?

[@HuwRichards]

@@lornaodonoghue5925 Just added it to description!

[@Sfadjf]

Said potatoes 30 times Huw.

[@gromlynne3550]

llawer!!😂 Quick question, can I use last year's leftover Sarpo's as 'seed' for this year? I moved to all tubs last year for my tatws and mulched with grass and it worked really well for all the reasons you have stated. I only put spuds in one new bed to break up the soil a bit and with all the grass clipping mulch, that bed will hopefully be really fertile this year. Diolch Huw for confirming I'm on the right track 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@mistervelux]

4782

[@hobbitone2939]

We bought a old filing cabinet, took out the draws, turned it on its back, re-enforced it and on the bottom we put heavy duty castor wheels. In this is our spuddys 💪🏻 we can wheel it around if the frosts or like last week...snow hits. Love your vid Huw, Thankyou

[@HuwRichards]

Brilliant! :)

[@hobbitone2939]

@@HuwRichards Thankyou ☺️

[@surquhart64]

Oh, what a brilliant idea...thank you 😁👍

[@megank7235]

Good idea! What did you do with the drawers? :)

[@catherinesyme901]

👏👏👏👏👏 what a great idea

[@donnaharper3901]

I’ve actually grown garlic and onions thanks to watching your channel and now potatoes, I’ve bought the containers already 😀 built a compost bin from pallets thanks to your video from last year. I love how you pack so much in and they are beginner friendly but I do wish I could borrow you for a month to get me full set up with a garden even half as good as yours haha

[@marianreddy9848]

I built the compost bin too, my very first wood work project!

[@simonesmit6708]

Thanks for the incentive. I will have to build one now.😓😁

[@KCJohn316]

Looking to make a compost bin too. Inspired 🙏

[@designslave38]

A great, inexpensive container is a blue IKEA bag. 99¢. Poke holes in the bottom with a hot poker. Also, large cardboard boxes work well.

[@ziggybender9125]

Try making some bio char to throw in your compost bin. It's quite easy and it lets the benefits of your finished compost last much longer in the soil when you add it.

[@sophiaprisk5545]

I started a large garden on our homestead in 2019, it's been fairly productive but I always felt overwhelmed by the amount of work a more traditional way of gardening entailed. Having to deal with the rest of the farm on top of a produce garden tired me out and I always ended the season worn out and usually giving up the battle agianst the weeds. This winter I discovered your channel, and even with a new baby I feel less overwhelmed- I was really dreading starting the garden this spring before I found your advice. We are just starting the growing season here in northwest Washington, but I have already implemented a lot of your tips and will continue to do so as the season progresses. As soon as we sell another cow I will be purchasing your book(s). Thank you Huw, you've saved my garden and for the first time in a while I feel truly inspired and looking forward to the growing season. You are my garden angel!

[@runawaycrofter4268]

I've got a new baby too! And feel much less overwhelmed by the veg garden using Huw's methods!

[@chompers11]

what are some of the biggest takeaways that youve found have helped you? Im also in the pnw

[@sophiaprisk5545]

@@chompers11 sorry- a bit late but here is my reply. The biggest takeaway is converting entirely to no dig. I have a large raised bed plot and the weeding and tilling was getting unmanageable. I am lucky enough to have a local compost producer so I can afford to cover the beds with compost at a very reasonable price. The difference in work input v output has already made it worth it. Another takeaway has been rigorous succession planting, I'm from Alaska where I only had time for one major planting, and I had always been fearful of starting a second crop in case of frost taking it. I'm already on a second planting of onions, and have replaced about half of my crops already with fall crops. Huw also has introduced me to many unusual crops I would not have grown otherwise. honestly one of the most important for me as an anxious, controlling person has been: just go for it, and if it fails so be it. It sounds small but letting go of the fear of failure has been really important for me, and I've had several successful experiments that I would not have had. Some things are not doing so well, but I can let it go and be grateful for the learning experience instead of being disappointed it didn't work. Huw has really encouraged me in this way. The last takeaway has been to be diligent about recording things, this is the first year I have recorded everything I do and harvest in the garden. Next year I will be able to look back and either emulate or tweak my process with certainty, because in previous years I was guessing a lot and trying to remember approximate dates. I tend to think I will remember, but I often don't.

[@chompers11]

@@sophiaprisk5545 what a detailed response, thanks a ton. Anything you are really succeeding with? First year growing tomatillos here for us in the PNW and they're going nuts. Failed with daikon, didnt realize they were later season. French dressing radishes crushed. Baby bok choy in containers also crushed, one of my favs.

[@sophiaprisk5545]

@@chompers11 ah yes, I failed with diakon a few years ago, when I pull my shelling beans I'm going to replace them with winter radishes. Hmmm some good successes..... Well, my peas did very very well right up until the point our heat killed them. My zucchinis are having a bumper crop year, and my sunchokes are about 10 feet tall with no signs of slowing. My beans are already overtaking their 6 foot cattle panel trellises and just starting to set well so that's very exciting. And this is my first year growing chickpeas, they are setting lots and lots of fruit and I'm very pleasantly surprised by this- though none is ripe yet the plants are vigorous and healthy. I've tried tomatillos before and swore I would never grow them again, I must have harvested 100 pounds of fruit off of two plants, couldn't give them away. All things being balanced, my beets almost completely failed this year, the first onion crop was largely the size of golf balls, and the trailing zucchini is still only 2 feet high- something stunted it and it's not happy. Good luck with your garden friend, it's a beautiful journey and you will not regret "digging in" haha (but seriously, don't dig)

[@kathrynsavela9506]

I experimented growing potatoes in containers last year. I used organic reds and whites from the grocery store because seed potatoes were sold out. I yielded about 7 lbs which I was very happy with as a first time gardener! I learned a lot and will be changing my strategy just a bit this year to see if I can increase yield. Very easy to grow and very satisfying to harvest for the first time gardener. U.S., Michigan, zone 5b.

[@melissahurn6925]

I am also, Michigan Zone 5b and trying potatoes in a bucket for the first time. How did you know when you could harvest them. I did the layering method and the greens are almost 5' tall and still green and growing. I think my potatoes will be smooshed by now. They are also small potatoes from the grocery store.

[@kathrynsavela9506]

@@melissahurn6925 I waited until all the foliage had died back and tested for them. I ended up leaving them another week or so. But finally I decided I wanted to squeeze in another crop of beans and peas in those pots so I dug them up. I hadn’t layered them. This year I’m trying that.

[@jacquelines3685]

@@kathrynsavela9506 Hi! I'm Growing 🥔 potato for the first time. I have them in Big Blue 🪣 Tub's. They are doing excellent so far. Tall Green Foliage...very Healthy looking so far. Can you give me a estimate of how many weeks until Harvest?

[@ema8909]

@@jacquelines3685 I started my first potatoes too!

[@CornerTalker]

@@melissahurn6925 Michigan zone 5a/4b. I've tried garden store seed-potatoes and planting from grocery store potatoes. The first gave more and bigger taters.

[@kathymay3980]

I’m growing potatoes in old compost bags using a mixture of well rotted manure and compost. They’re doing incredibly well. Don’t forget to put a few holes near the bottom of the bags for drainage. 👍

[@1Melody1963]

Good tip on adding drainage holes. I did this to my grow bags (7 & 10 gallon) the second year of using them. Definitely helps

[@englishrose4388]

Thank you. The concept of gardening for what’s most expensive to buy was invaluable.

[@feirmebeardonn4597]

We did a trial growing potatoes in raised bed vs potato towers and found that the towers had a much higher yield. Our farm is in Kodiak, Alaska and the growing season is very short and erratic, so optimizing space is very essential for our farm. Thanks for the great vids.

[@sandraconner6968]

Have you ever tried a potato tower? Fencing goes around the potato in a pot, and as the potatoes grow, you continue to add leaves up and up. This adds to your bounty!

[@LizZorab]

I love spud planting time, it really makes me feel like the next growing season has started! Lovely video again Huw.

[@allisonealways]

Liz, also love watching you!

[@iamthewelcher]

Huw really knocks it outta the park, as do you Liz !

[@DontCropMeNow]

We now only grow our potatoes in 30l containers having been inspired by Tony at Simplify Gardening a while back. Great method and 100% agree with the over winter storage. I put the containers into the polytunnel when it gets really cold as I found, although the compost is a good insulator any spuds that are near to the plastic edge are susceptible to frost. This way they keep right through till spring and I harvest a container at a time.

[@runawaycrofter4268]

Another extremely helpful video Huw. I've been growing veg for about 6 years, but have learnt so much from your videos this year. This is the first season I've done a monthly plan for the garden, and it has been so much more productive already! Thank you!

[@davebeech236]

I'm digging over my sister's jungle of a garden at the moment, getting ready to grow veg as first-time gardeners. This video has completely convinced me to do spuds in buckets. Thanks very much!

[@bill-2018]

Same here this year as it's too much for my sister and we'll share whatever we decide to put in. I'm the gardener, she's the boss.

[@tommywood6504]

Brilliant video Huw! I am also growing in containers this year after a 50% split last year in seeds led to a much higher container yield. And for all the reasons outlined by yourself, they'll be in buckets for any years to come. Thank you for doing this video, loved it!

[@sunhippie]

I’m glad to see you trying this, I’ll be doing this as well this year but I was wondering if it would produce enough. Storing them this way is brilliant! Thank you again!

[@marinalhouff]

I'm going to be trying the "potato tower" method this year. I'm looking forward to seeing how both these methods go. Happy growing!

[@Dawn_Grows_Veg]

So good Huw. I have done both pots in beds and pots in containers. And totally agree they take up way too much space and are difficult o get all out of the soil. Still getting volunteer spuds growing amongst my early crops at the moment. Going all out for containers this year, will definitely help with my limited space.

[@MarkCarline]

I'm going to do *exactly* this at my allotment tomorrow - same containers, potato varieties etc. The only difference is that mine are in the early stages of chitting so will be taking all the shoots off bar two (which I think is what Tony does). All 12x of my 30l tubs are numbered and the only slight difference will be the mix of compost but will be making notes of what's different. Can't wait for the harvest !

[@gardenlikeaviking]

Huw the cinematic quality of your videos are what put them on a whole different level than most gardening videos.... well done!

[@user-np7pq2gy1v]

I absolutely LOVE your garden. Everything is so abundant and picturesque. I can tell you loooove planting and trying new things.

[@anjkovo2138]

Hey Huw. I'm looking forward to this years Gardening Season. Keep on TEACHING & WITH YOUR GUIDENCE for a successful Year. 👍👍

[@JaguarInfinity]

As someone who is having to rent at the moment I started my growing journey last year by doing garlic and potatoes in containers. The benefits for the potatoes was clear and when I finally get my own place and set up some raised beds I am intending to stick to growing potatoes in containers and using the beds for other things

[@HuwRichards]

Brilliant! Really perfect for renting! Good luck with it :)

[@MrMintyfresh1234]

You found the best way to grow potatoes. You can also grow salad greens, spinach, and herbs in 1.5 gal water bottles. Some Chinese/Asian KZbinrs have successfully demonstrated vertical gardening in narrow spaces. Their healthy yield in 45-60 days are impressive. I would, however, plant all varieties in smaller numbers, and que them 2 weeks away to have a steady susupply. HINT to camouflage the bottles, spray them on the outside with non-toxic acrylic paint ...that is another of my projects this summer.

[@Sky-Child]

Another renter here who grows my potatoes in pots! My daughter loves to treasure hunt for the harvest

[@KCJohn316]

Thank you, inspired to do the same. Renting a house and building a few raised beds and also have some pots. Bought a cheap greenhouse too; tent-like. Our climate needs that!

[@hasanchoudhury5401]

This year I am growing potatoes in containers. So your experience is helpful to me. Agree with your concepts. Best wishes from Missouri USA.

[@deborahharris5683]

Having a go at this style this year, hopefully mine will yield a good crop. Thanks for the info Huw 👍

[@prasanthim3930]

Nice info! And one more thing I heard is we need to fill just half of the container and as and when plant starts growing above the height of the container, fill it up with compost/soil

[@saronnpov3275]

I love this idea for growing in the city or growing for a small family … the fact that you can easily harvest potatoes “as you need basis” by flipping the bucket over is a game changer for me. Having them Right by the kitchen or somewhere accessible during winter months is just brilliant , without needing a place to store harvest. Why not do carrots and other root veg as well?

[@ferniek5000]

There is a channel called home grown veg right here on KZbin where a gentleman grows everything in buckets. He does all kinds of variations, but mostly grows carrots and potatoes. Worth checking out. He has great tips for upping your container game.

[@resarm5007]

@@ferniek5000 yes! I watch him too. Very smart old timer. He grows tons in his containers.

[@GTAmerc]

Thank you for the timeline segments. It helps a ton for keeping notes.

[@donnastormer9652]

Great idea ! It’s important to sanitize each container after use each time they are used. I have learned this , the hard way, to do this with every container including all seed trays.

[@barbararowley6077]

Because of our recent extreme floods (Australia), potato prices have gone up a lot - and there’s actually a shortage of some varieties. So I’ve definitely been contemplating getting some large pots to grow some.

[@davidthescottishvegan]

I am going to be doing a bit of both. Planting some seed potatoes in the ground and some in containers. It's another excellent video Huw Richard and thanks for sharing this video and the reasons for why you don't plant them in the ground.

[@cristalmedeiros114]

I happened upon your videos last evening and am completely smitten!! Every video contains many, many great tips. Thank you!!

[@crunchymomguides3694]

I love the storage idea. Storage is an issue and I am upping my game out of nessisity to keep food accessible for my family. Thank you for mentioning that bit.

[@simplifygardening]

Awesome video Huw loads of great information. Thanks for the mention too.

[@gardengirl7446]

Love your channel too Tony! Can we buy those potato buckets in Canada?

[@Andrew-eo2cw]

Simplify Gardening is the place to watch potato videos.

[@simplifygardening]

@@gardengirl7446 Thanks :) Not yet but im working on it bare with me

[@simplifygardening]

@@Andrew-eo2cw Thanks Andrew

[@Scott3387]

I was going to comment 'Hang on, this is just Tony's video repackaged'.

[@deborah820]

A lot of spuds for a little sterling!🤣I laughed way too hard!

[@HuwRichards]

I'm glad😂 It came out of nowhere😂

[@homelife8597]

I don't get it. I was wondering why there was an outtake.

[@rayaqueen9657]

Am I stupid? Why is it funny?

[@cheezheadz3928]

@@rayaqueen9657 It wasn't.

[@interabang]

You on need to get out more Deborah

[@jaclynbrown8641]

Thank you! I enjoy your mindset to explore a variety of different methods to grow.

[@mywoolmitten]

Extremely interesting and well thought out! Will look forward to watching how they do for you this year

[@GmamaGrowz]

I've always grown my potatoes in containers 🤩 Thanks for sharing your experiences!!

[@MarisGardenandKitchen]

That's lovely, I love the "planting images" at the end! I'm going to grow potatoes all in containers this year too!!

[@ivetalambert2371]

Huw, just mine thoughts! In our allotments people don't try different crops but I'm happy to try new things and potatoes take a lot space. But it's up to people what they want to try. You have lots of good tips, thank you! 👍🏻

[@saveyourselvessheeple]

I'm new to your channel but I am absolutely loving it as well as learning some nifty tricks. Most appreciated my friend! 👊🏻💙

[@ivystrom9618]

Last year I tried an experiment that worked great! We had huge heaps of wood chips from some spruce trees that needed to come down. I placed a layer of soil and then compost in some tires (this is what we had), placed the potatoes on top then filled with wood chips. I tried other variations, including a control area with traditional soil and compost (ants moved in and we ended up with no potatoes), and one filled with soil but topped with wood chips. Potatoes loved growing in the wood chips the best. I intentionally neglected these without regular watering, only watering a few times on hot summer days. Harvesting was a breeze through the soft wood chips. I had been reading about Ruth Stout, who grew all her potatoes by placing them on the ground and covering in in hay, so I also tried another experiment: I placed some potatoes in patchy grass/weedy area of our yard in rows. First row, I just covered with grass clippings and weeds from the area and kept topping up with garden weeds in the summer. I intentionally didn’t water that area as well and let Mother Nature do her thing, relying only on rain. I watered only about 5 times in heat of summer. In another row, I covered the potatoes only in wood chips, and in the 3rd row, I covered the potatoes in grass clippings then topped with wood chips. Potatoes always thrived best in wood chips in both the tire containers and rows. This soilless method of growing using what we had worked great in Northern Ontario, Canada. There was no weeding required because of the mulch, the wood chips also retained moisture. I’ve read that tires add heat to your garden. I will try cardboard boxes to contain potatoes or use scrap wood to build containers next. I’ve researched using tires but have found nothing about chemicals leaching into the ground or food. Next time, I’ll also water when it’s dry. Winter storage in a heated home poses a problem for me so I like the idea of pots you can move indoors. I dream of a root cellar.

[@FloridaGirl-]

Great info. Love experimenting with different methods. Wood chips are awesome for so many things. 👍 Thanks for posting your experiment!

[@Jesus-hk7cq]

I have planted peppers, garlic and potatoes in the south of Spain, and I have obtained good results. I think it's a good option

[@nemesisbreakz]

Very informative, thanks. I've seen some people use old tires and as the plants grow they will add another tire and more soil and grow vertically like that.

[@nitelite78]

It's my second year growing potatoes this year. I'm have opted for Jersey Royals and Sarpo Blue Danube in tubs this year. Last year I grew Elfe and had good success. I left one of the tubs in the garage until Christmas and this gave me potatoes for Christmas Day. They were actually much nicer tasting after having left them a few months. Nice and sweet. Growing in pots makes so much sense. Much easier to harvest and less likelihood of damaging when harvesting. Also less work overall as there's no need to hill up. There's lest pests I think and you are much less likely to miss potatoes in the soil. Good for maximising space for other things.

[@kitdubhran2968]

Love this. I love growing mine in cardboard boxes and rip the box apart after. This year I took cuttings from a blueberry and a gooseberry that I had to prune off for the year, and pushed them down into the soil, through the cardboard, to the weedless earth underneath. And they both started growing. So now I’ve got two of each! But these buckets look awesome and I might grab a few. More potatoes would never ever be a problem in my house. I could probably eat them every meal, maybe multiple forms per meal, and never get sick of them.

[@petepip]

Cardboard boxes, brilliant idea 👍

[@xsivnos5597]

Great idea using cardboard as I am not a fan of having any plastic around the growing soil. Didnt you have issues with watering the soil and the cardboard becoming saturated and/or falling a part?

[@kitdubhran2968]

@@xsivnos5597 I piled wood chips up around the box. Kept it in place until it was time to rip it apart to get the potatoes out. Thinking about doing the same with a handful of bricks or stones this year. Reusing rather than decomposing. Either way gets the job done.

[@xsivnos5597]

@@kitdubhran2968 you got a creative brain on you, great ideas which I will have to try. Guess with cardboard you are not moving them so making it with bricks or stone should have the same effect of not requiring plastic. Any reason you didn't make a wooden enclosure instead?

[@kitdubhran2968]

@@xsivnos5597 no money for the wood, had loads of extra cardboard. And then with potatoes I’d have to dig them up out of a wooden structure unless I made it able to be broken down. I know that’s an option, but way beyond my money and energy levels right now. So for now, cardboard it is. 😊

[@lynmaunsell4062]

Great video Huw. I’ve been growing potatoes in containers for a few years now. Much easier on my ageing body at harvest time than digging them out of the ground & I harvest one container at a time as needed.

[@lisastone2537]

I have a question I don’t think he addressed in this video that you may be able to help me by answering. If you are harvesting all winter as you need the potatoes, are you picking up the containers at some point (say November/December) and putting them in a garage or outbuilding to keep the soil from freezing? Also, if you do move these indoors or under cover at some point, do you let the soil completely dry out over the winter? I really think harvesting throughout the winter is the smart thing to do and would like to try it.

[@tashuntka]

I'm curious 👍👍👍

[@smas3256]

We are in our 70s now. Started potatoes in containers first time. Our regular garden has changed to a no dig, no fork and no till. Only two of us and had enough zucchini and tomatoes to share with neighbor last year. Great way to stay in shape. My grandchildren loved touching and eating sugar snap peas last year as well as touching and smelling their hands of rosemary and other herbs in patio pot. I gently crush the rosemary and rub my hands on my face, arms and neck to repel gnats and mosquitos. I think the oregano that had dried in the pot during the winter enriched the soil enough I did not need any fertilizer and very little compost/soil. So rewarding and learning and passing along tips.

[@shapiemau2244]

Yep I would agree. Harvest when needed.

[@BillynBertie]

Absolutely brilliant logic! I have wondered (and been depressed) every year by the amount of space that I have had to give up to potatoes and how it deprives me of space for main summer crops. It also forces a rapid decision about what to plant to follow them after the process of wrecking your no dig strategy by digging out every bit of root, not to mention the work that involves and effort for someone of my age. I love the idea of container growing and even leaving some in place to harvest at my leisure. As a mean old git I hesitate at the cost of all those containers and the original outlay on compost, but of course the containers are largely a 'one off' and the compost isn't wasted and can be used in potting up things in later months and years or adding to the fertility of the whole garden. You have convinced me and I will definitely be trying a lot in containers this year!

[@Ryan-yt1hj]

Great vid! Short enough to watch all. Not too much "my garden", information and cuts are relevant and well edited to keep momentum throughout. Good job. Subbed.

[@AncientAmbience]

Love the channel and the garden! In a world where we face skyrocketing food prices, we can't ignore potential food shortages as well. Because of this I decided to rethink my potatoes priority. In my garden I decided to go back to 1/3 potatoes, 2/3 everything else. I'm even looking at growing indoors now and as far as I can tell buckets are by far the best bet there also. We can't forget our neighbors who have not a green thumb! In a crunch, potatoes go a long way.

[@murphystanley983]

Would love to see a video of how this turned out. I've always heard not to grow potatoes in containers because they end up smaller and you get less of them from each plant.

[@mariae6942]

My husband and I grew potatoes this year for the very first time in cardboard boxes. We went to Lowe’s and bought the large “moving boxes.” Of course any box can be used as long as there is no tape or wax on your boxes. We harvested so many potatoes!!! It really went quite well, and now we are hooked! We plan on growing more next year and can hardly wait for spring! I loved the fact that the potatoes were so easy to harvest, just turn over the box and hunt! Thank you for making this great video. 😊

[@dd7521]

Brilliant idea!

[@mattmitchell7350]

We did that last year too. Very successful.

[@lelandshanks4759]

Thanks Huh , I've been doing container spuds. But never realized your method of leaving them in the containers for future harvest, thanks for info!!!

[@MorningsattheAllotment]

Great video, Huw! I definitely agree about the potatoes - I tend to use the containers to hold down cardboard where I'm turning lawn into new beds ;)

[@IvarDaigon]

Additional tips. 1. if you use ollas in your containers then you'll only need to add water once a week in summer and once every few weeks in winter. 2. if you have access to a lot of grass clippings.. you can mix them 50/50 with spent soil to create a light and fluffy mix that potatoes really love. 3. if you live in a region with only mild frost you can line up your containers and simply throw a shade cloth or an old bed sheet over them when the forecast is for frost. If you live in a mild climate these tips will allow you to grow a steady stream of potatoes all year round so you don't need to worry about planting and harvesting by seasons.

[@Jim-yk9zw]

When you say mix grass clippings are you making sure they are completely dried out or are you mixing them in with the soil fresh?

[@IvarDaigon]

@@Jim-yk9zw fresh to help keep the nitrogen and moisture.

[@Jim-yk9zw]

@@IvarDaigon Cheers. I might have a dig at that when I plant some in the next week or so.

[@SisterShirley]

@Evar Dion, what is an O L L A ? I haven't a clue Edit: I looked it up. How interesting. How costly would it be to purchase ollas? Im assuming the olla does not have a drainage hole. RIGHT?

[@IvarDaigon]

@@SisterShirley buying ollas is expensive but you can make them for about $3 if you have access to cheap unglazed pots. and yes they have no holes.. so you can fill any drainage holes in with silicone (which is made from sand and is inert so it wont react with the soil)

[@JessicaJLandi]

I like the way he says "potatoes" - and the planting info is great, too.

[@backyardnaturefollies673]

Always grow mine in containers. Helps keep them findable!

[@bobsonuk]

I've been looking into doing the no dig method, but in containers. Last year I half filled my Haxnicks Vigoroot Potato Planters with compost, then fill the top half with grass clippings and the potatoes were fine. I even filled one with nothing but grass clipping, with some blood, fish & bone and potato fertiliser. From that one I got about 10 decent sized potatoes. This year I've switched to 35ltr plastic containers, the plan being to use even less compost and more grass clippings. And to sink the containers into the ground a couple of inches, with large drainage holes for the roots. I might do one or two containers with just grass clippings, to compare with the compost ones. Maybe one day 100% grass clippings for all my potato containers.

[@theirishcailin333]

Oh looking forward to watching. I have loads of spuds chitting and going to do no dig this year. With everything going on I'm also doing a big garden this year too 😊 unfortunately I don't have a tunnel/greenhouse - only a tiny one but hopefully next year

[@chunglow7646]

Protecting the plastic FROM ultra Violet Sun rays deteriotive effects look into 303 Aerospace Protectant. Swab high domes with a kitchen flat floor mop coupled with a light aluminum extender pole.

[@sandraconner6968]

I like the surprise you got ... I could winter over potatoes that way too!

[@thevallins4324]

I had so much trouble storing my potatoes! This year I am going to try leaving them in the containers. Thanks!!!

[@rhysjaggar4677]

Huw - if you're worried about not having the chance to sow a second crop with potatoes in the ground, I've successfully grown maincrop potatoes (Sarpo Mira and Desiree) sowing them the first week of May and harvesting by the end of September - that gives you the chance to plant out spring onions, chard, spring cabbage, Valdor lettuces etc, all of which can be followed by another crop in the spring/early summer. You can also sow some early radishes in modules and have them harvested by the end of April. Desiree needs no longer than 20 weeks, which from 3rd May gives a harvest date around 20th September. If anything, yields are better using a later sowing date - the plants have no check in general to growth and emerge much faster than if you sow them in the ground in March or April.

[@rhysjaggar4677]

I sowed my tubers on 4th May this year and I saw the first of them coming through today, 16th May from all strains sown.

[@michelleh4588]

I've never eaten a homegrown potato, so I'm so excited to grow some this year!!

[@handymanservices525]

😲They look sort of like store bought 🤣😂🤣😂 But the small ones if u pic early season are called "New potatoes" by the country peeps & they have wonderful flavor like " just picked & cooked" yellow squash & sweet 🌽 . COOK WITHIN 1/2 HOUR. U will want to b a Gardner 4 ever

[@michelleh4588]

@@handymanservices525 good to know, I'll keep that in mind this season!

[@samappleby1297]

Your voice is so easy to listen to. I’m going to do the potato in pots. Thankyou for your great advice

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you :) So glad it's useful!

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

I have an area on the north side of the garden that is shaded in the summer but sunny when the sun is a bit lower in the sky. I can grow potatoes in containers there whenever it's sunny and move lettuces in containers there in summer when it's too warm and bright for them elsewhere. Works great!

[@charismatic9467]

I feel like I just stumbled into the middle of an advanced class. I mean that in a good way btw. I clicked but I'ma head straight to potato growing 101 to learn the basics first. I'll be back great potato wizard.

[@NicksAllotmentDiary]

Hi Huw. I grow all my potatoes in buckets and have found it to be a great method and tip them out when I need them. Definitely the main issue is watering them. The foliage can cause run off of rain so it might be best to partially bury them so the compost can pull moisture from the soil below. Take care. Nick

[@squange20]

Weeds do tend to get into the pot via the draining holes. One good idea would be to line the pots with fine netting, and place the pots on weed mat.

[@adrianshingler6182]

Bought your book in a local garden centre ... now i'm hooked, looking forward to spring planting .. exciting times ahead

[@HuwRichards]

Best of luck!!:)

[@mariepownall6629]

Thanks so much for the useful advice , we’re 100% newbies at this and it’s likely we’ll now plant the seed potatoes we just bought in containers - can’t think of many reasons not to . Happy Easter .

[@patriciahogg5763]

Always look forward to your shared knowledge! Thanks!

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you Patricia! :)

[@growshakephil]

You make great points here. I’m so tempted to plant in my beds, but dedicating so much compost to pots can be daunting. They take so much compost!

[@petepip]

I'm if the same thought as you. I've just taken on an allotment the the previous owner didn't make a compost in so have only shop bought compost to use.

[@thelimeysretreat4976]

True but I reuse the compost from my potato pots the following autumn to mulch the other veg beds.

[@jenadair1076]

Amazing garden @Huw! I am loving your channel and all your advice. I was planning on potatoes this year in a bed but now will try pots. 🥔

[@ZenandTao]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I love that you share how your gardening ideas evolve to make best use of a space and also that it’s not just about production but also the joy you get from a garden! I’m doing my spuds this way this year but also reading a lot about wicking beds recently, seen some quite small containers turned into wicking containers so wondered if that might be a way to help the watering issue. Think I’m gonna try it in my buckets. 🤔 Can’t wait to get your book 🥰btw , got it on preorder! ☺️👍

[@AndyGadget]

I planted a large tub up with 5 supermarket Charlotte potatoes (chitted first) but slightly different to you, planted them low with only a couple of inches of compost on top and added more as the stems grew - Earthing up container style. End of year we got around 4 lbs of perfect medium sized spuds. Delicious!

[@grgustafson3777]

What does “chitted first” mean? I’m in US and unfamiliar with that term. Thanks!

[@AndyGadget]

@@grgustafson3777 It means putting the seed spuds (potatoes) in a light place and waiting until the eyes develop into shoots of 1/2 inch or so. Then you plant them out. Egg cartons are good for the chitting.

[@kathya739]

Enjoyed the video. Very informative. Can't wait to see how it all goes this coming winter and following spring. I'm concerned about the yield and size being quite lower compared to traditional ground/raised bed.

[@quantafitness6088]

You seem experieced in growing potatoes. Do you have any advice on how to fertilise them? I think I might have overdone it last year...

[@Passioakka]

We are having a jointly potato field where all the neighbours have their own rows with potatoes but I always have a couple of buckets with early potatoes for midsummer celebration. Due to last frost in the middle of June I have to grow them that way and have them standing in my greenhouse, a nice way to get an early crop. When I get an exiting variety from friends, just a couple (or buying expensive) I grow them in pallets, 2-3 on each others. 50% sand/50% common soil, put the potatoes on the bottom and then fill up with the soil as the grow taller and taller. Finish of with a layer of cut grass or straw and I get a lot of bulbs from that. 6 bulbs in one pallet can give around 2-3 kg/bulb depending on how many pallet collars I staple on each other. The potatoes likes it and it doesn´t take up a lot of space in my garden.

[@cherylanon5791]

I am so jealous of your climate! our high today was 21 (F) and snow still flying! garden paths are frozen but the beds under mulch are wiggling with worms. Many seedlings to tend (indoors!!!). Tried potatoes in 7 gallon buckets but the 100 degrees summer days are really tough to keep the compost in buckets from frying; the following year I halfway buried the buckets (lotsa work....) and bought oat straw to insulate them. After all that work, the voles climbed right in and ate most of the taters. Last year went to regular in-ground beds and had my 1st experience with Colorado Potato Beetles (gasp!). I am not sure if I can plant potatoes this year. Maybe will try the 7 gal buckets again, in a less-sunny area of yard, away from main garden so the Beetles don't find them. Love your videos!

[@Sfadjf]

This might be off topic, but do you have any plans for more live streams Huw ? They are always informative as well as fun to watch. BTW you and Liz collaborate well together !

[@lynndifer4163]

Hey Huw, you’ve convinced me to try potatoes in a container this year. Unfortunately soon after I planted them it rained for three days straight. They haven’t sprouted out of the soil yet and I’m worried that they’re rotted. Oh well, it wasn’t that much money and if they never come up I can put a tomato in there

[@Bobsmith-ot6si]

Loving the book🙏 loving everything your doing, a true inspiration x

[@HuwRichards]

Thank you so much! :)

[@airrunner85]

Every year I have a go at potatoes in my garden and I always, always, without fail get blight!

[@Firevine]

I've currently got potatoes going in some 10 gallon grow bags, and I just purchased some 30 gallon ones. Looking forward to growing several root veggies this way. The 10 gallon, I can at least move into the garage overwinter and possibly still get some yields.

[@tjenks24]

I was just looking at some grow bags. Seems like a nice alternative to plastic pots

[@mothturtle7897]

It's my first time growing potatoes and I'm doing most of them in containers. I had an old rubble tub with a cracked bottom that seemed perfect for it.

[@alemiller9]

Great pointers!!!!!! I want to create a chain of potato containers, planted every month till I obtain a continious harvest all year around. I hope. Thanks so much for all your tips and loving sharing of knowledge. God blesses you. Greetings from Aguascalientes, México.

[@preppingonabudget8229]

Hey Annette here from Appletree Urban Homestead on KZbin from Perth Australia. We are a family of three and in the process of turning our Aussie backyard into our dream urban homestead. Looking forward to learning lots

[@davidsinclair8849]

You can store both early and main crop potatoes in the tubs until needed. Stacking two or three tubs on top of each other in a shady place lets you make maximum use of valuable space and doesn't damage the potatoes. Good luck!

[@AthelstanEngland]

David I'm assuming you mean still in the compost is it best to cut the foliage off or just leave it on?

[@adrenalinemedia]

I used containers 2 years ago, this year I am back to raised beds. Apart from the advantages in that video, I felt that the yield/square meter is slightly higher in the raised bed. The reason may be that the depth for the roots is a bit limited when using containers. Also, I would advise putting those containers for at least 1 week or two in the bright sun and washing them with water since the material does contain softeners and other chemicals which I do not want to end up in my potatoes. Btw: You do not need a whole potato to grow a plant. Cut them in half or even less, they will germinate even if they are small. The advantage is (except. in containers) that the seed potato will not use up so much space and leave more room for new potatoes. ) So try to keep the seed potato as small as possible. Another idea. If you use a hairdryer, you can heat the container and form it into something square, to increase your yield once more... Back to my yield experience: Maybe it is worth experimenting with higher containers and comparing if that will increase the yield as well. I saw videos of someone using a barrel (around 1m high) and harvesting around 8 Kg of potatoes from it. So it may be worth evaluating what the optimal high of such a container is. Cheers

[@andrewreaney]

What size containers and what variety of potatoes did you use?

[@dornspinnchenspinne2392]

Agree 💯%. And the goal must be to avoid as much plastic as possible. If you use the right potatoes for the right type of cultivation, you don't need plastic containers. I have been growing potatoes in raised beds for years and can only recommend it. Greets from Saxony.

[@davidfineren479]

Brilliant as always, hoping to try and grow yacon in containers this year, also, great touch crediting other youtube sites, not enough do. All the best.

[@moiragoldsmith7052]

I tend to put gathered seaweed and grass clippings in with my potatoes, in the bottom and as a mulch. The tadte is scrumdiddlyumptious!! I am not so sure I get the same yield as when they are in the ground but I am sure the pot/ bag grown have less problems if watered regularly. Shop bought pots' make me ache...so its lovely to be able to enjoy home grown...even if its just a few pots. Thanks Huw and love to you and yours 💞

[@zoeward4555]

You would need to buy a lot of compost for those buckets, do you think using a no dig approach would work, with say grass clippings or wood chips on top of the potatoes instead of more compost?

[@jeffengel2607]

A lot of potato growing has straw providing all/most space between the potatoes and the surface, so grass clippings if they are not too wet may do. Wood chips may be a bit heavy for effective coverage unless we're talking about lightweight shavings or such.

[@romanCervik]

Would not a potato tower be better? Seconly I can not imagine growing any larger anound this way...

[@cbjones2212]

When we grew spuds in beds we just topped them with thick layers of straw so the same should work with buckets. The downside to this compared to compost would be that the straw will settle over time because of the air spaces and would need topping up more frequently. We're lucky in that we can buy in about a half a metre of great compost for about $60 if we haven't made enough of our own in time. Half a metre is an awful lot of bags. I guess it depends on what you have access to.

[@wubbalubbadubdub7597]

Wood chips will rob nitrogen from the soil and your crops will suffer. They are brilliant at improving soil health for next year, when you get the nitrogen back. I use them in heavy clay or soil areas. Grass is very high in nitrogen (double of horse manure) and I use it mixed in with the compost at it breaks down more quickly. Don’t forget to throw earthworms in the buckets if you see them!

[@kimberlyhughes5475]

Try a 24"x24"x24" cardboard box supported on the outside by chicken wire or galvanized fencing cut to size. The cardboard will eventually compost, but how often do you receive shipping boxes? Also, u-haul stores usually have a well organized bin of used boxes that are free for you to recycle!

[@gardenlikeaviking]

A tip for everyone: Huw can store these potatoes in the containers over winter because it must not get all that cold where he lives (Whales right?)... where I live zone 5b/6a... I've tried this many times in many different ways and the potatoes freeze solid... when that happens they die and rot the moment they thaw out... this has been my experience

[@alexmckee4683]

Yeah England and Wales don't get too cold in the winter usually, so they can be stored in situ. I also grow potatoes in containers and have done for years.

[@sheilasanderson9681]

I accidentally discovered that a bucket of dried out compost in an unheated greenhouse protected the potatoes from freezing. I’m in Scotland and our lowest temp can be -15C but not for long.

[@resarm5007]

I'm in 5b/6a in PA. I've heard tho not tried it...that if you place hay bales on top the areas you have planted, and you do not harvest the potatoes til you need them, the hay bales will insulate the ground and stop the ground from freezing. The same with carrots. They can take a light frost it sweetens them, but then they too can be left in the ground if protected with heavy mulch/hay bales. They should not freeze. It cannot be an inch or two of mulch. Need to mulch it around 6"+ deep. Before the ground freezes. Other people mulch AFTER the ground freezes to keep perennial plants from freeze and thaw cycle. Which can force them out of the ground. So mulch can keep the ground NOT frozen and also FROZEN depending on WHEN it is applied and how thickly. I might also add that I've harvested potatoes in the fall and missed a few. The next year I did have potato plants regrowing...

[@lauragarmon6969]

Thanks for this! I have a few 10 gallon (slightly more than 30 litres) grow bags that I used to grow sweet potatoes last year. They were too small for the sweet potatoes but look to be perfect for my Yukon golds.

[@Pixieworksstudio]

I couldn't agree more Huw. I have more of the 30-litre containers now, so my spare containers from last year I am also growing onions in. My plot has raised beds and if I don't think things through I can be a bit restricted with planting space. I may do it with leeks too if I have spare plants.

[@leonakofoed289]

My potatoes have sprouted! “Sow” excited. I really hope to get some in containers this year, haven’t tried that yet.

[@HuwRichards]

Good luck with your potatoes! :)

[@theclumsyprepper]

While I see the benefits of growing potatoes in containers, and would love to free up the space for other crops, I'm going to stick to the beds as it would cost me a fortune in pots and compost to fill them to grow enough for our needs. We go through 150kg of potatoes a year (more or less) so assuming each container would yield 2kg that's 75 pots minimum. It's just not financially viable.

[@asadarad6528]

Your calculations sounds very lean. 30ltr container should yield more than 2kgs of potatoes.

[@theclumsyprepper]

@@asadarad6528 I based my calculations on what Huw said, he estimated 1.5kg per pot so mine are quite generous. Still, I'm not going to start faffing with containers - too much money and hassle.

[@growshakephil]

@@theclumsyprepper I could see someone with unlimited access to compost using this method. Perhaps a series of 5 gallon buckets with holes drilled would suffice.

[@Asa-df8kb]

@@theclumsyprepper I agree. However, a couple of buckets started in a tunnel could provide with the early potatoes you'd want for Midsummer celebration here in Sweden... Or late ones for Christmas in climates milder than mine. It's more of a luxury crop that way.

[@ferniek5000]

We use containers left from other purchases for potatoes. In the neighborhood adjacent to me there is lots of fine landscaping and I find that in the springtime lots of containers big enough for potatoes go out in the recycling. I can often find 8-10 at a single house where they are doing mass plantings. Great free resource for us :)

[@blondie7740]

I planted potatoes in our new raised beds this year, not realizing how big they get. I have already decided I will be using containers for potatoes going forward and using our raised bed for other vegetables. It will be a much better use of space.

[@tassiegirl1991]

Huw, I use Tony’s process too, it’s the best way in small gardens to get homegrown potatoes. I will next year do as you intend and store in buckets after losing my stored ones to rodents this year.

[@oatmelbath]

Thank you for the video 💚🌱 I really want to grow potatoes in containers but I'm worried about creating slug havens beneath them. We tried it one year in a friend's garden and the slugs exploded. Has anyone struggled with this?

[@tassiegirl1991]

For the last two years I’ve only grown in containers and no slug or snail problem. I don’t use any bait. MaYbe just lucky.

[@Lionzgate788]

Raise the containers off the ground Either by strategically placed blocks or 2x4’s whatever works for getting them up off the ground a bit And better for drainage too

[@jeffengel2607]

The standard storage method for the somewhat similar Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke, suntuber, earth apple, many names) is simply keeping them in dirt around freezing for months. So it's got precedent there. We call it the dirt fridge.

[@markhoverd4993]

I've been gardening now for just over 4 years and was a complete beginner at the start. Me and my girlfriend moved into a house with a fairly sizeable garden but it hadn't been looked after at all. My 1st year I concentrated on just getting the greenhouse repaired and the veg plot dug over. I want to switch over to a raised bed system as my veg plot at the moment is one I have to walk on. One thing i enjoy is how the garden gets better year on year. Last year I installed a water butt so no longer have to use the hosepipe on the side of the house and so far this year I've sieved my compost pile and haven't had to buy a single bag of compost. I've already put a row of potatoes in this year but next year I'll definitely be growing them in containers instead.

[@rachelkitchin980]

Im in nottinghamshire uk. I grow my potatoes right next to my hawthorn hedges along there at the bottom of the garden and they seem happy to grow there and seem to do well. Its also where i put manure and my compost too. I also put grass clippings over the top of soil to help retain moisture.