Grow Perfect Potatoes Every Time

Want to grow your own tasty tatties? Sample home grown splendid spuds? In this week's video, Ben guides us through four options for growing potatoes, no matter what your growing space, from raised beds, to bare ground, straw and even in pots or bags.
Mashed, boiled, roasted, chipped, you name it, there's a potato for you! Ben explains which spud is which, when to plant and harvest and everything in between in this comprehensive guide to everything spud related!
For more on growing the potatoes of your dreams, check out this playlist:
How to Grow Potatoes
• Growing Potatoes from ...
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[@jaytoney3007]

I bought a bag of organic red potatoes from the store for use as seed potatoes back in early January. I also had a partial bag of Russet potatoes that sprouted before I could eat them. I put them in a room away from sunlight, and let them be for two months. Last Saturday, I planted them in 30 fabric pots, 21 Red Pontiac, and 7 Russset. Last year, I planted potatoes in monthly successions from mid February through August. My best harvest came from the potoes I planted in March, followed by those I planted in April. The potatoes I planted in March produced more potatoes than the rest of the sucession potatoes added together. It gets hot in Alabama. My experience has the best yeilds coming from potatoes growing in cool weather. When temperatures are above 85F , 29C, the development and yeilds drop significantly. I'll get enough potatoes in June and July to last six months, maybe longer.

[@cherylhowker1792]

Yea in the uk here we are rare to go above 29c and it’s extremely rare to go above 32c unless you in the city, as it’s hotter there. But in towns and seaside places it’s usually cooler. So we can usually grow right through but just water more and if in pots or bags like I do then move to where it’s a bit cooler in the garden, that’s what I do if we are predicting a hot few days I move them to the fence line where they get more air and less sun. And found last year that helped a lot.

[@renel7303]

Thanks for including where you are, especially since it isn't the UK. Ben has sensational tips but we have to adjust for hoter climates. I'm in Central California. Growing in containers last year I learned, the hard way, that I need containers much larger than usually suggested. If the norm is one gallon I might get away with 4 gallon, better if I do 5 gallon or larger. On a 100 F day a damp 5 gal will be 100, 2 gal the soil will be 110-120F. At least after I checked I knew what the problem was.

[@jaytoney3007]

@@renel7303 Here in Talladega AL, temperatures get between 100F-105F durinmg thje summer months. Last year the heat came early, in May. I can't use a shade cloth where they are located, and moving four 30 gallon growbags is not going to happen. Planting in early March to give the potatoes the maximum time for cool weather without frezing, is my best solution. I planted potatoes about a week ago, and I already have them popping out of the ground. I'll have to cover them Tuesday to prevent frrost damage.

[@cherylhowker1792]

@@jaytoney3007 that’s the difference the heat makes, they grow quicker. It’s still only about 8c here so about 45f I believe or around there, so still very chilly for potatoes yet, mine are on the side to chit and then hopefully in a few weeks I can get them in, and need that time to do other jobs to make it that I can put them in, as still got stuff all here and there and in the way for the potatoes bags to go.

[@hiromikami]

I live in FL. Thanks for all this information!

[@starchildange]

we still have 2 ft of snow here in Ontario but I'm getting so excited for spring!!

[@46FreddieMercury91]

Holy chit ! I've currently got about 80 seed potatoes sitting in egg boxes, sprouting nicely. With the predicted shortages, I'm upping my potato game this year. Some tips I heard: You can use couples sheets of newspaper to protect foliage on frosty nights Growing more than one variety to reduce risk of disease Rubbing off some of the shoots produces fewer but larger potatoes

[@GrowVeg]

All really great tips, thanks for sharing them. :-)

[@fiizzy3884]

Thanks for those tips, especially the newspaper one 👍

[@bastiananuss1727]

your enthusiasm is absolutely beautiful!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-)

[@honorwolfmoon9935]

Your videos are just amazing! I'm a city girl moved to a heavenly countryside plot and learning to be self sufficient. Its a journey! But you're making my veg growing so simple ❤ Thank you!

[@GrowVeg]

So pleased you've got to move to the countryside and realise your dream - superb! :-)

[@boscodiogigia]

Thanks for all the good tips! Let's grow potatoes 🥔🥔🥔

[@janescott4029]

Thank you for explaining first earlies, second earlies and main crop. It all seemed a mystery but makes sense now.

[@andersonomo597]

Potatoes are pretty cheap to buy and so I thought they were not worth allocating room in my garden - until I grew some! Threw in about 8, small, store-bought, accidentally sprouted, destined for the compost heap, into an unused corner, mostly ignored them except for the occasional watering, and I did chuck a bit of extra compost at them when they were starting to rise above the soil, and I dug up 6kg of beautiful spuds! Like the pokie player who hits the jackpot on their first try - I'm HOOKED. Such fun digging them up, great return for little effort, and they were delicious. I was always daunted by having to buy seed potatoes but what the heck - store bought worked really well. Totally agree Ben - the joy of digging them up alone is worth growing them for!!

[@GrowVeg]

Oh wow - what a superb result!

[@andersonomo597]

@@GrowVeg Ben, it was my ONLY result LOL. The rats ate my tomatoes, the caterpillars ravaged my chard and cabbages, and summer here was so hot and dry that I've ignored the veggie patch and now it's a mess. Time for an overhaul and reset. Your enthusiasm reminds me to never give up! Cheers from Oz!

[@genevievebarker943]

Is there anything more satisfying than digging your first potato? Maybe eating it? Lol

[@andersonomo597]

@@genevievebarker943 Just boiled with butter and sour cream and yes - DELICIOUS! Cheers from Oz!

[@harukiito8655]

“In a process called chitting, careful how you say that” 😂

[@nadjafaris1438]

Celebrating the arrival of spring with Bens happy voice 🎉🥳🌸

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Nadja! :-)

[@Darktower_11]

Thanks so much for this! As a very inexperienced alottmenteer I have got my first ever batches of seed potatoes chitting quite happily in my living room( I live in a small flat!), and I'm looking forward to getting the first and second earlies in as soon as this cold snap has passed. I love watching your videos, and how you explain things so clearly and with so much enthusiasm. Great spud video!

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Fionna. Happy planting. :-)

[@echognomecal6742]

Best of luck!

[@victoriasimpson7782]

My daughter has now got an allotment and has asked me to help her sort it out. After watching some of your videos, I am feeling more confident that we can make a go of it. Thank you for being very informative.

[@GrowVeg]

That's wonderful to hear Victoria. I hope your daughter's allotment works out really well - I'm sure it will with your help. :-)

[@helen2061]

Thanks Ben! Potatoes are one of my successes. So easy to grow and the grandkids love digging them up!

[@GrowVeg]

Definitely the best bit, digging them up!

[@micheleolson9914]

I just bought a few grow bags on clearance. They have a flap to make harvesting potatoes easier and maybe even allow me to try selective harvesting as needed?! I can't wait to try them! I usually buy a few organic potatoes for my seed potatoes. Fresh harvested potatoes, roasted or steamed, then served with herbs and butter are so delicious! Several years ago, I had a late start but still threw a few potatoes into planters made from cutting food-safe drums in half and drilled drainage holes. I still managed to get a few meals worth with so little effort. I'd hope that anyone who grows tomatoes in a container would also try potatoes. Great video. 💜

[@dianeladico1769]

Temper your expectations with respect to early harvest. It's difficult to get very many out through that small flap without damaging the plant. Depending on the size of the bag you can put one seed potato near the flap to harvest those early and let the other plants go to maturity. If the one plant takes a hit you haven't sacrificed the whole lot. Happy Gardening!

[@GrowVeg]

Growing in containers is indeed great fun and very satisfying. Hope you get a bumper harvest this year. :-)

[@rebeccamulloney9283]

Thank you so much for your tutorials I really can't tell you how much I appreciate your time and hard work! Your energy is simply refreshing and inspiring. I'm so excited to start my very FIRST vegetable garden ever. Your videos have given me so much clarity and confidence and I'm no longer confused or scared that I will fail.

[@GrowVeg]

This is so lovely to hear Rebecca. Very best of luck with your new garden, but most importantly enjoy it! 😀

[@lindajacquot5391]

Just the video I need! Thank you for filling in so many gaps in the potato literature. Much appreciated!

[@GrowVeg]

You're very welcome Linda.

[@echognomecal6742]

I NEED potatoes because some of my family can get terrible leg cramps if we don't get enough potassium. (Yes, bananas are good for potassium, but are popular for convenience, not for the shear amount they contain.) I appreciate all the help I can get in growing a good crop of them each year.

[@GrowVeg]

Hope this video has helped. 😀🥔

[@echognomecal6742]

@@GrowVeg Absolutely, thanks! Liked, subscribed, saved. Hoping more family will take up gardening. Especially the little ones coming up 🌱

[@catiepower3550]

This is my first year successfully growing potatoes. I’m super excited

[@GrowVeg]

Well done Catie!

[@PaulB-justme]

I am watching this video the evening after planting my first lot of first early potatoes this afternoon! And you are using the same variety as I have - Pentland Javelin! You are right about it being a great moment in the veg gardening year - and I can't wait to harvest them and have them freshly cooked! 😋

[@GrowVeg]

Well done on getting them all planted - delicious spuds await!

[@oceansoul3694]

Ben, thank you so much for this video. I've got some seed potatoes that need to be planted now, so into the pots they go. It's still too cold and wet to put them in the ground. I love your videos; you teach us all so much!! Off to the greenhoues I go~

[@GrowVeg]

Hope you manage to enjoy a bumper crop. :-)

[@stephenrodgers5672]

When i was young (7 or 8) my family was living on a farm in northwest Indiana. We had planted potatoes (among other things) in the garden. Our hay barn, which was next to the garden caught on fire towards the end of the summer and most of the debris fell in the garden. We assumed that the garden was a total loss until we went to plant the next spring. The potatoes had kept growing all winter and were still quite edible. And BIG.

[@GrowVeg]

Oh wow - proper survivors!

[@benjaminfordham5413]

Nothing better than growing potatoes! The best crop to grow.

[@icouldjustscream]

I grew potatoes for the first time last year, 5 varieties. All Blue, Chieftain, Alta Blush, Bintje, Bridget. Four of each type, so 20 plants in a large raised bed. They were such fun to harvest! I saved the smaller potatoes and put them away to be used as seed potatoes this year. The All Blue were delicious baked. They had an almost nutty taste. I'd like to try a few German Butterball this year as well.

[@EnlightenedPatriot1]

Thanks for the recommendation, Might have to wait until next year unless I come across some and stick in some containers.

[@GrowVeg]

Great to be able to grow a variety of potatoes like that. Great job! :-)

[@themrmanguy7912]

Put my potatoes down about 3 weeks ago. Keeping close watch and care on/for the weather. Yukon Golds and a Harvest blend of reds and purples. I’m on the southeast coast of the us. Ty for the tips!

[@GrowVeg]

Great mix of varieties there. :-)

[@christines1924]

What a beautiful lesson!!

[@harryshouse007]

Beautiful Jersey Royals with butter and chives!

[@GrowVeg]

Yum!

[@johnglad5]

Assuming your havest is 5 kg, 11pds, thats 4 plants. Thats 2.75 pds per plant. Thats a good return , others say 1-2 pds per plant is expected. Happy gardening

[@GrowVeg]

Definitely a great return John.

[@Legend0222]

Thanks for this video, Ive been trying to grow potatoes the last couple years and Ive been failing miserably, ive been adding more compost to the garden so 🤞 this year will go better!

[@happydillpickle]

I have struggled with pototoes a lot too. When I had a south facing garden, they used to do really well in containers and in the ground. When I had a north facing garden, they failed miserably. Last year, they failed miserably again, in spite of the sunshine. Let's hope this year is very successful for potato growing!

[@lynnrushton7458]

Still 2inches of snow here in Aberdeen 😩 can’t wait to get my tatties in . Thanks Ben, always great advice 👍

[@GrowVeg]

Hopefully soon Lynn. :-)

[@EmptyGlass99]

I had already planned on using more of my garden to grow things using the raised bed/no dig technique, and this channel and Ben has really excited me for the future, so thank you!

[@GrowVeg]

Great to hear - thanks for watching. :-)

[@stephenhope7319]

Here in 9B Sacramento I have to grow thru Winter ( rarely freezes hard here) because it gets too hot for potatoes after about May all way thru August. I plant potato sets (seed potatoes) in September and again in November and January. Love your tips on picking ( cull the tops for the compost heap) and store in "onion" bags in a pantry. Thanks Ben.

[@renel7303]

Stephen, I'm "down the road" in Fresno County. 🙋‍♀️ I'll make a note of that for next year. I'm still going to try some this year for baby potatoes. Last year growing other things in containers I discovered just how hot the soil gets. Everything improved when I added a shade cloth "roof" over my potted up area. I learn every time.

[@stephenhope7319]

@@renel7303 Hi there, yes I use a shade cloth over some veggies to stop sun burn. Lots of mulch helps too. Very different farming at home to out in the fields. Field farmers pick before ripe but we always wait until the right time for us. Completely different farming rules.

[@GrowVeg]

Hope you guys get a good crop this year. :-)

[@only-vans]

I do like to grow my spuds in sacks. simply topping up with compost beats planting in rows/troughs hands down. To harvest, simply tip the sack upside down and gather the spuds. Long rows of anything is a farmers way of growing / harvesting, gardeners don't have nor need tractors and ploughs . Protecting sack grown spuds from frost is easy too, just fold the top of the sack, unfold once the frost has gone. In the unlikely event of disease, remove the offending sack of spuds,. I grow International Kidney potatoes in seaweed compost, plant 3 per sack, plant another sack in monthly intervals. New potatoes right up until late November . Good video, good information. A novice veg grower should glean enough information from this to start with his own spuds. Well presented.

[@GrowVeg]

Great to get a succession of potatoes like that. :-)

[@daisygurl3601]

I usually grow spuds in raised beds,but this year, I am choosing the Ruth Stout method, using straw. I plan to try growing sweet corn this way as well. It’s so much fun experimenting in the garden. Thank you for your videos. They are truly one of my favorite things. May your harvest be plentiful!

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea. I hope they do well for you this way - I'm sure they will. :-)

[@aldinadasilva3858]

We’re in Nova Scotia, zone 5. Still snowing here so we plant potatoes in April or May. Guests coming the first week of May want to garden with me so I plan to leave some planting to do with them. Should be fun 😃

[@GrowVeg]

Can't think of a more fun gardening exercise. :-)

[@jasenanderson8534]

I think there's a difference between indeterminate and determinate? Hilling works really well with indeterminate varieties that send out roots along the stems like tomatoes do and more potatoes form along those.

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, there are indeterminate and determinate varieties. Indeterminates are best in containers, to get spuds all the way along. But hilling is still helpful for both types to keep the potatoes covered and from going green.

[@dleland71]

Another idea I have used in the past is to get 4 to 5 old tires, place the first on on the ground and fill with compost. Plant 4 or 5 healthy 'eyes' and wait until they have grown at least 12-16", then place the next tire on the bottom one, fill with compost leaving the topmost leave showing. Do this as long as you can and in the fall disassembling the stack will provide you with lots of spuds.

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea Dave!

[@bobbyjones7505]

I love your channel I always learn something new thank you Ben.

[@lexington476]

7:10 I can confirm that the straw method works very well, they are very easy to harvest. Just make sure to put down the straw deep enough so that none of the potatoes get sun damaged.

[@lindas9806]

I did this last year and the voles ate them. I’m back to grow bags, but using 10 gallon.

[@michelleh4588]

I saved many small potatoes from my harvest last year. They started to chit all on their own, and they're ready to be planted out in a few weeks!

[@GrowVeg]

Nice work Michelle!

[@k.p.1139]

Thanks, Ben. I am in the flowering stage with my potatoes. Actually, all of them are starting to flower and they are different day varieties. But, I'm going to keep them going until the foliage starts to die back, and then harvest.

[@LetsGoGreen786]

Excellent Sharing i am fond of your videos Thankyou for Sharing❤️

[@otiliaczego8182]

great video. Covering up everything about potatoes. Thank you

[@DocSeville]

I love your passion! Going to watch all your vids then head to garden! Goldendale, Washington USA

[@GrowVeg]

Great stuff Diane, thanks for your support. :-)

[@isobel8788]

Wow another fab video !!! . Exactly what I needed as gonna be planting potatoes in pots . What can I do with the soil/compost in pots once the potatoes are grown ? Can I reuse ? Thank you 😊

[@GrowVeg]

You can definitely reuse it. Just mix in a little organic fertiliser and you are good to go. 😀

[@valoriegriego5212]

Very comprehensive video, Ben! 👍 Growing potatoes is so much fun. 😃 We just finished our Christmas potatoes.😋 In Central Texas we start to plant ours on Valentine's Day. I planted some early this year and was able to protect them through the frost. They are well on the way. 😃

[@GrowVeg]

Great you're so well ahead Valorie - you'll be digging them up in no time!

[@JJONNYREPP]

Grow Perfect Potatoes Every Time 2125pm 3.7.23 did he mention curing taters? i hadn't thought about that... same with onions... but i left mine a week or so after digging up - should have left the taters a while longer in the soil, i feel. ... they were ok. not amazingly tasty. but when boiled they were pretty melt in the mouth and certainly acted as a diuretic as opposed to the mass produced supermarket tater...

[@capsicumco]

Very informative video and covered pretty much everything there is to know. Thank you

[@InArcadiaSum]

When I've grown spuds in open ground, I've earthed up etc. in traditional ways. This isn't necessary when growing in tubs or buckets, and I plant them at levels in tubs and fill up to the top then. Much easier and quicker, and my harvests this way have been better than earthing up in containers.

[@cherylhowker1792]

This is what we do, got it from another person on KZbin and he’s done tests etc and says it saves so much time as by the time they need to earth up you are growing and seeding everything else and there isn’t time, he does 100 buckets! The 30L big ones like Ben has. So there isn’t time lol

[@InArcadiaSum]

@@cherylhowker1792I find it's a good way, and I grow mine in those 30l buckets, starting off with the first earlies in the greenhouse. It avoids the green potatoes if I forget or miss an earth-up, and it's easier to manage the haulm.

[@brandyjaques6865]

How do you know if a potato is determinate or indeterminate. Russet, and red potatos from the grocery store. Thanks Ben I enjoy your videos and how it’s not wasted time but so full of helpful information!

[@GrowVeg]

I have found this list of determinate and indeterminate potato varieties really handy for this: www.simplyseed.co.uk/blog/list-of-determinate-and-indeterminate-potatoes-uk.html and dengarden.com/gardening/determinate-indeterminate-potatoes

[@jeffstrong4311]

I'm doing root crops this year primarily and I use containers because my southern exposure is small and so I can do more without over crowding .My art studio has a whole wall facing south and so I trellis my beans up that. I live on the south coast of Oregon USA and our weather is close to that of London or Wales in temps and rain so we don't get a lot of hot consistent weather that the squash and tomatoes like so I do those in the green house.

[@GrowVeg]

I bet the beans love that south-facing aspect Jeff.

[@happydillpickle]

If you store potatoes buried in a box of dry sand, they will keep their moisture better, they won't turn green or shoot, and they will keep for longer. That's how you can store a lot of different root crops including yam, cassava, carrots, parsnips- well anything rooty, really - to keep them fresher for longer. Just be sure to clean them well before use: nobody likes a crunchy spud (well, not crunchy because it has sand stuck to it anyway!) I learned this when living in the Caribbean with no refrigerator. It works in colder climates just as well. My potato storing skills are far better than my potato growing skills, so thank you for the advice. My potato crops have been miniscule for the past couple of years and I don't know why, so I will be following your advice to the letter. Happy growing everyone!

[@GrowVeg]

Great advice on storing them, thanks so much for sharing. :-)

[@happydillpickle]

@@GrowVeg You are very welcome. Thank you for the videos - they always cheer me up. There's nothing quite like nurturing a vegetable garden to help a heart be happy!

[@markw5779]

Ahh,Spuds glorious Spuds,mine are chitting nicely,will probably plant into 30 ltr buckets next week,am still using stored potatoes from last year,just remove the shoots from time to time and seems to be good to use,thanks Ben,good video👍

[@GrowVeg]

Wow - good job on still going on with the stored potatoes!

[@jackieo8693]

Planting potatoes is really fun!

[@GrowVeg]

Definitely!

[@ksnazzy]

Potatoes are one of my favorite things to grow. I've never chitted them before, so I'll give it a go this year! I found last year I didn't water enough, so more watering will be done for sure. I like growing them in bags and hilling them a few times before harvest. Digging through the bag is like Christmas for me😂. This year I'm trying a new method, as well as my tried and true bags. Chicken wire with straw. I try experiments every year to figure out what works best for me. Happy growing!

[@GrowVeg]

Hope the chicken wire and straw method works well for you. :-)

[@slamdunk58]

​@@GrowVegWhat's the chicken wire and straw method?

[@sandrajohnson9926]

I love your greenhouse. You harvested alot of potatoes last year. We have clay soil; even after amending for decades, potatoes don't do well. Sweet potatoes, however, do very well.

[@PrincessFidelma]

Ooooh, some parts of our garden is clay soil, and I've never had much luck growing potatoes (wherever I've planted them), and I always thought sweet potatoes were too "exotic" to grow in freezing cold England, but as I have a soil they like I'll have to give it a try 🤔 I saw on a different channel that the sweet potato leaves are edible, too. I love my greenhouse, but it does give me greenhouse envy 😊

[@galamander_1327]

My soil is 90% clay. I've augmented with so much kitchen compost, arborist mulch, manure, and cover crops. For potatoes, I place them on top (or maybe an inch down) and cover them with compost and alfalfa hay or piles of cut clover. They do well. Buried in the clay more than a few inches, the yields are a lot smaller.

[@GrowVeg]

If you are hoping to grow sweet potatoes in England be sure to give them as sunny a spot as you can. More here: www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-sweet-potatoes/

[@EnlightenedPatriot1]

Hi Ben. I grew all 3 seasons of potatoes last year, both in the ground and in my small raised bed. All did OK. There is nothing better than home produce. This year, I plan to mostly grow in containers and porous sack bags, etc. Dedicated plastic tubs/pots are quite expensive, so I bought 10 large buckets (with metal handle) for £1.25 each at my local £1-type shop. Perhaps also for my tomatoes. I will drill the bases for drainage. Perhaps not the best of foodstuff plastic, but will do me at my age. This is mostly to maximise the use my 8'x18' veg patch area, dedicating it to other, often denser growing, (generally) more-expensive-to-buy crops, with some getting harder-to-source. To experiment, I want to grow a wider range, but in smaller quantities. Containers can be dotted around at random in suitable, if otherwise difficult-to-use, areas I have, and temporarily moved if frost, etc, threatens. Spuds do take up a lot of room and interplanting other veg with them (maybe too soon) was slightly problematical for me when later earthing up. In fact, unknowingly doing so, exposed some to sun, making those potatoes green. I understand that potato diseases are then also less likely to spread and, talking of that, I believe they should not be grown in the same location as last year, to help resist that. It should make harvesting easier than in a larger, deeper area, when tipping them all out. I missed a few last year, only finding them recently, whilst preparing the soil as you recommended. My metal detector does not work too well with them,🤔. I now also recall putting my fork right through the middle of a few! I have just bought some red sweet potatoes (necessarily organic, I'm told) to also grow in containers, there being 2 or 3 methods I've seen to do that, very different to normal potatoes. I will look for any of your tips. Thank you for another helpful video and the great enthusiasm you display. It is infectious 🙂. I have found nothing more therapeutic, enjoyable and rewarding than food production for some time.

[@GrowVeg]

Food production is indeed very therapeutic. I hope you have a really great crop of potatoes. Sounds like you've got a bargain with those buckets. :-)

[@genevievebarker943]

Sweet potato vines can be trellised, while the tubers grow underground. S.P. slips grow more tubers!

[@a.j.b.8658]

Thank you for your advice. It's very appreciated 😊

[@silverriverarts]

A bulb auger (like a big drill bit, attaches to a cordless drill) makes really quick work of planting out potatoes! If you don't see augers in the spring, try in fall, when they are sold for planting flower bulbs like daffodils. Dig the hole as deep as the bulb auger will let you, and pop in the potatoes. Cover over with a few inches of soil, and leave the rest around the hole. It will gradually work its way in, and that extra depth will mean more potatoes, since they produce most of the baby potatoes above where the seed potatoes are.

[@cuznclive2236]

Thank you for the Pro-tip using an auger. Watched Jesse from No-Till Growers using one this week and thought about the time savings they can provide.

[@jaynereddyhoff4050]

I use a manual auger to plant mine - it's very easy!

[@GrowVeg]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing. :-)

[@christinebrooks6364]

Hi Ben, great video on different methods of growing potatoes with lots of useful info too. Thanks for sharing and take care 🙂

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks Christine, appreciate you watching. :-)

[@Xx_char_xx]

Oh my god Slay I love your videos!!!

[@victoriablanc761]

wow what great info!! I just put my seed potatoes in the store bag in my dark basement. hmm I'll be bringing them out to chit. also we have triple layered paper bags that our bulk grains come in. I'll be using those for my potatoes. and starting them indoors to give them a head start. also I'll pay more attention to watering. thx for this.

[@samvimes1482]

This year I have opted to go with Sarpo Mira and Otolia potatoes. Last year I struggled with blight, which really cut the growing season short. Thanks for all the tips and inspiration!

[@rnf1227]

If you want large potatoes from Sarpo Mira, limit your chits to two.

[@cheesekake1841]

Another great video! Thanks, Ben! 😁 Last year was my first time growing potatoes and it was an epic fail. We didn't know what we were doing, got a load of mushroom compost delivered to us. The compost was so dry, it seemed to repel water, and we didn't mix it with potting soil or peat... We got store bought potatoes, got them sprouted before putting them in the raised bed, but I think because the mushroom compost was too dry, too compacted so the harvest was pitiful. We did get a few Kennebec seeds from a nursery but they all got scabs. Very disappointing. This spring I've bought a few pounds of seed potatoes from a nursery: Red Pontiac, Purple/Blue Majesty, Yukon Gold, and one bag of Red Norland from a big box store. We mixed our soil with lobster compost, peat, potting soil, perlite, fertilizer, and added a little bit of elemental sulfur to make sure no scabs. We got the taters in a few containers, grow bags, and a raised bed. Crossing my fingers! 🤞 BTW, Ben, I failed at growing Beets this last fall season, AGAIN! I have no idea what happened, the plants just didn't grow. I put them in the same bed with Turnip. Can turnip stunt the growth of beets? I will try again but it's very challenging. In the meantime I started seeds for summer squash and zucchini today. We had good success with those last year, can't wait to have them to eat! Ben, we love your videos, keep them coming! Have a nice and prosperous growing season! Cheers! 😄 🙏 👋

[@GrowVeg]

I hope you get a good crop of potatoes - and everything this summer. Well done for persisting, I'm sure it will pay off. Beets need enough space to grow properly, but if the turnips were planted to the side of beets and not among them, I can't see why they would have had an effect. Maybe our guide to growing beets may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3WUfX-hgc5rpa8

[@sortofsemiurbanfarmer]

I was impressed with the Ramos spuds from last year (in containers) so regrowing this year. Great for roasties and chips. Doing Queens and Purple Rain at the allotment

[@cannyexplorer5357]

Love your video. I grow in raised beds and try not to grow the same veg in the same bed following years. I tried the straw method but it was not the slugs that got my potatoes but mice from the neighbouring field. Thankfully I had planted two beds that year and so had a crop to harvest. Looking forward to get started soon weather permitting.

[@GrowVeg]

Hope you get a great crop this year. :-)

[@courtneybostwick9123]

I just planted my sprouting Walmart potatoes and they came up really well. They havent flowered but they look ready to me

[@GrowVeg]

Hope you get a great harvest from them. :-)

[@bartcop2742]

Great video on potatoes. One of the reasons I love your vids is because they are organized and contain a lot of info. Does your computer program have all the various earlies and main crop potatoes in it?

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. :-) The Garden Planner includes options for early or main crop potatoes, and you can input variety names, making it easy to keep a track of different potatoes you're growing. There are also object options for things like potato sacks. You can trial the Garden Planner for free, so worth a try (at no obligation!).

[@flameprincexx5705]

Would love one of these for tomatoes!

[@GrowVeg]

These videos should help. :-) kzbin.info/www/bejne/moeYdGqon7lpasU kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmHXhKFjhqp5abM kzbin.info/www/bejne/raGbaamghbN-kJo

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

oooo I am planting my potatoes next weekend. We are growing them in ruth stout bed! It makes it so much easier to harvest! LOL

[@GrowVeg]

Lovely stuff - spring is almost here!

[@thelittlefarmersfarm5706]

You got my Happy Thumbs UP mate.... Very Informative Brother... Fingers Crossed for a great 2023 Harvest. Guru Murphinda From "The Little Farmers Farm" 👍👍👍

[@GrowVeg]

Thanks so much. And to you! :-)

[@moabfool]

In a drier climate where irrigation is required do not water your potatoes for the first 4 to 6 weeks. We did this the last two years, which we exceptionally dry, and we got an incredible harvest. Of course the soil should be moist when planting, and some rain in the two week forecast is fine, but overall your potatoes will do better if they aren't watered for at least a month. We also had better luck when we added a layer of mulch to the top of the bed because it cooled the soil and retained moisture. Many potato varieties need cool nights to grow well.

[@GrowVeg]

Interesting, thanks for sharing your experience. The mulch layer will definitely have helped keep everything cool.

[@He4vyD]

Been lurking at your channel for the past 2 years, thinking I subscribed at some point. Seeing your mid video cta, I checked and realised I wasn't, so you just gained one subscriber 😋

[@GrowVeg]

Nice one - and a very warm welcome as a fully-fledged subscriber! :-)

[@BMarie-hr2md]

I love your videos - thank you. I just planted seed potatoes (purple). I have no idea when to harvest and I think I planted them to close. Kindly advise when to harvest

[@GrowVeg]

If they are early potatoes then harvest when they start to flower, otherwise leave them till the foliage starts to yellow and die back. If in doubt, just dig carefully around the edge of a plant to check the size of the tubers.

[@eb1684]

Ph: You did not mention soil acidity. I always try to acidify the soil to easily prevent scab. Avoid lime and I mulch with pine needles. Beautiful plants!

[@GrowVeg]

Great extra advice, thanks for sharing. :-)

[@hellbent1234]

@GrowVeg Hi Ben, I keep asking questions and you keep answering them. I am so grateful, but I want to suggest a 'series' that I have not seen (on any channel) , collecting/harvesting seeds.

[@GrowVeg]

We have done a few videos on just that, e.g.: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moHafplpqqZrh5o

[@trymem8]

*Not particularly big and thats ok* story of my life !! Great video thanks for the Advice !

[@melodymartin4503]

Here on the western slope of Colorado, our potatoes go in the ground on St. Patty's day.

[@yvi6991]

Excellent video, thank you 🎉

[@dreadedscotslass]

I'm trying a no dig method this year, I've just layed them on my raised bed and covered them quite heavily with straw

[@GrowVeg]

Hope it goes well for you - it's a very satisfying way to grow them.

[@JohnDiggins68]

Great video! I planted some seeded baby yellow potatoes and they don't have any flowers. So, how do I know when to harvest? They have been planted about 2 months.

[@cherylhowker1792]

They will take more time then that, usually a minimum of 12weeks and if they are salad potatoes or the size of them they take anywhere between 12-15 weeks. Main crops are longer than that. So 2 months is nothing yet. They get the flower stalks near the end of froth from what I understand from the ones I’ve grown. So give it more time and you should see the flowers. And usually when you buy them the seed potato’s pack will say how long… mine say 13-15 weeks I believe and they are 2nd early.

[@bleirdo_dude]

Awesome! 👌

[@lexington476]

I grow all short season potatoes. Tons of different varieties, and when growing an ~75-day potato I can do two harvests per season. Tons of variety in that category. dark nordland, red Pontiac, yukon gold, Irish cobbler, Kennebec, might be one or two more that I don't remember. but all of those above are red or white potatoes and are all fast growing, Kennebec might be a little longer might be more of a mid season potato. But you can't go wrong with red Pontiac and dark Nordland. The local store where I get seed potatoes from doesn't have them in stock yet, hopefully I'll be planting them the last weekend in March or first weekend in April.

[@GrowVeg]

Great recommendations, thanks for sharing. :-)

[@valjalava1951]

Great video

[@jeanettepyles5928]

Hi Ben, I love watching your videos because you teach us so well! Thank you. I am waiting on my Russet seed potatoes and Sweet Potatoes to arrive, it is the middle of March, but I don't know how long it will take for them to grow? How do I know when it's time to Harvest them? This is my first time planting potatoes, so I am hoping I will do good. I am so tired of buying potatoes at the market, and each one usually has something wrong with it, or is bad on one spot or another. I figured growing them myself might be better, I hope so. What about growing Sweet Potatoes? Is it the same process? I will look to see if you have a video about those. I plan on using 20 gal "Grow Bags" for planting all the potatoes.

[@jeanettepyles5928]

Hi Trevor, Thank you so much!! I can't keep them inside my house, I don't have any room, but I will put them in the garage near a window and hopefully that will be warm enough. What about the Sweet Potatoes? Can those be outside now? I live near Burbank, California, so the weather is a little bit crazy right now. Thank you for writing me and giving me that information.

[@jeanettepyles5928]

Trevor, I just saw both of your replies. I didn't think about looking here in my Gmail account. Thank you so much for your help!! I truly appreciate your information since this is all new to me. Thank you once again. I am not growing the potatoes just for myself, but for myself, my daughter, and our dog. He usually eats food from a known company that cooks food for dogs, but it's getting too expensive. That's why I decided to prepare his food myself. Take care of yourself & thanks for your help!!

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Jeanette. I can't see Trevor's replies, but hopefully you got the information you needed. Good luck with your crop this season. :-)

[@safaaal-samrh7642]

Thanks a lot for the precious informations , 💞 Can you help me with the monstera's seeds Tried many ways and soils Nothing came out 💔 It's a shame for me 😂 I've been planting for my whole life

[@GrowVeg]

I've never grown Monstera from seed - just cuttings. But this site seems to offer some handy advice: thehealthyhouseplant.com/growing-monstera-deliciosa-from-seed-where-to-buy-how-to-plant-them/

[@markirish7599]

Fantastic video thank you

[@jla3772]

Are early, late early, and main crop potatoes the same species, but planted and harvested at different times or are they different potato species?

[@GrowVeg]

They are different varieties of potato, not the same type. :-)

[@jla3772]

Thanks!@@GrowVeg

[@barbstroud2712]

Great video! The question I have is to I cut and then chit, or chit and then cut? I've never heard of chitting before but it sounds like a very useful approach - particularly as we wait for the ground to warm and dry this year in our very wet US Pacific NW.

[@dianeladico1769]

Let them chit a little first. It helps you see them clearly and helps guide the cut so you don't accidently cut through the eyes. 2-3 chits per piece is a good amount. You can also give them a head start using this method. www.youtube.com/@HomeGrownVeg/search?query=fast%20start I do this all the time since I get antsy and we're prone to late-ish frosts (US Great Lakes region). I get nice healthy plants to transplant when the conditions are right. Make sure they get adequate light so they're not leggy. I've planted leggy ones just fine but they are unwieldy and easily damaged. I use Solo cups. Happy Gardening. Your part of the country is gorgeous.

[@barbstroud2712]

@@dianeladico1769 Thanks, Diane! And sometime I hope to visit your part of the world too.

[@GrowVeg]

Great advice, thanks Diane. :-)

[@nlpham1992]

Just found your channel and I'm so excited to get started on my own little balcony garden! I have a question, I have two bunnies and apparently their litter is useful in the garden, do you have any ideas for how I can include that?

[@GrowVeg]

Their litter would be good, but it needs to be composted first, otherwise it would be too fresh and could harm plants in its concentrated form. If you don't have room for a compost bin, then you could try lining the bottom of pots with the litter and then adding your potting mix on top. The roots will grow down towards it, by which time it will have decomposed a bit. But do this with deeper pots only.

[@nlpham1992]

Thanks for your advice! I'll keep that in mind while I set everything up :)

[@kathleenmiller-in1pp]

Hi Ben! I bought my first bag of seed potatos to try to grow my own potatos bur the bag doesn't tell me when to plant! They are red medium potatos shown on the bag and here in missouri (usa) they say to plant in mid April for potatos on line so should I plant then? Thanks for all your amazing videos I learn so much!!

[@GrowVeg]

Yes, I’d get on and plant them now. 😀

[@GlossyLipsArt]

There is nothing better than a chitting potatoe 😂

[@slamdunk58]

You didn't really mention when to plant potatoes (or maybe I missed it) Because these are going in the ground, can I plant these before my last frost date? Thanks. Theses videos are so good.

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Lorne. Here in the south of England I plant my earlies around late March, and maincrop in mid April or soon after. They are fine to go in before the last frost date, just protect the shoots from frost is they are threatened by a late frost.

[@slamdunk58]

@@GrowVeg Thanks. I'm in Manitoba (3a) with a last frost date of may 25th. I'm going to chit a little earlier then that and try to to get the early variety in by may 15th. Thank for the help. I love the channel.

[@ravenmacbeth9384]

I live in the northeastern end of the US and the winter here is often long and cold and I have to wait longer than most to grow things in the spring. This year, however, either in late January or early February, not sure which, I decided to try growing potatoes in a pot. I usually store a large pot in my bedroom, forty to fifty gallons, for growing herbs for the winter months. This year, they didn't produce well, as my mother decided it was a good idea to get a pair of new kittens (It was, they're cute. A couple of snow white, American short hairs. Mine is named Cloud, her's is angel. Miscevious little things, but very friendly.) Well, the point is, these kittens ate my herbs. Obviously, I wasn't thrilled to see my herbs eaten down to the stems, but I took the opportunity to experiment. I've consistently grown potatoes in my garden, but I've never actually tried to grow them in a container and definitely never really thought to even try indoors. Anyway, long story short, after about twoish months, the plants seem to be doing quite well, though, with some expected stunted growth. The older development looks more like gnarled vines you would find growing up the side of a tree. It hangs down the sides of the pot, twisting and weaving around itself as they struggle to grow toward the light. About two and a half feet in length. Then there is the newer growth, which is growing long and a bit spindly. About a foot and a half of development. All around, I would say with what little I have to work with, they're doing rather well. Though the leaves are still quite small and there is a random corn plant growing up the middle that I have no idea where it came from.

[@GrowVeg]

Great to hear they are growing okay. I would say that the biggest problem will be the lack of good light, but maybe you can carefully move your plants outside once it's a bit warmer.

[@ravenmacbeth9384]

@@GrowVeg I agree that lighting will become an issue. In fact, a friend of mine actually came by yesterday and brought a grow light for me to use until it warms up enough.

[@janicealderson4329]

I find it really difficult to have enough compost! The chucks have been there though and i have used the pellets - hoping; as first time i have used the land. We are a bit suspicious of the straw having glyphosphates in it as the French government said they would ban it and then went back on their word, putting their money first! So we stopped using it and now trying to find an alternative difficult. Thank you so much for your info hubby a day off so planting today!!!!!

[@GrowVeg]

Those glyphosphates are a real nuisance, I don't blame your wariness. Hope you have had a productive day planting. :-)

[@damedesmontagnes]

I planted whole chitted seed potatoes. Lots of stems coming up. Hilling a lot. They grow big quickly.

[@ricantaino8474]

Time 1:59 Him: A process called "Chitting" Be careful how you say that. Me: 😁😄😆

[@GrowVeg]

Had to be said! :-)

[@Freedom2025-x2b]

EXCELLENT!!!! 😊

[@cuznclive2236]

Thank you!

[@mariedeyo7399]

Hello Ben, great video! I am planing my potato planting at the moment and I was wondering, did you put the potato green with blight on the compost? I been told by my granny that it has to be burned so it can not spred. And do you have problems with potato beetles? Last year I did grow in staw and gras clippings and it was great. In the end with staw, raised bed and pots, I got 21 kg of potatos in my little garden. Take care and happy garden year 🌻

[@one_field]

Don't worry; potatoes turn green from sunlight, not blight. Exposing potatoes to sunlight also makes them toxic to eat, by the way, so never eat a potato that has any green on it if you don't want a miserable stomach ache. It's not the green that makes it toxic, so you can't cut that out and eat the rest; the green is just your indicator that the potato got exposed to sunlight and is no longer safe to eat.

[@GrowVeg]

Hi Marie. I do tend to just compost blighted foliage. Once it's fully decomposed it should be safe to use, though perhaps use the compost away from potatoes to be on the safe side. We don't get potato beetles here, so I've never had any problems with them.

[@mariedeyo7399]

@@GrowVeg interesting, I did not have potato beetle and I have not seen any since I been a child. In my grannies garden we always gone looking for them. And just picked them up and gave them to the chickens. Till now I have not had blight. Hopefully it will stay that way. This year its harder to get seed potatos, it was to cold and many got frost, I was told today at the farmshop close to me. 🖐

[@mommamoore]

thanks for sharing!!

[@lesliekendall5668]

Old Miss Bitting Wanted her spuds to be grown, But they're just sitting and chitting 'Til they grow on their own. Hmm, also how I felt about my son going through his teens. 😆

[@GrowVeg]

Brilliant Leslie! :-)