How to start potatoes indoors! Kick Start your growing year 'Fast Start' Potatoes start to finish.

This is something that I've been doing with potatoes for a number of years now, that works. Turn your seed potatoes into a potato plants indoors in the colder months then as the days get longer and warmer move them up and move them on to grow outdoors to maturity and harvest. Check out all the stages in this compilation video from a previous growing year start to finish. This is how I use the same soil year after year after year : • Smallest Compost Pile ...

[@flethacker]

Just wanted to let you know you are inspiring many people to be self sufficient. May you get your due rewards

[@claudialautenslager8695]

This worked for me. For years I planted potatoes directly into the ground, but as I got older, it became difficult for me to dig up the potatoes. Then I found your channel, and never looked back. I do just the same as you, and it is so much easier. No dig I love it.

[@ladyela9283]

Dear Mr. Jim, there is not one video of yours which does not leave me better educated and with a smile on my face. You are a treasure, Sir. God bless you and your loved ones ABUNDANTLY!

[@joebaker9861]

I've been growing my own potatoes for years. But thanks to your videos, last year was the first time I grew potatoes in buckets. They came out as promised. I've already got them ready for this year. Thanks Jim, for all your video.

[@imadeplorable3732]

I used buckets last year. Got some grow bags and are trying those this year.

[@knoxoknox-1]

Greetings from Crimea, also to Molly

[@joannemason5581]

Followed these instructions and they worked a treat. Very simple. Thank you.

[@sheilathomas8528]

This does work, I do it every year just like HGV, he's a good teacher, and you'll get true and honest advice from him. Thanks for sharing.

[@David_Bell_growing]

I've been putting chitted seed spuds into deep 'rose' pots for many years, getting a head start for both planting on into containers and for open ground in cold, wet Springs. Those pots have a small footprint and are placed in deep supermarket trapeze handle crates which can be stacked indoors overnight or left in my garden polytunnel with blankets over the stack. Those deep pots then get used for tomato plants, enabling lots of stem to be buried, developing a stronger root system before planting out.

[@melodytenisch6232]

Thanks to finding Jim's channel a few years ago I've learned a few things. I now quick-start potatoes and it really works. I also put sprouted potatoes AND potato plants in water buckets, a raised bed, and in the ground. Naturally the plants grow faster! I get over a pound of potatoes per bucket; sometimes over 2 pounds. Jim has a wonderful soil mix that works every time. Chop and drop is brilliant but I can't always get it but I'm able to forage a bit in the forest to add to soil. This is fun and the reveals always exciting, and feels so good to grow your own produce! Greetings from the States, 🇺🇸 and warm regards to you and the missus.👵😊🐟🐠🐟🌱🌱🌱🥔

[@TheFrugalScotsman]

Fast Start Potatoes! You revolutionized my garden with your videos. Thanks!

[@aprilw7561]

I look forward to your videos

[@CabinGRL]

I’m growing potatoes inside right now and I wanted to say I love your videos. It works for me!

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Glad you like them!

[@andrewwestern7622]

Genius you are a genius just watched this video and at first I thought you was going to be using the bottle as a cloche but then you used it in a way i naturally wouldn't have known but that is brilliant.

[@bertbrumwell3343]

Yep, worked for me too. Discovered this channel at the hight of covid last year. Averaged about 1 ½ kg per bucket spread out over the growing season and emptied the last 5 buckets for Christmas day. New potatoes for Christmas lunch - yum. Brilliant technique, also produced a ridiculous amount of carrots from 1 bucket! Thanks mate, I miss molly.

[@bertbrumwell3343]

Sorry, 1½ lbs not kg

[@melodytenisch6232]

@@bertbrumwell3343 😊

[@jules.b5141]

Hi Jim. love your videos, I even find myself saying ‘ello’ every time you say it lol. This year I’ve started growing potatoes purely because you showed how easy it is using your method. I’ve always steered away from it thinking it’s too involved for me. I have 21 Charlotte potato plants in pots around the garden/ patio now! all have come up except one which is just slow,(I had a little dig) so am looking forward to good things, & if it produces I might do it again next year with main crop potatoes. I now know the difference between earlies & main crop & when to harvest etc. So cheers jim! xx

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Lots of watering to do then Jules.

[@TheBeadGarden]

I was just wondering if I could start potatoes indoors! Thank you.

[@elizabethrose8510]

Yes

[@elizabethrose8510]

Last winter l even started a tomato plant in the kitchen window from a seed and by spring it was about 4 feet high. My son love that

[@HomeGrownVeg]

That's the idea. You might have them on a windowsill for a month or so before you move them up into buckets. Jim

[@SalarianUnlimited]

I'm absolutely trying this method this year - love the trick with the bottle protecting the juvenile plant - also love the cut together video reminders especially any which include dear Molly. Keep these time 'nudges' coming so we can do when you do! Thanks

[@1Melody1963]

This is an excellent idea. I do this with broccoli, tomatoes, and several other veg. Never thought about potatoes. Having early potatoes will be a real treat.

[@Katya-zj7ni]

Works like a charm, I had 8kg’s from my grow bags. Love your channels x

[@kingsburycrafts]

May your new year be happy and your garden be bountiful

[@HomeGrownVeg]

And the same to you. Jim.

[@ginad3655]

You are right! - Very impressive! Thanks for the advice...

[@HomeGrownVeg]

This is how I reuse the same soil year after year after year : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnaki5dqirGNa68

[@rebabs]

I'm really excited. I followed your instructions and today, my first 3 yogurt pots potatoes are showing above the compost. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@HomeGrownVeg]

So far so good Barbara. Mine have shoots and roots now but as they are progressing well and its still quite cold I'll give them a little longer before I move them up into the buckets. Jim.

[@julietownsend1953]

I did exactly what you said to do and I had an amazing bumper crop of carrots and potatoes.

[@dahutful]

I’ve done it with shop bought potatoes. Some people will say … “you can’t grow shop bought potatoes - they’ve been sprayed with growth inhibitors.” Poppycock! SOME potatoes MIGHT be sprayed if they are destined for storage in warm conditions. But this works for any store bought spud that I’ve had chitting. I’ve got some now, collected from the Veg rack, in fast start containers. I have a few more that have just started to have green tits at the eyes. Next week I’ll get some seed potatoes from my friend who owns a garden center…. And they’ll ALL be fast started this way. Does it work? You bet! And why wouldn’t it?…. You’re just making it possible for the potato to do what it already wants to do - to grow! They then transplant super easy, when the time is right. So give it a go. You’ll be glad you did. David Half Acre Farm South Carolina

[@melodytenisch6232]

Yep! That's what Jim's always said, and shown us, for years! The proof is in the pudding...I no longer buy potatoes from nurseries but just use the regular store-bought ones to leave to sprout and they produce just fine as you say.👵😊🎶

[@ladyela9283]

Oh, thank God you posted! I'm in GA, and if it worked for you, it will definitely work for me. Thank you, David and Jim!!!

[@dahutful]

@@ladyela9283 Jim had put up a vid recently about “collecting” shop bought spuds. Start doing that now. I gather them through fall and winter. Wrap each in paper and keep I know a cool shed or place where they wont freeze. Then in late Feb, “fast start” them as Jim shows in his other videos. I will recommend that you grow them in containers here in the South. About time they are harvest ready, our insect populations explode. The containers prevent too much of that being a problem.

[@roncollins9222]

I saw this last night, you are an inspiration to everyone, thanks mate!

[@micktepolt6276]

it works good

[@imadeplorable3732]

This works amazingly! Brilliant idea! Started this last year and won’t be stopping!

[@lisag9493]

Nice video Jim to remind us all what we should be doing now,, would be nice to experiment a bit further and show the results using the chop and drop compost but only apply the grow more fertiliser to half of the buckets to see if it makes much of a difference to the weight ,, last year, I used potato fertiliser for the first time in the planting hole on the allotment and the results were great ,, so this year,, I will do half with fertiliser and half without,, best wishes, Lisa

[@johndeere-yk6db]

I tried this some years ago. My turn out was a 50/50 success I had that did start and some that did. I had better success planting direct in ground than starting early indoors. Not enough success to make me start them indoors After watching your video I'm going to try it again!

[@MGK9007]

Very good information. 👍👍

[@sidlepoisson6725]

It has worked well for me over the last 5 years thanks to HGV. I am still taking potatoes now that were my final late plantings last August, fast started and left to grow on in buckets. They were left in the soil in their growing on buckets after the foliage had died back. The potatoes appear to have remained sound & more importantly taste great. I already have put aside shop potatoes chitting well here in Hampshire south UK ready for fast starting this 2022 season.

[@shireencooper6209]

I did this last year and it worked so well for me xx

[@trishkcmo3683]

I started eight plants and have moved three to grow bag already.

[@amyreid9649]

Love your bottle idea! Great video.

[@123roger4321]

Yes it works I put shop bought potatoes in a plant pot the roots where well away put them in the 10 inch buckets and away they went doing it again this year

[@buddieanon6533]

Another great video Jim - thanks!

[@TheHigherCraft]

happy new year xxx I LOVE YOU XXX

[@sueedwards1969]

You learn something everyday, potatoes have belly buttons! x

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Hello Sue. Now you'll be looking for them. Jim.

[@sueedwards1969]

@@HomeGrownVeg As I was peeling the spuds for tea I was on the look out for innies and outties, Thanks for all the brilliant advice. xx

[@tnewberry4502]

Fabulous. I’m doing this for sure. Thank you!

[@HomeGrownVeg]

I have fast start potatoes moved up into buckets now standing a foot tall. Potatoes that were not fast started and left to sit on the shelf still just have chits quarter inch long. Just saying. Jim.

[@nancysworld4178]

I may have missed it but, why do you bury the entire plant instead of just planting it on top? Thanks for your advise. Love your videos!

[@Dysfuctional101]

You get more potatoes by doing this. The plant keeps growing up and produces more.

[@melodytenisch6232]

The roots have to be under the soil.

[@nancysworld4178]

@@Dysfuctional101 thank you! 😀

[@nancysworld4178]

@@melodytenisch6232 thank you!,😀

[@nel6211]

I've been watching and learning from your channel. Just used your soda bottle trick today to plant my potatoes in containers. Question, do you water them right after you plant or wait a day? The soil I used was a little damp so perhaps I'll add some water tomorrow. Your thoughts?

[@HomeGrownVeg]

I think your on the right track. Moist soil is good just don't let it dry out. Keeping direct sunlight off for a day or two until the plant settles in is another way of retaining moisture. Jim.

[@marktoldgardengnome4110]

I can say, for a jump start to grow potatoes, in a limited indoor space, fast starting does work. First time we tried it, it worked so well, we planted too many. Hade them in 3&10gal buckets and bags and inground. Had 6 plants left with NO PLACE to put them. Left them in the cups, kept them watered and they became, shall we say, conversation pieces. They put on leaves but grew spindly. When they finally died, dumped them out and, yup, harvested 3 golf ball sized and 3 Molly sized potatoes. Just had to laugh. 😊 It's all in soil temps to get them to shoot n root. Fridge, 34-40°, dormant. Into egg crates to wake them up, chits. Into soil up to 50°+, shoots n roots, potted up. New shoots, and on their way, to the garden/patio It just plain works. In the US, we use Solo cups. About the same size as the yogurt cups, 16oz. Thanks for sharing Jim.

[@Aardpeertje]

I still need to get my seed potatoes 🥲🙈

[@danfay4860]

Jim I followed what you have done and my potato plants grew just fine unfortunately the dirt stayed too wet too long and nothing happened. Not your fault. We had a lot of rain last year and due to my lack of experience everything got too wet and stayed wet. I’m trying to grow one in a bucket under grow lights in my cellar. I’ve just transplanted it from the flower pot into the 5 gal bucket waiting for the leaves to break ground. Knock wood I’ll have spring potatoes Happy New Year Jim and Family

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Hello Dan. I hope your not putting all your faith in just 1 potato? Jim

[@AdianGess]

Brilliant stuff, thanks

[@frankbarnwell____]

All in hgv

[@nalinapatel4881]

Hello Jim I want to follow your journey, I have a garage box not attached to the house, it is dark in there but not air flow in the night when car is in. Also as I use the garage to park my car in due to a lack of parking outside my door, will the fumes not effect the pots. When should I start my Maris Pipers as you have shown in pots. To get an early start like you. It is now 20 jan Must add do not have a green house to put pots in until last frost in May.

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Hello Nalina. start your potatoes in yogurt pots indoors in spring. Stand them on a windowsill. start to water when you have shoots above soil level. Pot them up into buckets when they have an established root system. Stand the buckets outdoors probably mid spring. If there is a chance of frost move the buckets into your garage overnight. You will be turning out buckets of potatoes at the back end of summer. Jim.

[@eternalfizzer]

I never knew there was a top and a bottom! :-D

[@HomeGrownVeg]

If you can spot the spot where the potato was joined to the potato that's the bottom. Does that even make sense? Jim.

[@MichaelJohnson-ig4xp]

Yep I'm gon'a do it

[@nalinapatel4881]

Jim have you tried to cut the seed potatoe in half before outing in your yogurt pot to start them off.? What results have you had. Question asked cause I only have 3 shop brought Maris piper so would like to cut seed potatoe in half to double the yield. What do you think 🤔?

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Hello Nalina. Potatoes can be cut in half then planted but its something I don't usually do , preferring to plant the whole potato. If you do give it a go make sure you have chits growing on both half's. Good luck. Jim.

[@theresonlyone66]

Thank you. Very instructional. Can you tell me which soil are you using?

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Hello Branimir. Same improved garden soil year after year after year. Check this out : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnaki5dqirGNa68

[@PTJeff9x]

I've suffered from doing things like this way too early. How many weeks before the last frost should this be done?

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Start your potatoes in yogurt pots in early spring indoors, keep them indoors no need to water until you see some shoots. Move them up into buckets as the weather warms up then move them outdoors. If we get some snow or frost move the buckets indoors (shed garage greenhouse) overnight. Jim.

[@primrozie]

Hi Jim. I have a question for you. My seed potatoes have chits about 3 inches long. They look like fat roots? Do you think they are ok to plant in pots like your yogurt containers?

[@HomeGrownVeg]

should be OK lynn, just give them a go. Jim

[@highphysics3617]

Oh! Yesss,I'm impressed,Completely. You are so innovative. The soda/pop bottle trick....Wow! just brilliant. I must be patient now,as my seasons are totally opposite yours,but,I am learning so much from your videos,and,your splendid know how. Even at my advanced "vintage" I'm ready to start planting potatoes.🦘🦘🐨🧓

[@adrianwood4661]

Hi my rooster are doing very well on the back of the bath

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Hello Adrian. Are you going to give them a fast start? Jim.

[@adrianwood4661]

@@HomeGrownVeg hi Jim there chitting nicely and then I will be planting them in pots and then transferred to planters in April thanks

[@IrisPower]

7:30 8:58 9:53 17:22 18:47 23:42(& 25:59) His harvest.

[@kathysoltys3104]

What did you add to the soil?

[@HomeGrownVeg]

Potato fertilizer (Google it) or Blood Fish and Bone.

[@tradergirl7067]

you lost me when you completely covered the potato. I plant mine like this start in solo cups and place them in dirt with all the stem on top the soil and I hill a little bit in a month after or so. I've never covered the whole plant with soil

[@HomeGrownVeg]

I've been doing it this way for years and it works for me. Jim.