My Soil Recipe For Growing Potatoes In Grow Bags and Planting Potatoes

In this video, I will share my exact soil recipe for growing potatoes in grow bags. Potatoes like slightly acidic soil, so I will show you how I achieve that slightly acidic soil. I will also show you exactly what recipe I will be using for my soil this year. I like to save money by reusing soil from last year. I rejuvenate that used soil be adding new soil and other ingredients. After I mix up my soil, I will also show you exactly how I plant my potatoes, and I'll even show you how our potatoes did last year. The 3 types of potatoes we are growing this year are Kennebec, Yukon Gold, and Blue Adirondack. Be sure to tell us what type of potatoes you're growing this year. Thanks for watching.
This is not a sponsored video, but I am an amazon affiliate, so if you buy one of the items below using one of my links, I will get a small commission.
The 25 gallon grow bag that is going into it's 7th year: amzn.to/3MI3JS0
Garden4Ever 10 Gallon Grow Bags: amzn.to/3A23pW
The Tags I Use To Mark My Plants: amzn.to/3KXkHKQ
The Gardening Gloves I Was Wearing In This Video: amzn.to/3KzunK7
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix (several different sizes) : amzn.to/3nZ7msb
Miracle-Gro Raised Bed Soil: amzn.to/3mAeYkD
Premier Peat Moss: amzn.to/3zTVavx
Jobe's Soil Acidifier (6 pound bag): amzn.to/3KAV6FT
Opulent Systems 10 Gallon Grow Bags: amzn.to/3KTUIDY
Kennebec Potato Harvest - Grown In 10 Gallon Grow Bag: • Kennebec Potato Harves...
Red Pontiac Potato Harvest - Grown In 10 Gallon Grow Bags: • Red Pontiac Potato Har...
Purple Majesty Potato Harvest From 10 Gallon Grow Bag: • Purple Majesty Potato ...
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I garden in zone 6b, in the state Kansas. I would love to hear from you, so feel free to comment, make suggestions, ask a question, give tips, tell about your garden, or even offer constructive criticism.
Thanks for watching!
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[@HabitualHobbies]

This video came at the perfect time! I am planting my potatoes on monday! Thank you!

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad I could help!

[@L1zz13n3sS]

Your videos are great. I love seeing the whole process. For example, instead of just hearing, "I added sulfur to the mix," you showed on camera how you did exactly that. I thrive on learning visually, and your video style is so perfect for me. Thank you.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! I'm glad that the videos are helpful. I really appreciate the kind words!

[@myrrhidian3166]

Good idea reusing some of last year's soil. I used the leftover soil I grew potatoes in last year to plant up my dahlias in pots this spring, and will add fertilizer once they've started growing in earnest.

[@MidwestGardener]

Glad you are getting some use out of that used soil too!

[@amenodorime271]

Great video! I was about to grow some potatoes 🥔 and this is a great tip😊

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

[@gailf.5018]

I am growing Sarpo Mira potatoes this year here in NE New Jersey. Have a great harvest! ❤ your channel!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much, Gail! Glad you enjoy the channel. I've never grown those before. Hope you have a great harvest too!

[@sued.530]

Good Morning - Thanks for showing how to mix your old soil with new to start a new batch of potatoes. I am growing Harvest Moon, Yukon Gold and Red Maria this year. The Harvest Moon are a dark purple potato with a white center and they are coming up already. Had to put chicken wire over them to keep squirrels out as they love digging in my planters. Great to hear your grow bags are holding up for several years. I got some last year that already have holes but could be the squirrels digging. Hope you have a wonderful weekend - happy planting!

[@MidwestGardener]

Good morning Sue! Good luck with your potatoes this year. Yes, animals can damage the grow bags. I had one bag that got damaged by some kind of animal that dug underneath the grow bag. Those squirrels sure can be a pain sometimes.

[@MsLookinup]

I have had momma rabbits getting past my electric fence to have their babies in two of my potato bags, and one with cucumbers. I use old straw to mulch the bags and they seem to like that. They did no harm to the plants and when the babies were old enough would come tumbling out of the bags and onto the soft sand below. (My garden is in our now defunct pool footprint) They would eat my weeds for a week or so and then move out the same way their mommas moved in. I guess I should find a fence with smaller holes but I love to watch the babies play in the sand.

[@culdesacgrocerygarden]

Well darn I guess I stuck too many potatoes in the 15 gallon bag that I got done last week but the rest of it I did right, because I did almost exactly what you did. Except I had potato fertilizer from wood Prairie farms instead of sulfur and triple 10. I still haven't planted the rest yet but it's 6 different kinds. Thinking after watching this that I need a lot more grow bags!

[@MidwestGardener]

That will be interesting to see how yours do. It will also be interesting to see how the 6 different types compare when it comes to production. Good luck!

[@tradergirl7067]

well done sir! I do almost the same but since I'm a small lady I open all the bags at the top and surround them around me and my potting location and I use a coffee tin and fill each 10 gallon bag with scoop after scoop of all the diff soils. thrn there is no need to mix you mix as you scoop..I enjoy it! I have 10, 10 gallons going with the adirondack and clancy and majesty taters. I have in the past tried mixing them together in a wheel barrel but I lost too much soil on the ground. my very first time using mini tubers they have no chit or no eye on anything , so we will see. I also added my 30 gallon compost that took me a year to fill.. and man does it look amazing black and super organic fertilizer I hope! cheers!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! And thanks for sharing your technique with us. It's always good to hear how others do things. Have a great growing season!

[@stephenmoberg8807]

I’m growing Kennebec, red Pontiac , and russet- soil recipe similar to yours , but I add equal parts of peat moss, potting soil, premium topsoil, and Black Kow. I’m trying small amounts of triple phosphate and potash this year along with 555 in 25 gallon grow bags.. No lime. Excellent video per usual. Good luck - Steve - zone 6 b

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Steve! I'm using peat moss this year also as an experiment. I think you've got a good mix there. Good luck with your growing season!

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

Looks good!!! I haven't attempted potatoes in awhile. When I have more room again I'd like to. Thanks for sharing your soil mix. Something I'm trying this year is some Trifecta+. I've heard great things and want to see if it will help this year. I haven't been good about choosing good fertilizers in years late. It's getting so close to planting time! Can't wait. ❤

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! I haven't tried Trifecta. Be sure to let us know how that works for you. We still have a few cold nights left, but it won't be long before we can get some plants outside. I can't wait either 😁

[@l.d-h3841]

Intriguing to see your bag method! We grow in the ground and hill our potatoes but have lots of space to do so. Thank you for the sulfur note-- our soil leans alkaline. Sorry to hear you're still experiencing drought. Here in southeast Nebraska we had our first rain in about a month yesterday-- a little more than an inch. It won't break the drought but is a relief, anyway. This year we planted Rocky Mountain Russet, Soraya (yellow waxy), Purple Viking, (purple skin/white inside), Magic Molly (purple fingerling), Amarosa (pink fingerling). These are a little "fancy" compared to what I usually grow, but I had a lot of enthusiasm when I ordered seed this winter. I'm most interested to see how Amarosa does with yield and storage. We've grown Soraya for a yellow potato for several years now, as it stores better than any other variety I've grown and has an excellent flavor.

[@MidwestGardener]

Glad to hear you got some rain. We got about a quarter of an inch yesterday. Nothing like we needed, but it will help some of the things we have growing. Thanks for the tip on Soraya storing well. I'm sure others will appreciate that too. Good luck with yours this year!

[@zan4110]

I have the same 10 gallon grow bags! Great info..will be growing potatoes for tge first time...I live in Quebec .zone 4b..an hr. North East of Montreal...still have snow..! My garden center will be receiving his seed potatoes in May.😊

[@MidwestGardener]

Good luck with your potatoes this year! You will have to wait a bit longer, but they should taste just as good :)

[@zan4110]

@@MidwestGardener will keep you posted..! Just checked mt raspberry plants in the snow....little buds on all of them...!!

[@MidwestGardener]

@@zan4110 Thanks! Nice!

[@bingster-223]

I'm also growing Adirondack Blue, and Yukon Gold Potatoes. I think I have one container of Gold Rush too. I didn't get any russert or white seed potatoes this year, I guess I still could but I can just buy them from Amish markets for 50 pounds it's between $13 and $22. I mix my soil like this too but then I mound it up and pull a fork up through it over and over sorta like Richard Dreyfus in the movie Close Encounters. I got 20 containers ranging from 10 to 18 gallons planted so far I still have 32 Yukon Gold to find somewhere to put them. I find that the Yukon Gold and Adirondack Blue Potatoes tasted so good you don't really need to add butter when you bake them, I still do though lol.

[@MidwestGardener]

This is our first time growing Adirondack Blue, so it is good to hear that they taste so good. We really like Yukon gold too. Hope we both have a bumper crop this year!!

[@bingster-223]

@Midwest Gardener yes sir I sure hope so. The Adirondack Blue we've grown in the past have a deep dark purple flesh or meat inside. In a blind taste test they would have a similar taste to the Yukon. Maybe the Yukon has just a bit more of a butter flavor but you can't beat the color of the Adirondack's. It's just unique to smash down a purple baked potato.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@bingster-223 Thanks for the information. Much appreciated!

[@marktoldgardengnome4110]

We found you looking for info on starting/growing Rhubarb, was impressed, and started watching several more of your videos. We've subbed and will be around. Mark n Rosa Retired Maine TYFS

[@MidwestGardener]

Awesome, thank you for subscribing!

[@zinnia3190]

I also used some of last year's soil, added some sulfer, manure compost, and some Happy Frog potting mix. I planted Red Pontiac, Yukon Gold, Kennebec, and Red Norland. I planted my 10 gal grow bags on March 19. I topped the bags with some cilantro seedlings that have been producing nicely, but will be starting to bolt about the time the potato foliage takes over. All the potato bags have about 4" of potato foliage that I will have to cover tomorrow night with low 30's predicted.

[@MidwestGardener]

I like your chances of having a good potato crop. Nice use of space with adding the cilantro. I never thought of that. That should be about perfect timing for them bolting. But sure to let us know how you do later on when you harvest. Good luck!

[@hands2hearts-seeds2feedamu83]

I'm growing Yukon Gold, from my save pots, some russet volenteers, I dug and moved. And some other russets that grew these weird looking air potatoes in use those as the SEED

[@MidwestGardener]

I've got a some volunteer potatoes popping up too. Good luck this year!

[@davidniemi6553]

Sounds helpful. I've tried potatoes in the past but seem to not have enough sun. But this year I have a healthy potato plants volunteering out of last year's mulch pile, I'm inclined to encourage it (different family, but I had a very nice butternut squash volunteer last year whose descendants have now come up in a more convenient location where I planted them -- 5/6 germination in-ground).

[@MidwestGardener]

It's amazing how well the volunteers do sometimes. Sometimes Mother Nature just knows where things should grow.

[@RiazUddin-sk3uw]

Awesome video as usual. Thanks a lot. Have a great weekend. Cheers.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Riaz! Much appreciated! Have a great weekend!

[@blasermann1994]

My grow bag mix is 1 part soil/compost, 1 part peat moss, and 1 part perlite. Then mix in the fert. Cheapest with good results. 10 5 gallon buckets for $20 for the soil/compost mix. I actually used it in self watering buckets 2 seasons ago. Last year, a layer of black cow, then the mix above.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your mix with us. We already have a few starting to pop up above the soil. Good luck with yours!

[@sheliadean9548]

I really enjoyed your videos

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Shelia! I'm glad you enjoy them!

[@amenodorime271]

Wowow🎉😊 They all look great!!!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks!

[@nickthegardener.1120]

Hi very good video! I’m just about to plant a potato which I’ve cut into 5 pieces for a competition. I’m planting in a massive 600 litre container with peat, worm castings & compost, I might buy some sulphur.👍🏻🤠🥔

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Nick! Hope you do well in the competition! Good luck!

[@JMD242]

Thank you for the info!!

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome!

[@pt2575]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

That's one of the things I never tried. I have grown some purple yams tho. Good luck with your spuds.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Bob! Yep, I've seen those purple yams of yours. They were beauties for sure. Hope you have a great summer!

[@yvonnesmith1311]

🎉 thank you 🎉

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome!

[@catfishm.1361]

Do the purple potatoes have a good tasting skin if you roast them? 👍🏻

[@MidwestGardener]

This is the first time that we've grown Adirondack Blue. We fried some small Purple Majesty potatoes last year and they tasted fine.

[@screaminscott]

Do you really need to add soil to determinate potatoes like Yukon Gold? I thought that, since they don't create new tubers along the stem, there isn't a reason to keep adding soil. But I guess it could make sense to let the plant poke out of the soil early, then provide more support as it grows.

[@MidwestGardener]

You are right the determinate varieties don't need to soil to form more potatoes. They can benefit from the added moisture retention and added nutrients of the new soil though...and support as you mentioned.

[@shirleyk623]

Great information 😊. Nice harvest. My potato experiment failed miserably. I had beautiful plants and thought I was going to have a bountiful harvest. Only to have my plants start dying two months later. I got a harvest of potato 'marbles' . I hilled, fertilized and got nothing basically. The red store bought did better that the seed potatoes purchased from Lowes. I'll try again next potato planting time. Would you reuse the potato growing soil for other crops? There's a lot in the grow bags. Still no swallowtail butterflies. I believe they were blown away by the hurricanes we had. 😢. Take care and have a wonderful weekend. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Technically you probably shouldn't reuse potato soil to grow potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants the next year. I have though without a problem. I make sure not to save soil from a grow bag that had a diseased plant in it. That is sad about the Swallowtail butterflies. I'm sure they will make it back sooner or later. Have a great weekend!

[@shirleyk623]

@@MidwestGardener Thanks. No disease that I know of, just died prematurely. Probably because of the heat..,. I could probably solarize the soil just in case. .I saw a swallowtail female today when I went out to the garden. Yeah!!!!!

[@MidwestGardener]

@@shirleyk623 Where there is one, there are more.

[@shirleyk623]

@@MidwestGardener I hope so

[@tomjacobs3627]

Kennebec are my favorite tater 👍

[@MidwestGardener]

I can't argue with you. It's a good one.

[@MidwestGardener]

I can't argue with that. It's a good one.

[@PlantObsessed]

I received some blues in a kit so I'll try them again. They are almost always small. I'm going to try heavier fertilizer this time. Thoughts?

[@MidwestGardener]

The only times if grown blue potatoes they have been small also. It doesn't hurt to experiment. For me, a little sulfur did quite a bit of good the first time I tried it. I experimented with varying amounts of fertilizer without much change.

[@yodadunbar8909]

Same compost mix for peas? Cheers from Australia

[@MidwestGardener]

I didn't add any sulphur for the peas. I also didn't use as much fertilizer for the peas. We've been eating quite a few snow and snap peas lately. Hope yours do well! It's always great to hear from folks in Australia!

[@yodadunbar8909]

@@MidwestGardener Thanks for the response, got my fingers, legs and eyes crossed they grow lol, turned 70 and finally started gardening, all trial and error to start with, May here is not the best time, except for the good old peas Cheers

[@MidwestGardener]

@@yodadunbar8909 Glad to hear that you've started. Gardening is a good way for us older folks to get some exercise. About the time we are finishing up, maybe you can try growing some other things. Good luck!

[@91210paige]

Good video. However, I wouldn't water until you started to see your first growth. No need.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip.

[@vioricabalasu2661]

Cea mai mare porcarie

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for your opinion.

[@vioricabalasu2661]

@@MidwestGardener I'm sorry, I don't know what happened but it's not my opinion for your video

[@MidwestGardener]

@@vioricabalasu2661 No problem. Thanks for letting me know.