These 5 SIMPLE Tips Will GUARANTEE You More Potatoes!

In this video, I share my top gardening tips for growing more potatoes than ever before! Every gardener should grow potatoes, because they're easy to grow and store for many months! However, there are a few things you need to know first. These 5 simple tips will guarantee you more potatoes in your garden!
This is a true complete guide on growing potatoes. We discuss when to plant potatoes, what types of potatoes to plant, how deep to plant them, how to fertilize them and when and how to harvest potatoes!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Intro To Growing Potato Plants
1:20 Tip #1: When To Plant Potatoes
2:40 Tip #2: Growing Potatoes In Containers
6:35 Tip #3: Seed Potatoes & Planting Potato Pieces
9:56 Tip #4: Fertilizing & Planting Potatoes
12:35 Tip #5: Mulching And Watering
14:35 Fertilizing Potatoes Schedule
17:16 Adventures With Dale
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20 Gallon Fabric Grow Bags (5-Pack)*: amzn.to/3m3p1OT
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Jack's All Purpose 20-20-20 Fertilizer (1.5 lbs)*: amzn.to/42nJYEB
Jack's All Purpose 20-20-20- Fertilizer (25 lbs)*: amzn.to/3yO4hh1
Alaska Fish Fertilizer (1 Gal)*: amzn.to/3JtOiJJ
If you have any questions about how to grow potatoes in your garden, , have questions about growing fruit trees or want to know about the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, are looking for more gardening tips and tricks and garden hacks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and "how to" garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
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Organza Bags (Tomato-size) amzn.to/36fy4Re
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Heavy Duty Plant Grow Bags amzn.to/2UqvsgC
6.5 Inch Hand Pruner Pruning Shears amzn.to/3jHI1yL
Japanese Pruning Saw with Blade amzn.to/3wjpw6o
Double Tomato Hooks with Twine amzn.to/3Awptr9
String Trellis Tomato Support Clips amzn.to/3wiBjlB
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ABOUT MY GARDEN
Location: Southeastern NC, Brunswick County (Wilmington area)
34.1°N Latitude
Zone 8A
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© The Millennial Gardener
#gardening #garden #gardeningtips #potatoes #containergardening

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you found this video helpful, please “Like” and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 Intro To Growing Potato Plants 1:20 Tip #1: When To Plant Potatoes 2:40 Tip #2: Growing Potatoes In Containers 6:35 Tip #3: Seed Potatoes & Planting Potato Pieces 9:56 Tip #4: Fertilizing & Planting Potatoes 12:35 Tip #5: Mulching And Watering 14:35 Fertilizing Potatoes Schedule 17:16 Adventures With Dale

[@rolande6342]

It’s so hard to click on thumbnail with your type of facial expression. 🙄

[@northerngirlhobbies]

Timestamps matter for some. Usually when I click a video, I watch it or listen to the full thing while doing things. I don't have a 15 second brain span thank goodness. Grow good food, yes.

[@katiep4528]

I went to Amazon to purchase 20 gallon sacks, they only offer 15 & 30 gallon.

[@Meloniraelewis]

at 6 mins in the look on the dog's face is almost like it's looking at something? like "who are you talking to dad"?? "because i don't see anyone else..." or maybe it was looking at a squirrel or bird? unsure if you have someone running the camera maybe it was looking at them? idk i'm not an expert but i was thinking i've been growing potatoes in beds/mounds(mostly made of rotten hay/some compost/then extra char because of baby millipedes but mostly just rotten hay) i made on top of the earth and been growing them in the same exact spots for several years now and i'm in zone 5 a (in nw pa) and i've not had any problems with any blight and i realize i'm not as far south as you so maybe we don't have that problem in my area?, the only problems i've had is the baby millipedes and that was because the first year i did the garden(about 10 years ago) i used the black plastic around the plants and then that was too hot for some of the plants(mainly brassicas but others too) during the summer and so the next year i reluctantly kept the black plastic but put mulch(wood mostly wood chips) over the plastic to try to help keep the soil cooler and by the end of that year i started to notice WAY too many tiny black millipedes(which black landscaping plastic and wood chips is the "perfect breeding ground" and habitat for millipedes) and the babies(super tiny white "worms"(about a 1/4 inch long and a millimeter thick) except when viewed under a magnifying glass you could see their 100 legs and as they get bigger they're 1/2 white and 1/2 grayish pink?) anyway these baby millipedes were not only eating the potatoes(and eating the potatoes that were not even near plants with black plastic around them probably 50 feet away even) but the baby millipedes were maybe also eating the fall pea seeds i planted too?(i'm unsure if the pea seeds already had millipede eggs or what? i've been unable to just plant peas in the ground now but when starting the peas in a green house there've been 2 times(out of 10) where the seeds were STILL eaten and there was no way the pea seeds INSIDE had been infested with millipedes!?) anyway the char does repel the millipedes from the potatoes now and for the past probably 4 or 5 years the potatoes have gotten even better and better and i've never rotated them...the first year i covered the "mounds" of potatoes with "wood chips"(instead of hay and not wood from the store but from chopping the wood with an axe so they were various sizes) and that still worked ok BUT the potatoes didn't grow the entire way up the mound they were all down close to the ground so i quit mounding them because i learned you only need to add enough extra cover to the plants only to just cover any possible potatoes sticking out of the ground(not to cover the vine itself) so the potatoes don't turn green if they pop out of the dirt/hay/whatever they're planted in, not to mention some of the potatoes deformed because of the hunks of wood so the hay is a "softer" material...but seems like the potatoes will grow just about anywhere(in a pile of wood chips even)!!? and while i occasionally end up having a plant or two start grow when i didn't plant them in my two beds(each about 10'x3 or 4 feet)! i usually have to replant them all and i even let the seed pods fall and stay(the ones from the flowers the deer can't reach the deer love to eat the flowers) and when i'm harvesting the potatoes i really try to get them all BUT i hand dig them but it's easier to dig them because it's mostly just lose/rotting hay too....i did notice there was tiny black jumping beetles on the tops of some of the potato plants(tops) sometimes but these beetles don't seem to hurt the potatoes and and they don't ultimately kill the plants so i just let them be(in my first years of gardening i probably would have freaked out and tried to kill all the little black beetles with some kind of insecticide but after a week or so the beatles seem to disappear from the potato plants so i figure the plant starts to get attacked it makes it's "defense" chemicals then the bugs get discouraged and leave) i'm not sure if the beatles would be attracted to any other vege plants or if they might cause too much damage there??? and i kinda wondered if the beatles had come from? i got a few bags of compost from the store or maybe some eggs were on some of the hay?....hopefully this year i've made enough compost i won't have to buy any extra?!...but i feel like the more "natural" or the more close to how nature would be seem to behave is the best way to go...no plastic, no extra chemicals, no extra tilling/digging/weeding etc etc sure the act of planting some specific "seeds" because we want certain vege is "unnatural" enough except in as far as we are also part of nature....but the extra pesticides/fertilizers/or freaking out about some fungus/disease/pest/etc is not only unhelpful but mostly unnecessary nothing lives "forever"...

[@patrick.anthony.morales.I.999]

Yo, heads up; try to harvest ur ripe veggies before April 1st, 2024 or you’ll lose ur harvest to the eclipse… thanks for the value ✊🏽

[@miltonwelch8619]

You can't be much older than my first grandkids, but you sound like my grandfather when you talk gardening. Thanks again!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I’m not getting any younger 😆 I’ll be 37 this summer. I’m a millennial only by a few years. I got my first job on a farm when I was 11 and was in gardens well before that, so I have more experience than my age lets on.

[@innerjon]

Yes you do 👋🏼

[@catemc2323]

Dale knows his Mummy doesn’t mind him sleeping on the guest bed…that’s why she put the Doggie throw on it 🐶🥰😂🤣

[@kayte13]

I agree you have a Lotta knowledge. My family is from North Carolina and South Carolina unfortunately I’m still in California hoping to leave enjoy the weather in the Carolinas.

[@allenburch8526]

You sound like gen x. That’s a complement. Our NC house is under construction and I can’t wait to put in my garden.

[@cowboyblacksmith]

I grow potatoes in fabric bags, raised beds, in ground, and in tubs. Anywhere and anyhow I can grow them I do. 3/4 Irish here, lol. Canned they make incredible home fries and are perfect in soups and stews. It's like a treasure hunt digging them up. For survival food and storage they can't be beat. Everyone should plant potatoes. Picked fresh and eaten right away they're so awesome.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Potatoes are the king of storage foods. The white potato has a bad reputation due to the ubiquity of French fries, but actual potatoes are incredibly healthy - even better than sweet potatoes, because the protein is higher quality and actually can sustain you longer on their own! If you have a nice stash of potatoes and sweet potatoes, you have a nice bit of security!

[@sylviabeam8483]

I understand your treasure comment because my grandkids have so much fun digging up the potatoes

[@melissadixon4091]

That’s very sweet and I can’t wait to plant mine this year. Sounds like I’m a little late but I’ll still try knowing my yield will be exponential next year because I’ll be planting BEFORE our last frost. ☺️

[@kiddlesnmore2]

I have four buckets of taters growing right now. I like to dehydrate them in coin shapes. I made an augratin dry mix and vacuum sealed it in a mason jar, (taters too). I love augratin potatoes and I know Exactly what’s in them 🤤😋

[@rainneday13579]

Do you find them easy to grow?

[@5kidslater1]

You give some of the best tutorials. So clear. So detailed. You give the “why” as well as the “how”. You don’t waste my time with chit chat but get right to the point. Keep up the good work!

[@ninil1562]

Ive been growing potatoes in grow bags for a few years now, and I love it. I built (with scrap lumber and hardware cloth) a screen that would fit over my wheelbarrow. So when it was time to harvest, i could just dump and sort. Then easily put my soil back in my bags.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That's interesting. I'm guessing they're smaller containers? A 20 gallon would crush most screens. They're not heavy to simply tip over, but to pick it up and dump it in a wheelbarrow, it is a significant lift.

[@ninil1562]

@@TheMillennialGardener I use 10g pots. Its more pots, but easier to pick up and flip out.

[@MsLookinup]

Great idea. I have a large heavy screen that fits over my wheelbarrow to screen out twigs and rocks, but never though to use it that way. Will try that in the fall. Thanks!

[@chiefredbird7315]

One tip for potatoes in 5 gallon buckets...bury the bucket about 4 gallons deep in zone 9 ...it helps keep the moisture from drying out too quick and keeps the soil cooler.

[@lindajarvies3953]

I did the same with some tomatoes last year. They did great.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I would really urge the 20 gallon bags. They really appreciate the extra space, and they last longer. My 5 gallon buckets rot after 2 seasons, but my grow bags are 7 years old and good as new. Plus, a 20 gallon grow bag is cheaper than a 5 gallon bucket, now!

[@mariap.894]

​​@@TheMillennialGardener How do you keep your 20 gallon bags moist during the summer? I struggle because of their size I don't have a saucer to hold water. Any ideas? Thank you!

[@noeldeal8087]

@@TheMillennialGardener What do you think of the idea to grow in cardboard boxes?

[@noeldeal8087]

@@mariap.894 Maybe put old dried tree branches in the bottom of the bags or cardboard pieces?

[@LisaMonique]

I had excellent results with my grocery store potatoes and they were good! They were sprouting on my counter so I just stuck them in pots and voila, they produced well!

[@kathymcmc]

That's me. If they sprout and gone to far... I'm planting them.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If they’re sprouting, they will work. Just don’t plant fresh conventional potatoes, because they may rot before they sprout.

[@lauraweiss7875]

I planted 12 russets that were sprouting in my pantry. I just stuck them in the ground in mid April and six weeks later they are HUGE and starting to flower. Fortunately I had a very fertile raised bed that was fallow last year and previously grew peas. I’m expecting massive yield.

[@hands2hearts-seeds2feedamu83]

YES... You can grow store bought potatoes from the grocery store. The way to GROW them is, to let the store potatoes start chitting BEFORE planting THEM. I have grow store potatoes before. It is true that they do stay most if NOT all of them with them so they take longer to sprout. Alot of mine sprout, especially the one's I get from Aldi.

[@kodiak1984]

I often use fabric containers for potatoes, not quiet 20 gallons. But as i found out, the amount of seed potato you plant in each container also effects yields and sizes. From the first time growing potatoes, i planted 5 seed potatoes in each container. I got plenty but i found them to be on the smaller side than i was expecting and hoping for. I now use 3 seed in each container and its gotten me much better results. In the container you planted in 7 I think you may be better off with 5 I'm in the UK, down in the south and we had an exceptionally hot and dry summer last year, probably mimicing some areas of US. As much as potatoes dont like heat, its also vital to water potatoes a little more often in those conditions to give them a chance

[@sylviabeam8483]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm fixing to start my seed potatoes and this really helped me

[@garhent]

For a 40 quart container, you can plant 2 indeterminate potatoes at different layers OR you can plant 4 determinate potatoes on two layers. One layer should be about a 1/3 way from the bottom and the other layer should be a 1/3 way from the top. Ensure you have decent amount of acidity in the soil, spaghnum moss can help with acidity, although I mix an acidifying fertilizer thought the entire container. Acid soil is what potatoes prefer and it helps to prevent potato scabies. Planting all 5 at the top of the container will crowd the potatoes and it wastes the soil. Plus now he's going to have to heavily mound the potatoes to prevent sunlight from greening the potatoes and making them poisonous. You want to learn about determinates and indeterminates for your potatoes before you plant them.

[@AlabamaConstitutionalCrusader]

Its not the amount you plant its the extra feed they need to keep up ... if you feed them correctly you can plant 10 . They just have a much higher need for micro nutrients and fertilizer

[@briangustin3745]

Don't need seed potato if you have a means to store your taters in cool and dark (below 40 degrees , but above freezing) - We do about a bushel plus a year - enough for a year's supply, and still have some leftovers that will start sprouting early spring. I do have a cellar (rarely ever gets above 60 degrees in summer, typically low 40's in winter) and store harvested potatoes in bushel basket covered with heavy tarp. so when next spring rolls around, we always have sprouting potatoes to re-plant. Never have to buy seed potatoes that way. :) I believe there are ways to build your own DIY root cellar in backyard as well, so may not need a cellar like we have (Northern P.A.)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

That would be the same as planting an organic potato, or planting a potato that already sprouted. If they’re potatoes leftover from the previous season, they are probably starting to sprout in some capacity. If they were stored so cold that it inhibited sprouting that long, it is the same as planting an organic store potato. Old potatoes usually sprout quickly once they’re brought into a warm area.

[@noeldeal8087]

I think my garage might work for winter storage however I think I may be battling the occasional mouse for my harvest!

[@CityWideGardens]

Potatoes was one of the first things that started my garden!!! Grow what you eat. Eat what you grow!!! Soooo many ways to grow - in ground, raised beds, grow bags, plastic pots, hay bales, in your cabinet…. Yes those ones you forgot you had!!! Happy growing everyone.

[@laurab8547]

I’m hoping you will show us harvesting your potatoes in the fall? Thanks for all the great tips. I have a notebook that I’ve been keeping my planting and growing information in so I can refer back to when I need to. I will definitely be rewatching this one to write down all your tips!

[@doileychair595]

I'm a first time gardener at 57 and have learned so much from you. Thank you! You need to sell a notebook with all your various plants and all the how to's: how to plant them; how to fertilize them when planting; how to fertilizing them as they grow; how to harvest them, etc., etc. I'm watching your videos over and over again, stopping, pausing, rewinding, watching again trying to take all these notes. 🤣 But one thing you didn't say here is how much Jack's 20-20-20 to use in how much water. I bought a bag (yes, because you recommended it) and it states how much to put in a gallon of water for %N. I have no idea how much %N I want / need. So I've just used the Miracle grow recommendation of 1.5 Tbl for 1.5 gallon of water. Plus the 2-3 second glug of fish fertilizer (yes, I bought that too because you recommended it). So help a brother out please. How much Jack's 20-20-20 should I put in how much water for potatoes? (Or just sell me your notebook. 🤣 )

[@LifeChangingItIs]

I’m needing to know also. 😢 Help! 😊

[@powaqqatsi8]

I have watched many gardening KZbin videos and I find yours to be the best. Why? Because you are able to communicate your vegetable growing knowledge and tips well, efficiently, and focused. Thank you!

[@sylvesteregan3297]

If you grow potatoes in ground and have a massive surplus of potatoes you can store them over the winter by creating a pit for them. Dig a rectangle shape pit with shovel about 5-6 inches deep. Pour all your potatoes into pit and stack them on top of each other in the shape of a roof/triangle shape. Then open up a bale of straw and scatter it over all the potatoes. Then from the base shovel the clay over the thatch straw, covering it all. Tap it shovel to compact the clay. And then put another layer of straw at the top for about 1 foot from the top to act as a second roof. Throw more clay on top of this layer of straw. Tap it with shovel. Job done. When it rains hopefully any water that gets through the clay will flow down wards when it meets the straw. They will store over winter and you can dig out a few bags of them as you need them for dinner. Dig them out from the base and reseal it. Snag off any root growth.

[@noeldeal8087]

You don't line the rectangular pit with anything? You leave the potatoes touching the ground?

[@sarahreinhardt1414]

Michogan gardener here and lots of us plant out potatoes sooner than 2 weeks before last frost. As long as soil isn't sitting with large amounts of water and constantly freezing with all of that water, they do pretty well.

[@AmericaFirstNow]

YEP, zone 5b here in western NY.

[@dwightdaniels8322]

I think you should discuss the differences between early, mid, and late season (or long season) potatoes.

[@diananazaroff5266]

I had a bag of store bought russets that, literally, all sprouted. I planted them in my big tree pots (pots that used to house big trees, lol) yesterday. Didn't fertilize, though, so I'll do that tomorrow. My potato growing skills are terrible and have been for years. It appears I've been doing it all wrong, but this year I'll do it right. I didn't know about the heat issue. For whatever reason, I thought they liked heat (GA here, so LOTS of heat). Going out tomorrow to get a few Kennebecs and Yukon Golds to add to the collection, lol. Thank you for your vids.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Potatoes like cool weather and lots of fertilizer. If you're struggling with potatoes, you're probably planting them too late and they're exposed to too much heat, you're keeping them too wet and they're rotting, or you're not feeding them enough. They need a lot of food, they like being in well-drained soil that isn't wet, and you have to harvest them before it gets hot. I think if you follow those principles, you'll do great. Georgia is *way too hot* in summer to grow potatoes. However, you can plant more potatoes in early August for a great fall harvest! They are a great fall crop.

[@Ashurus]

Your channel is the best for comprehensive gardening guides!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thanks so much! I'm glad to hear it is helpful.

[@ronweldon5892]

As always, an outstanding video packed with tons of great advice and I can't wait for my growing season to start. I picked up a half dozen water barrels from a friend I'm cutting in half for all my tubers. Tons of rabbits in my yard I'll be growing lots of carrots for. All set and fully stocked up over the winter on fertilyzers, Neem oil in case needed and a few other odds and ends they always sell out on when the season starts. So very anxious I'm chomping at the bits

[@jenniferbrown3193]

I've watched this vid at least 2 times so far and always find more informative advice 😅... Ive been holding off dumping out my potatoes for about 3 weeks now, mainly because only one area of the bag the leaves were changing color and dying off.. now it's all but one spot... So I think today is the day!!!! I'm so excited! I've never grown potatoes before... 🤞 My red potato bag has yield on the high side 🤞🤞😊 will post an update later!!

[@Lolls-32]

How did it go?👀

[@jenniferbrown3193]

Not so well 😔 only got 5 tiny red potatoes!! But I knew I messed up the soil so I have a new batch already growing

[@Lolls-32]

@@jenniferbrown3193 i got overly excited because my plant has flowers so i pulled it out and theres only 3 tiny ones😭 We will have more next time!

[@jenniferbrown3193]

@@Lolls-32 awwwww... Yes there's always next time!!!

[@denisemorrison6331]

❤ Dale 🥺 Btw, I learned a lot about potatoes today! I had found some growing in my pantry and decided to try my luck at it. I was fortunate and came across some 33 gallon pots. They’re already growing really well, but you gave me a lot of tips to keep them going, and when to harvest. Thanks!

[@susanriggs8896]

Before I talk potatoes, I want to talk tomatoes. In one of your earlier videos you mentioned the Dwarf Tomato Project, to which I responded to myself: "Huh? Sounds intriguing." So I have spent the last few days finding out more about the Dwarf Tomato Project, and I am eager to grow them. I've ordered some seeds. I think you mentioned Rosella Purple a number of times, so that is one I ordered. Have you tried others? I would like to know more about your experience growing them. And thanks for spreading the word about them. They sound like a better alternative to the tall indeterminants I've been growing in my small garden. I also enjoyed your potato video. I've been growing potatoes in 20 gallon bags for the last two years. It's so easy to grow them this way. We especially like the purple potatoes that I bought from my CSA and then planted--don't know the variety, but they sure are good!

[@mountainmama7155]

I just finished planting my potatoes today. We planted alot of potatoes this year. I always grow them in ground, as That is what works best for me. Last year we got more potatoes than we ever have! I am confident we will get much more this year!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If I had the land, soil and climate, I would do that, but alas, I cannot here. The rains we get are a major problem, and our soil is sandy and contains root knot nematodes. So, containers it is!

[@mountainmama7155]

@@TheMillennialGardener I grew up on the east coast of NC, so I understand those issues!

[@mariap.894]

​@@TheMillennialGardener Root nematodes!!!😮😮😮 That's my nemesis!!! I struggle with that here in Florida 😢😭😭

[@carrielemos2266]

Love this, and he loves his dog, so sweet!!!

[@williamslater-vf5ym]

Most potatoes do not grow roots all along the stem. Only certain varieties do that. Most grow within six inches of soil, and Hilling is just to keep them from popping through the soil and solarizing.

[@amyable3596]

Hello Millenial Gardener! I just found your channel today. I have been trying to find someone with gardening videos that is close to my area. I am on the northeast coast of NC. I see so many videos that I want to watch already. Thank you!❤

[@sheliadean9548]

I love your videos and thank you for sharing this information with us.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I’m glad you find them helpful.

[@whataworld369]

You are fantastic at making videos. Nothing but perfectly presented vital information. Extremely helpful and easy to watch. Thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you!! I really appreciate that. It means a lot.

[@whataworld369]

@The Millennial Gardener I showed a few of your videos to my father, and he is a big fan now, too. He is convinced you must be a school- trained botanist with the vast knowledge you have I told him you could instead be a well- seasoned gardener who is internet researched and trained, and not necessarily schooled... I don't think he fully understands the power of the internet yet Either way, we both agree that the knowledge and way you communicate it is absolutely superb!

[@valoriegriego5212]

Another nice tutorial, MG!👍 When I cut my seed potatoes, I dip them in potash. You don't have to wait for them to heal when ya use the potash. I grow my potatoes in leaf mold or just leaves...3 inches of soil in the bottom of the pot.🥔 This saves on soil. Dale's too cute. 🐕

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Interesting. Potash crystals? I have a bag that's lasted me many years, but it's so incredibly strong. Any time I get lazy and touch them bare-handed, I will get eczema between my fingers. That stuff is so powerful. It's the only thing that gives me that type of reaction. Dale is a momma's boy. He acts like such a tough guy, but he's melted butter.

[@valoriegriego5212]

@@TheMillennialGardener I'm calling the ash I make in my fireplace to add to potting mix potash...is that wrong? That's what I use on the cut potatoes.

[@mariap.894]

​@@valoriegriego5212 I thought Potash meant wood ashes also🤔??

[@Flippin_Crazy]

@@valoriegriego5212wood ash, and potash are 2 different animals. Wood ash is great also for keeping wire worms away. I’ve also heard using it to scan over your cut potatoes works too.

[@valoriegriego5212]

@@Flippin_Crazy Thanks!😃

[@j.campos9898]

I love you dale. He’s the best potato watch dog ever. Great video.

[@Surge_General]

I've helped a few ppl feel confident on growing gardens by having them grow potatoes. They now like gardening since they were able to grow potatoes, so in other words it's great for newbies just getting into gardening. Nice video by the way!

[@debbiedebbie1626]

You detailed such clear instructions thank you

[@joycedimaggio3816]

Never had a problem growing my potatoes in the ground. I have been blessed for the past 20 yesrs.

[@reneenewfrock5743]

I hill my potatoes in the containers. I do both seed potatoes and store bought. No issues.

[@51rwyatt]

Great video. I'm growing potatoes in fabric containers this spring, first time doing potatoes. Pretty excited about it. I've had farmer's market potatoes locally and the difference from store bought was pretty striking, so looking forward to the grow.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It is a lot easier. You’ll need a lot of containers if you want a massive haul, but they’re close to autopilot minus basic watering and fertilizing.

[@51rwyatt]

@@TheMillennialGardener I'm most attracted to the ease of harvesting using that method, plus I live in Maine and I've noticed many plants benefit from increased heat from being in the above-ground pots.

[@cowboyblacksmith]

Good for you, you will be hooked on growing potatoes I promise. I am trying something new to me I saw a potato expert say. He cuts off any chits (the sprouted eyes) leaving only two per potato or cut slice. Just let the cuts heal and scab over for a few days is all. It's said that having just two chits makes bigger potatoes and a healthier plant. I'll find out and do a test run, kind of excited about it truth be told.

[@raspeight22]

Did I miss the hilling part?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

@@raspeight22 hilling was discussed several times throughout the video.

[@RetiredLife825]

I bought red potatoes and they grew sprouts and I planted them and they are growing great 👍

[@marionward7115]

Thanks! Love your channel. You make everything so easy to understand. Unfortunately I waited too late to plant potatoes (Hot GA)but looking forward to using your technique in the fall. Can’t wait! Dale is such a sweet dog, love that face!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you so much for your support and generosity! I really appreciate it! I don't think it's too late for you to plant potatoes, especially in containers. Mine are just coming up now, and your temperatures are almost identical to mine, so you should be able to get by. Worst case, if you plant them in containers, you can always move them into the shade if it gets too hot too quickly. You don't really have anything to lose, especially if you have some old potatoes sprouting in the pantry. Dale says hello!

[@noeldeal8087]

@@TheMillennialGardener "Dale says hello." So cute! 🤗

[@scenicroutetravelers3655]

I started mine! Your advice and presentation is great. Thanks for all your help.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Excellent! I'm glad the video was helpful.

[@lambsquartersfarm]

Awesome. This is the year I go big with potatoes.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

They’re a great thing to grow! You can’t go wrong.

[@valerieeckhard6675]

I also have a science background (medical). I appreciate the scientific reasoning and loved the fertilizer experiment! My son and I will attempt to grow potatoes this year because of this video.

[@normanhooten9445]

This year I planted Huckleberry Gold & Purple Majesty in grow bags I used for Japanese sweet potatoes last summer. Not the same soil, though. I layered sand, compost/peat moss & straw,with a straw mulch top layer. As I have 4 inches remaining in the bag I'm gonna keep adding layers of compost & straw as they grow, kinda like hilling.

[@scottbaruth9041]

Even though I'm not a raised bed or container grower, I appreciate any video that will get people growing food! There are so many different ways to grow that makes gardening such an amazing hobby. Very nice video!

[@mikemiller209]

Great video on the potato, I've been growing them for 15 years or so and put in about 70 two days ago.. they will rot if you get too much rain but if there's a drought ants tend to find them as a water / food source

[@noeldeal8087]

how do you grow them? 70 plants? Awesome!

[@mikemiller209]

@@noeldeal8087 I don't hill them just bury them about 6in deep in the first place and that will take care of the plant .. Iplant two 35ft rows putting seed a foot apart is more than enough

[@noeldeal8087]

@@mikemiller209 Thank you Mike!!! Happy potato growing!!! 🥔🥔🥔🥔🥔

[@noeldeal8087]

@@mikemiller209 Do you use seed potatoes? I have some chitting right now that I got from the grocery store...🥔 I never grew potatoes before...

[@paultaylor7570]

@@mikemiller209 any idea how many pounds your get,from those two rows. I'am debating on raised bed planting for next year or in ground rows. In the past I get around 30 lbs per 4 x 8.

[@chiefredbird7315]

Incredible times....I just harvested about 4 lbs of potatoes out of two 5 gallon buckets...first time ever growing potatoes and actually getting potatoes...lol plus I turned right around and planted 3 more plants in each of the two buckets...lol all my starts came out of my compost pile... from potatoe peelings.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You can keep multiplying your potatoes. Harvest them, keep 75% of them and plant the other 25% for a constant supply. Then, keep the inferior potatoes over winter and re-plant them in spring. If you fertilize with bone meal or triple phosphate, I bet you'll get even more potatoes!

[@mikemiller209]

The peel is what was planted in the depression nobody in their right mind buried a whole edible potato..

[@tracy85777]

@@mikemiller209 interesting! Thank you!

[@anniesingh437]

Thank you for sharing.

[@mysparky2011]

I gave up on potatoes for years because of potato bugs. An organic farmer solved that problem. He said don't plant until mid June. Worked like a charm!! I also plant in a 3ft raised bed. I have a great harvest every year now and no bugs !!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Interesting. I've had the opposite strategy. My strategy has been to plant them as early in March as possible, that way I harvest everything by May. We don't get the terrible pests until the rainy season starts after Memorial Day, so getting the harvest done before June has been my success. That being said, potatoes are grown for the tubers, so there is no need to leave them open for pollination. Therefore, you can just grow them in containers and cover them in an insect net. If you keep them covered, you won't have any pests. There's no real reason to uncover them except to water/fertilize.

[@mysparky2011]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thanks for the reply, very nice of you. I should have mentioned that I live in southern Ontario. We don't have any snow (often we do) but the ground is still frozen. There's no planting until late May, early June. I have planted peas earlier but they don't come up till the ground is warm. I'm envious of you. Have a great spring. It's looking like an early spring for us. And thanks, I enjoy watching your program.

[@MyLove-uj8zi]

My cat ate my Stuffed cat with rabbit fur the my father had bought when I was a little girl in the 60's. I bet she was totally discussed as she was a might hunter of 4 lbs. And would bring hunt her own food half the time bringing home full grown rabbits to chow on and feed her kittens. She trained them to be great mousers. I was disappointed to lose the stuffed cat, but it hurt worse when she died at 19. I will miss her forever, the stuffed cat not so much.

[@spideymcgee4718]

Nothing better than fresh potatoes. I dedicated 2/3 of one of my two 4x8 raised bed to russets and Yukon golds and they are overtaking my bed. I should have a huge harvest and I cannot wait. I planted them here outside Philly in mid April so just a few more weeks until harvest! Edit: I’ll make sure I get every damn potato out and I plan on putting locally made mushroom soil for next season in the raised beds so I’m not worrying about them popping up everywhere. I only have a 20x8 section my mother has allowed me to grow in her yard so I can’t have tons of pots and the pots I have I use for beans so I can have tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers. All of my potatoes are from the grocery store and I haven’t had any issue. Just three russets didn’t sprout out of 12 and all 12 Yukons sprouted. Oh and I only cut the russets and did not cut the Yukon so I believe it is better to not cut them. But to each their own.

[@paultaylor7570]

I would love to know how many pounds you get from your 4 x 8 bed. One year we got approx 30 lbs from ours.. North east Ohio.

[@spideymcgee4718]

@@paultaylor7570 so 7-8 single smaller than a tennis ball sized Yukon got me around 6 pounds. I had to harvest them two weeks early because of heavy rain. The russets I am actually harvesting today, which will be a week or so early but they got beaten up bad too.

[@spideymcgee4718]

@@paultaylor7570 only 1/3 of the bed was dedicated to Yukon gold and 1/3 to russets. Tomatoes on the other 3rd are doing great. Chocolate sprinkles are about 8 feet tall as are the sun golds. 2 early girls are about 6 feet, big boy is about that size as well and the celebrity (determinate) is about 4 and they are all doing exceptionally well.

[@AlvinMcManus]

I have successfully chitted off 7 small red potatoes from the store that decided to sprout. My two 15 gallon wide bags are full of new potato leaves popping out of the soil. Thanks for this video. I followed your fertilizing schedule using a blend of the Fish Emulsion + Kelp + Tom&Veg liquid fertilizers and a dry blend of four of Jobe's granular at 3.75-3.5-3.65; and thanks for the reminder to mulch. I'll be using chopped clean straw.

[@SusanRogersMakingItWork4Me]

When I was about 12, we helped a Sweet Potatoe farmer. He paid us by giving us enough sweet potatoes for several years. We put them under the house and covered them with the dusty dirt and had potatoes for a couple years💞

[@KurtBaumanMobilePhotography]

One of the best videos on growing potatoes. I've done both, grown in fabric pots and last year I wanted a lot and grew in two raised beds. I was very disappointed in the yield vein the raised beds. I got way more potatoes growing in containers. This year I'm going back to large fabric pots.

[@CBReal1290]

Thank you so much for the detail on the various conditions that the potato will rot before, sprouting or maturing. Also for making this video specific to container gardening

[@trotter2099]

In the UK, food you can grow from food you buy at the supermarket includes, potatoes, garlic, onions, ginger, peppers, tomatoes and squash

[@erica8464]

Same in the us

[@GrayMatterMelody]

​@@erica8464 not sure about UK, but some companies in the US spray fruits/veggies with an anti propagation chemicals... Cause capitalism.

[@deborahthompson5041]

Good information. I really learned from you. Thank you. I am going to grow potatoes this year. Russet and red. Usually, I grow sweet potatoes. I appreciate you tips.

[@northerngirlhobbies]

Yes containers make more sense. 100% Cute Lawn Potato 🐾🥔

[@dfpressler1243]

You have a beautiful dog! Oh, and your videos are great! God Bless!

[@booswalia]

It's safe to plant potatoes when the dandelions flower open up. Also, you don't need to hill potatoes unless they are indeterminate. Many, like Norlan, Yukon Gold, and Chieftain are determinate and don't need hilling.

[@noeldeal8087]

Perfect and easy sign re dandelion flowers!!! Also, what do you think of the advice to use cardboard boxes for potatoes? You sound like you know what you're doing!!!

[@booswalia]

@@noeldeal8087 I can't see why it wouldn't work. The box might fall apart after a while but then you'll just be left with a hill of potatoes. Makes sense to try it when you look at the price of other options.

[@noeldeal8087]

@@booswalia Thanks Shirley. Have a wonderful summer!

[@colleenpritchett6914]

@@noeldeal8087I’m growing in cardboard boxes with onions and potatoes. The boxes after a month and 1/2 are holding up well. By the time of harvest the boxes will be ready for the compost pile and hopefully I will have lots of spuds. They are looking wonderful!

[@noeldeal8087]

@@colleenpritchett6914 Mine aren't in the ground yet, still chitting in a roasting pan... I'm chronically ill. But may your potato harvest be blessed! 🥔🥔🥔 📦📦📦

[@Ladythyme]

This was very very helpful…my first time planting potatoes! You’ve given me the confidence to give it a try! Thank you!

[@thatgirl3645]

Thank you so much for sharing very good information! Aww poor baby Dale missing his mommy, sending my love to that sweet baby pup.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! Dale's mom will be home tomorrow and all will be well again 🥳

[@teenagardner3623]

I think Dale has gotten taller😊 your video on potatoes is much appreciated. You did not do the "1st early, second early confusing stuff. I just want to grow a basic 🥔. Last fall was my first attempt at potatoes and used store bought that sprouted in pantry. My yield wasn't great due to my errors. However, I over wintered my harvest in a box, cool dry place. This spring I opened box full of octopus 😅 oh my goodness 😂

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by "1st early, second early." The best advice I can give on growing potatoes is get them in ground as early as possible, don't over-water them and feed them heavily. A hidden potato in a pantry will be 2 feet long before you know it! Dale has many faces since he's half hound and half pit bull/staffordshire. Depending on his stance, he either looks stocky and muscular or long and lanky. He looks like two different dogs based on his ear position and chest position.

[@teenagardner3623]

@The Millennial Gardener your video is based on growing a common potato we all regularly eat.

[@Blue_Wolf_loves_lofi]

First thing, I really like your videos. I do think you should include information about how you should hill indeterminate potatoes but not determinate varieties. Hilling all potatoes is a waste of time if they are determinant, because for them hilling does not increase yield. This seems to be a very common misunderstanding about growing potatoes.

[@coastflyer1]

Very well done by an experienced, educated, grower and hard worker. Carries forward and expands a fine family history and knowledge of a range of ag/ growing. His advice is top notch. The information is complete backed by a thorough listing of source information he prepared and attached to this video. Very well done.

[@rosaleaschwenke770]

You have answered all my questions. I'm so glad I found your channel, it's difficult to find a gardening program that doesn't glaze over the details but also doesn't use words that I have to pull out a dictionary to understand.

[@AjArpopP52]

Excellent video! Your channel is the best out of all the different garden channels I watch and I watch a lot. You can tell you know your stuff and you give great directions with out a lot of unnecessary talk. So happy I found you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Thank you! I really appreciate that, and I'm glad you're enjoying the content.

[@ruthfurlow5468]

Clean stray is awesome mulch

[@mz1860]

What a handsome dog 🥰❤️🐶❤️ I’d like to start growing veggies but not sure what soil and feed to use, organic, since soil in US is deficient in Boron

[@clintwalker7690]

I say, that sounds true, for urban garders. Suburban gardeners should listen! Food is at your fingertips!

[@MinneapolisMommaD]

According to MI gardener, we don’t need to hill and they don’t put off potatoes from roots along the stem so what you get in the first part of the soil is what you’re going to get. But then other gardeners say the opposite so I’ve done an experiment. I have potatoes in three grow bags like this, one planted all the way to the top, one with soil 2/3 the way up and one half filled soil. We’ll see soon.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You don't need to hill, but some gardeners have shown benefits. It also may vary based on the variety of potato you're growing. I grow them in containers, so hilling isn't something that can technically be done. They grow fine this way.

[@mselizabeth2644]

I grow potatoes. All varieties. They are magnificent.

[@Luv2Garden2]

I've grown alot of potatoes in dollar store laundry baskets. Last year I bought the black bags. I hardly got any potatoes. I'm so use to getting loads. Going to change soil and try your way. Thank you!❤

[@arthurwellsjr.4082]

You can grow store bought potatoes even though they are sprayed with a growth inhibitor to prevent sprouting. I have been doing this since 2020 with red taters from Walmart once they started chitting ( aka growing eyes).

[@melvinlee5684]

I think a good name for your program would be “The Garden Professor”. I learn more from your teachings and have better luck than from anyone out there on KZbin. Thank you!

[@rhondamalary1048]

I recently started adding copper wire to my garden beds to see if "electroculture gardening" really works. My plants are growing even better with the copper grounding in the beds. I would suggest you try it. I am in Shallotte about 45 minutes south of you. Lowes has copper wire for $.55 per foot. TOTALLY WORTH IT!!

[@myurbangarden7695]

Interesting 🤔

[@scottbaruth9041]

My gardens are under the high voltage power lines that go from a power plant to a city. Defiantly something good about electricity and gardens. I think electromagnetic fields create nitrogen similar to lighting in a storm. I remember pictures in organic gardenig and farming magazine where people set up lighting rods in their gardens, hoping to get that nitrogen strike.

[@rhondamalary1048]

I just took 8 gauge copper wire wounded around a stick with some from the top sticking up higher and stuck them in my garden beds and my plants. Are? Going crazy I can see several inch different after a rainstorm with lightning.

[@nildaotero2933]

Thanks for all the great tips

[@crazyeclecticboutique1885]

Awesome! Thank You! Your Dog Is Great!

[@mrkroeger]

We have been growing a small patch for several years. Its so much fun digging them up. Its like box of chocolates, you never know What you're going to get. Each potato is a surprise. They are more tasty too. Potatoes are a must in our garden now.

[@bronwynnewell1767]

Thanks for the recap on planting spuds. Even though here on the New South Wales coast we’re in Autumn, I’m pretty sure we are a zone 11, so our autumn / winter is ideal for spud growing. We are less than 5km (as the crow flies) from the ocean, so we rarely get frost at our place. Last time we planted our spuds in one of our raised beds, but as this bed full of kitchen herbs I think we’ll go with your recommendation for using grow bags. PS I can’t get enough of “Adventures with Dale”, he’s a gorgeous soul!!

[@user-xw2cq6nq8i]

I use store-bought potatoes as well as seed potatoes. I have some of each sprouting on my window sill right now. I've had no luck with the grow bags. They dry out too quickly

[@cynthiabowen7092]

VERY HELPFUL!!! Thank you!

[@Aemolya]

Last year I bought ordinary non-organic potatoes from the local grocery store and most of them sprouted. I planted them and got a quite nice crop.

[@cindym1070]

Thank you for all of your time doing these wonderful videos. Absolutely love Dale.

[@alexischitwood2272]

Thank you! This was just what I was looking for. I found a bag of organic baby Yukon gold potatoes in my cabinet that had started sprouting. So rather than wast them I'm gonna try to grow more! I already have some of these fabric grow bags so I'm planting out my seed potatoes now. So excited to see what I come out with!

[@walterdavis8085]

Your recommended pesticide for my vegetable plants and roses

[@carolhesse1054]

Love your videos! I used your advice for creating slips from sweet potatoes and it worked! Thank you

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Outstanding! Glad it worked. I have a few sweet potatoes going right now.

[@cindysye8047]

Me too on 1 out of 3, fancy Asian grocery store ones too!

[@bevdixon9615]

I am doing this too! I am growing two Japanese varieties one has purple flesh and the other is white inside. Last year ours were so huge and the dog found them and had fun eating the whole crop.

[@noeldeal8087]

@@bevdixon9615 Bad dog!!! He's a gourmet!!!

[@veevee3882]

I grew my potatoes in the containers last year and I did hill them very nicely

[@MikeR65]

Poor Dale ! He really loves his family!! I got an unexpected harvest from some russet potatoes that I planted the year before last. It was a very pleasant surprise!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

He really does. When we aren't all together, he is so down in the dumps. He is a completely different person when the family is together and when we aren't. He really loves his pack. I dumped a bag of potatoes in the corner of my house 4 years ago, and they grow back every year. Even in January during warm spells, they'll sprout in the corner, then eventually get killed back...again and again and again. They're tough!

[@namiesnaturals3557]

Very new but 2 yrs ago I had few purple potatoes with shoots so I planted in a good flower soil of course I forgot, well this yr I have 3 growing. I did plant potato gardeniddle of yard n most have grown I dug valleys covered n put some hay atop n looking good. I also threw few more in covered with dirt/chunks grass from garden n they grew too. Almost time to harvest n find out. Purple ones r flowering.

[@mexicas6637]

As always, comprehensive. Thank you. Now I feel ready to get started with my first potato plantings.

[@markoliver-ww9ld]

I like that phrase "I'll never do it again" and it isn't negative either, some stuff you grow doesn't work out or maybe you did grow something successfully but you ended up having too much, it's you and the garden, nobody else. So far 2 things I'll won't do again is Okra and planting to many tomato plants.

[@lostnthsauze1440]

more great information.

[@sharonceaser-wheeler3364]

Awesome

[@BeFoundJCP]

You’re a fantastic teacher sir. Thank you so much.

[@TheSeedsower107]

Thanks for another excellent video ! I'm glad you even went back to cover using conventional potatoes. I find up here in Michigan that if I buy a bag of russet potatoes from a thriftier store like Save a lot I never have any issues with my potatoes sprouting. They don't spent the extra money to keep them longer in the store as more exspensive retailers do. That being said , I am an organic gardener and prefer to grow organic anything I can. Have a wonderful growing season everyone !

[@robrenhar]

Great video with valuable content. Every thing I needed to know

[@jordanhemp9068]

This was the most helpful video i've seen in a while.Thank you so much🙃🖤

[@ronaldwhite9176]

Thank you, my man I'm going to try this.

[@grannygct]

Thank you so much for your wonderful, informative potato video! I will definitely try growing them in a fabric bag this time instead in a raised bed. Good idea to grow potatoes by themselves in a container. It is easy to move the fabric bags or containers around to sunny locations. Can’t wait to have a good harvest!

[@ruthfurlow5468]

I grow 2 crops in Southern Illinois. 1st crop goes in the ground February 14th. 2nd crop goes in the ground after the harvest of the 1st crop just rotating the area in a different area.

[@wvdiggingroots]

That's to you I got back in to gardening and all that my pap teach me came back. We build 8 bed each bed is it's on bed. Well add as we go this year bringing in ramps, all wilds we can.. potatos cut side down and always wait until they sprout. Let set after cut. Let end dry couple day you be good.

[@NASATH3GR3AT]

I'm here trying to grow potatoes in my apartment, I got tired of buying them. I'm tired of paying for anything I can grow. Lol Thank you for your help.