How To Grow Potatoes In A Trash Bag
Growing potatoes in a plastic bag is a fun way to get children interested in gardening. And it is an almost foolproof way to grow potatoes. Even if you’re short of garden space, you can grow potatoes by planting in a container like a 30-gallon trash bag. This project for growing potatoes is so simple and yet very effective.
Plan on planting potatoes about 2-3 weeks before the last spring frost in your area. To plant a potato crop you’ll need a 30-gallon trash bag; a loose soil mix like compost and potting soil; seed potatoes or store-bought organic potatoes.
1. Prepare potatoes by letting them sprout several days before planting in a warm spot. Cut large seed potatoes into smaller pieces that have several sprouts in each piece. After cutting the seed potatoes, let them sit at room temperature for two or three days.
2. Place the trash bag in a sunny place in your garden, patio or other growing spot, after cutting several drainage holes in the bottom with a pair of scissors.
3. Roll down the sides of the trash bag.
4. Fill the bottom of the bag with soil mix.
5. Dust the seed potatoes with agricultural sulfur to protect against fungal diseases. Plant potatoes about 2-3” deep in little hills with sprouts facing up.
6. Cover potatoes with soil mix and water.
7. Mulch with dry leaves or straw.
8. Keep plants watered, but not wet.
9. When the leafy shoots are about 6-7” tall, roll the trash bag up a bit and add soil mix to cover all but the top few leaves.
10. As the plants grow, repeat this process, keeping the potatoes buried and mulched; keep soil watered, but not soggy.
11. When the leaves on the plants turn yellow and the foliage starts to dry, stop watering so the potato skins can dry.
12. To harvest potatoes, carefully cut the side of the trash bag and remove potatoes.
Source: www.diynetwork.com
