Planting Potatoes in Bags | A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Spuds in Small Spaces

Introduction: Grow Delicious Potatoes Anywhere

You don’t need a huge garden or allotment to grow your own potatoes — in fact, all you need is a bag of compost, a sunny spot, and a few seed potatoes. Planting potatoes in bags is one of the easiest, cleanest, and most space-saving ways to grow your own fresh spuds at home.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced gardener looking to maximise yield in a small space, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about growing potatoes in bags — from choosing the right variety to harvesting your own homegrown crop.

1. Why Grow Potatoes in Bags?

Potato bags — or grow bags — offer an ideal solution for anyone short on garden space or dealing with poor soil.

Benefits of growing potatoes in bags:

Suitable for patios, balconies, or courtyards
Great for control over soil quality and drainage
Easy to protect from frost and pests
Simple to move around or tuck into a sunny corner
Cleaner and easier to harvest — just tip out the bag!

It’s also a brilliant way for beginners to try potato growing without digging or building raised beds.

2. Choosing the Right Potatoes for Bags

Potatoes come in different types depending on when they are planted and harvested.

Best types for bag growing:

First Earlies (ready in 10–12 weeks)
- Examples: ‘Rocket’, ‘Swift’, ‘Arran Pilot’
- Perfect for small bags and containers
Second Earlies (ready in 13–15 weeks)
- Examples: ‘Charlotte’, ‘Kestrel’, ‘Nicola’
- Slightly larger yield than first earlies
Maincrop (ready in 16–20 weeks)
- Examples: ‘King Edward’, ‘Desiree’, ‘Maris Piper’
- Need more room and longer growing time, best in larger bags

First and second earlies are ideal for bags because they take up less space and mature more quickly.

3. When to Plant Potatoes in Bags (UK Guide)

The best time to plant depends on the type of potato:

First Earlies: Plant late February to early April
Second Earlies: Plant March to mid-April
Maincrop: Plant April to early May

For the earliest crops, you can plant in bags and keep them under cover (like a greenhouse or porch) to avoid frost damage in early spring.

4. Chitting Your Seed Potatoes

Chitting means encouraging seed potatoes to sprout before planting — giving them a head start and speeding up harvest.

How to chit potatoes:

Place seed potatoes in a shallow tray or egg box with the eyes facing up.
Leave them in a cool, bright, frost-free spot (like a windowsill or porch).
After 2–4 weeks, you’ll see short, stubby shoots forming.
Once the shoots are about 2–3cm long, they’re ready to plant.

Chitting is especially helpful for first earlies and second earlies.

5. What You Need to Grow Potatoes in Bags

Here’s your potato grow-bag checklist:

Seed potatoes
Potato grow bags (or sturdy compost bags, buckets, or sacks)
Multi-purpose compost
General-purpose fertiliser or potato fertiliser
Watering can or hose

You can buy ready-made potato grow bags, or recycle compost sacks or shopping bags — just make sure they have drainage holes.

6. Step-by-Step Guide to Planting Potatoes in Bags

Follow these easy steps to plant your potatoes:

Fill the bag with about 10–15cm of compost.
Add 2–3 chitted seed potatoes, spaced evenly.
Cover them with another 10–15cm of compost.
Water well and place the bag in a sunny, sheltered location.
As shoots grow, keep covering with compost every time they reach 10–15cm tall — this is called “earthing up.”
Stop adding compost when the bag is full.

Keep the compost moist but not soggy. Don’t let it dry out — especially once the plants start flowering.

7. Looking After Potatoes in Bags

Potatoes are fairly easy to care for, but a little attention goes a long way.

Watering:

Water thoroughly 2–3 times per week in dry weather
Water daily during hot spells or once plants are large and flowering

Feeding:

Start feeding with a liquid potato fertiliser or high-potassium feed (like tomato feed) once the plants are 20–30cm tall

Earthing Up:

Continue to cover stems with compost or straw to protect developing tubers from sunlight
Exposed potatoes can go green and become toxic, so cover them well

8. Protecting Your Crop from Frost and Pests

Frost:

Potato leaves are very sensitive to frost
If frost is forecast, move bags to a sheltered spot or cover with fleece or newspaper

Pests:

Slugs can be a problem — try copper tape around bags or use organic slug pellets
Aphids can affect leaves — wash off with water or use an organic spray if needed

Regular watering and feeding will help keep your plants strong and more resistant to pests.

9. When and How to Harvest Potatoes from Bags

The most exciting part — harvest time!

First Earlies: Ready about 10–12 weeks after planting (usually June–July)
Second Earlies: Ready in 13–15 weeks (July–August)
Maincrop: Ready after 16–20 weeks (August–October)

Signs they’re ready:

Plants flower and then begin to yellow and die back
For early potatoes, check gently in the soil around flowering time

To harvest:

Tip the entire contents of the bag onto a tarp or large tray
Collect the tubers and let them dry for a few hours before storing
Enjoy freshly dug potatoes immediately or store in a cool, dark place

10. Growing Successive Crops in Bags

You can grow multiple crops of potatoes in bags over the season if you plan well.

Plant first earlies in February/March
Reuse the bags for second earlies in May
Try a late crop (August planting) for Christmas potatoes using special late-season seed potatoes

After each crop, empty and refresh the compost — or mix it with new compost and fertiliser before reusing.

11. Best Varieties of Potatoes for Bag Growing

Some varieties grow better in containers due to their compact growth and fast development.

Top choices:

Swift – earliest maturing, great flavour
Charlotte – smooth-skinned, salad favourite
Nicola – waxy and versatile
Rocket – fast grower, ideal for new gardeners
Maris Peer – great texture, excellent yields
Pentland Javelin – reliable and disease-resistant

You can experiment each year to find your favourite.

12. Common Problems When Growing Potatoes in Bags

Problem: Leaves turning yellow too early
Cause: Overwatering, underfeeding, or disease
Solution: Feed regularly and ensure good drainage

Problem: Green potatoes
Cause: Exposure to sunlight
Solution: Cover completely with compost while growing

Problem: Small yield
Cause: Not enough compost or nutrients
Solution: Use deep bags and feed consistently

Problem: Wilted plants in hot weather
Cause: Dry compost
Solution: Water daily in hot spells and mulch if needed

13. Storing Your Homegrown Potatoes

Once harvested:

Cure your potatoes by leaving them in a dry, cool, dark place for a few hours
Store in paper or hessian sacks, not plastic, to prevent sweating
Keep in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated area
Check weekly and remove any soft or sprouting spuds

Early potatoes are best eaten fresh, while maincrops store well for several months.

Conclusion: Fresh Potatoes, No Garden Required

Planting potatoes in bags is one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to grow your own food. Whether you’re limited on space or just love the idea of fresh, homegrown spuds, potato bags are the perfect solution.

With just a little compost, sunlight, and care, you can enjoy delicious potatoes straight from your patio, balcony, or backyard — and once you start growing, you might never go back to shop-bought spuds again.

Top 10 FAQs: Planting Potatoes in Bags

1. How many potatoes can I grow in one bag?

You can plant 2–3 seed potatoes per standard grow bag. Each plant can yield around 1–2kg of potatoes.

2. What size bag do I need for potatoes?

A 30–40 litre bag is ideal. Bigger bags allow for higher yields and easier earthing up.

3. Do I need to chit potatoes before planting in bags?

Chitting isn’t essential but helps speed up growth, especially for first and second earlies.

4. Can I reuse compost from potato bags?

Yes, but not for growing potatoes again — use it for flowers or mix with new compost and feed.

5. How often should I water potatoes in bags?

Water 2–3 times per week, more in hot weather. Don’t let the compost dry out completely.

6. How long do potatoes take to grow in bags?

10–12 weeks for first earlies, up to 20 weeks for maincrops.

7. Can I grow potatoes in bags all year round?

Yes — you can plant a summer crop and even a late crop for Christmas, using a sheltered spot.

8. Why are my potato leaves turning yellow?

They may be ready to harvest, or it could be a sign of underfeeding or disease.

9. Can I grow potatoes on a balcony or small patio?

Absolutely — just make sure the bags get enough sun and are protected from wind.

10. What should I do after harvesting?

Empty the bag, compost the old foliage, and either replant with a new crop or clean and store the bag for next year.