Planting Potatoes in Bags | A Step-by-Step Guide to Growing Spuds in Small Spaces
Introduction: Grow Your Own Potatoes Without a Garden
If you love the idea of harvesting fresh, homegrown potatoes but don’t have space for a vegetable patch, you’re in luck. Planting potatoes in bags is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to grow your own food — even on a patio, balcony, or small backyard.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced grower, potato grow bags make it easy to manage soil, water, and pests. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to plant potatoes in bags, which varieties to choose, when to plant, and how to care for your crop for a delicious harvest.
1. Why Grow Potatoes in Bags?
Potatoes are traditionally grown in the ground, but bag-growing offers many advantages:
- Ideal for small spaces — no garden required
- Portable and flexible — move to the sunniest spot
- Fewer pests and diseases than soil-grown crops
- Easy to harvest — just tip the bag out
- Great for early and salad varieties
- Minimal digging required
Perfect for urban gardeners, renters, or anyone wanting to experiment with growing their own vegetables.
2. What You’ll Need to Plant Potatoes in Bags
Essentials:
- Potato grow bags or strong containers (30–50L capacity)
- Seed potatoes (not supermarket ones)
- Multi-purpose or vegetable compost (peat-free recommended)
- Trowel
- Watering can or hose
- Slow-release fertiliser (optional)
Grow bags specifically designed for potatoes usually have drainage holes and handles, but large buckets or compost sacks can also work with some drainage added.
3. When to Plant Potatoes in Bags (UK Guide)
Potatoes can be planted in bags from February to May, depending on the variety.
Ideal planting times:
- First Earlies – plant late February to early April
- Second Earlies – plant March to April
- Maincrop – plant April to early May
Grow bags allow you to start earlier, especially if you keep them in a greenhouse or under fleece to protect from frost.
4. Choosing the Best Potato Varieties for Bags
Some potato varieties grow better in containers due to their size and early harvest times.
Top varieties for bag growing:
| Type | Variety | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| First Early | ‘Swift’, ‘Rocket’ | Fast harvest, small spaces |
| Second Early | ‘Charlotte’, ‘Kestrel’ | Salad potatoes, great flavour |
| Maincrop | ‘Maris Piper’, ‘Desiree’ | Larger yields, long storage |
First and second earlies are ideal for beginners and container growing.
5. How to Chit Potatoes Before Planting
Chitting means letting your seed potatoes sprout before planting to give them a head start.
How to chit:
- Place seed potatoes in a tray or egg box with the eyes facing up
- Keep in a cool, bright, frost-free place (not in direct sun)
- After 2–4 weeks, short greenish sprouts will appear
You can plant un-chitted potatoes, but chitting improves speed and uniformity of growth.
6. Step-by-Step: How to Plant Potatoes in Bags
Step 1: Fill the Bag
- Fill your bag with 10–15cm of compost at the base
Step 2: Add Seed Potatoes
- Place 2–3 seed potatoes on top of the compost, evenly spaced
- Sprouts facing upwards
- For small bags, 1–2 seed potatoes is enough
Step 3: Cover with Compost
- Add another 10–15cm of compost to just cover the potatoes
- Water gently
Step 4: Place in a Sunny Spot
- Choose a location with 6–8 hours of sunlight daily
- A patio, yard, or sheltered balcony works well
7. Ongoing Care: Watering, Feeding, and Earthing Up
Watering:
- Keep soil consistently moist, not soggy
- Bags dry out quickly — check daily in warm weather
- Water deeply to reach roots
Feeding:
- Mix in a slow-release fertiliser at planting time, or
- Feed every 2 weeks with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser (like tomato feed) once growth starts
Earthing Up:
As the plants grow:
- When shoots reach 10–15cm high, add more compost to cover the stems
- Leave just the top leaves exposed
- Repeat until the bag is full
Earthing up encourages more tubers to form along the buried stems.
8. Protecting Potato Bags from Frost and Pests
Frost Protection:
- Early in the season, cover bags with horticultural fleece on cold nights
- Move bags into a greenhouse, shed, or porch if temperatures drop
Pests to watch:
- Slugs – use wool pellets or slug-resistant compost
- Aphids – spray with soapy water or use insect netting
- Blight (late summer) – grow earlies to avoid, and remove affected foliage immediately
Bags are less prone to soil-borne pests like wireworm and eelworm.
9. Growing Multiple Bags for a Continuous Supply
Want potatoes all summer? Plant a new bag every 2–3 weeks from March through May.
Staggering plantings gives you:
- Fresh new potatoes over a longer period
- A chance to test different varieties
- Less chance of crop failure
Start with earlies, then move to second earlies and maincrop.
10. When and How to Harvest Potatoes in Bags
When to harvest:
- First Earlies – 10–12 weeks after planting
- Second Earlies – 12–14 weeks
- Maincrop – 16–20 weeks
How to tell they’re ready:
- Flowers bloom and die back
- Foliage starts to yellow
- Gently dig to check tuber size
How to harvest:
- Tip the bag onto a sheet or container
- Pull out potatoes by hand
- Let them dry briefly before storing
Harvesting is easy, clean, and surprisingly fun — especially for kids!
11. Storing Your Potatoes
Once harvested:
- Brush off excess soil (don’t wash until ready to use)
- Store in a cool, dark, dry place
- Use breathable sacks or cardboard boxes — not plastic bags
- Eat earlies within a few days to weeks
- Maincrop varieties can store for months
Check regularly for rot or sprouting.
12. Troubleshooting Common Potato Bag Problems
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Yellowing leaves early | Overwatering, poor drainage, or lack of feed | Improve drainage, adjust watering, feed |
| No tubers at harvest | Not earthed up, poor soil, crowded plants | Add compost when growing, plant fewer |
| Plants flopping over | Normal for mature plants | Time to harvest or support loosely |
| Green potatoes | Tubers exposed to sunlight | Always cover developing tubers with soil |
Monitor regularly and adjust care as needed.
13. Can You Reuse Compost from Potato Bags?
You can reuse the compost, but not for potatoes again in the same season. Instead:
- Use it to grow flowers, brassicas, or leafy greens
- Add spent compost to your compost bin or mulch beds
- Don’t reuse if blight or pests were present
Fresh compost ensures nutrient-rich conditions and fewer diseases.
14. Companion Plants for Potatoes in Bags
While potatoes in bags are self-contained, companion planting nearby can help:
Good neighbours:
- Basil or marigolds – repel pests
- Chives or garlic – deter aphids
- Spinach or lettuce – grow well at the base early in the season
Keep bags apart from tomatoes to reduce disease risk (both are blight-prone).
15. Growing Potatoes Indoors or in Greenhouses
Want even earlier potatoes? Plant bags indoors or in a greenhouse or polytunnel.
- Start in February for a May harvest
- Keep well watered and ventilated
- Protect from sudden temperature changes
This method is great for first earlies and can give you new potatoes before anyone else!
Conclusion: Spuds Without a Garden — Yes You Can!
Planting potatoes in bags is the ultimate solution for small-space gardeners or anyone looking for an easy, no-dig method of growing food. With just a bag of compost, a few seed potatoes, and some regular care, you can enjoy fresh, tasty potatoes straight from your doorstep.
Whether you’re growing on a balcony or a busy patio, potato bags give you flexibility, fun, and food — one of the most satisfying harvests you can grow at home.
Top 10 FAQs: Planting Potatoes in Bags
1. How many seed potatoes per bag?
Use 2–3 seed potatoes per 40–50L bag. For smaller bags, 1–2 is enough.
2. When should I plant potatoes in bags?
From February (under cover) to May, depending on the variety.
3. Do I need to chit potatoes before planting in bags?
It’s helpful but not essential — chitting speeds up growth.
4. How deep should I plant seed potatoes in bags?
Start with 10–15cm of compost, cover the seed potatoes, and earth up as they grow.
5. Can I reuse the compost from last year’s potato bag?
Yes, but not for potatoes again. Use it for flowers or leafy crops.
6. How often should I water potato bags?
Check daily in hot weather. Water when the top 2–3cm of compost feels dry.
7. Do I need to fertilise bag-grown potatoes?
Yes — mix slow-release feed at planting or use liquid feed every 2–3 weeks.
8. How do I know when my potatoes are ready to harvest?
Leaves yellow and die back. Check tuber size 10–20 weeks after planting.
9. Can I grow potatoes in bags indoors?
Yes — in a greenhouse or polytunnel, or a cool, bright room.
10. What are the best potatoes for growing in bags?
‘Charlotte’, ‘Swift’, ‘Rocket’, and ‘Maris Piper’ are excellent for bags.