How to Grow Potatoes in a Trash Bag

June 11, 2012

Ever wanted to grow your own potatoes but thought you did not have enough space in your yard? It turns out, you don’t need much room to grow your own potatoes. You can grow potatoes in a trash bag.

Take a potato and place it in a warm area of your house. Wait for sprouts to grow to about 1/4" to 1/2" long. I grew up calling the sprouts eyes. Once the sprouts reach the minimum length, cut the potato into chunks about 2" wide. Make sure that each piece has at least two sprouts. Once again let them set for a couple of days at room temperature.

Next step is to prepare the bag. A 30-gallon black trash bag is recommended. Cut a couple of holes in the bottom of the bag for drainage. Roll down the sides of the trash bag and fill the bag one-third of the way up with potting soil. Place in full sun. Buy some agricultural sulfur and dust the seed potatoes. It protects the seeds from fungal diseases. Plant the seed potatoes about 2" down in the dirt with the sprouts pointing up. Water the seeds well.

When the potato plants grow to around 6" to 8" tall, add more soil to the bag. Make sure to stop when the dirt level rises to the top few leaves of the plant. Have the leaves poke through the dirt. As the potatoes grow, start to unroll the bag ever time dirt is added. Keep the soil well watered, but make sure you do not make the dirt soggy.

Once the leaves turn yellow and the foliage dies back, stop watering. Leave the potatoes alone for two to three weeks so the potatoes’ skins toughen up. To harvest your potatoes, cut a slit along the side of your bag. Retrieve your potatoes and enjoy.

Vicki M.
Antioch Branch