Anyone have experience with growing potatoes in containers?

[longwinters]

Thinking of trying it this year.  We have a small yard and so I am always looking at ways to increase my production while not taking up lots of space.

Any thoughts?

Long

[steg]

Actually it works out quite well, no matter the container the trick is to start the seed potatoes shallow in the container, and keep on adding soil to it as the plants grow, this will give you maximum production in your containers, by increasing thr root area of the plants.

[reliquary]

An alternative to containers, if you have the room, is to grow them in mulch, leaf, or "rotten hay" piles.  The only drawback I've found is that they won't grow to the same size as in-the-ground slips.  We use them mostly in recipes that call for new potatoes.

I like to use rotten hay...the stuff the cows tromp on & ruin, or the outer edges of old bales...just put a pile on the ground maybe 6" thick and 3-4' in diameter, put in the slips, then put another 6" or so of material on top. They grow well with minimal care, a little water & fertilizer. This way you can grow them in bare places in the yard, fence corners, otherwise unusable places, etc.

[steg]

reliquary I tried that one season, worked ok, but the darned voles ate more potatos than I did. If it wasn't for that problem for me anyway, It would be a great way to do it, when I read about it , it was called lazy mans potatos, LOL

[torpedoman]

cover ground with hardware cloth (heavy duty screen wire) put a truck tire on it,fill tire with dirt straw whatever you want to use plant taters, when they sprout allow to grow well above the surface  them cover all but the top leaves, keep watered, repeat as often as desired. DONT GET GREEDY they need time and sun to make taters so after a few layers let the plant do its thing.

[chefjeff]

I've grown them similar to T-man. We ended up putting a second tire on top and lotsa mulch or leaves.Turn over at harvest time. Also you can catch catfish using tires in shallow water!Kinda like grabbling.