1
Sprout (“chit”) potatoes before planting.
In early spring, place seed potatoes in
egg crates, with the end with the most
eyes facing upward, and set them on a
cool windowsill. Plant when the shoots
are
3
/4 in (2 cm) long.
GROWING POTATOES
IN A TRASH CAN
Potatoes taste best when freshly harvested. Grow
them in deep trash cans, and plant “earlies,” “second
earlies,” and “maincrops” for tubers in separate trash
cans so you can harvest crops over a long period.
YOU WILL NEED
• sprouted (“chitted”) potatoes
• egg crates
• large trash can
• multi-purpose potting soil
• watering can
SEE ALSO
• WINDOWSILL LETTUCES >> 182/183
• HERB HANGING BASKET >> 206/207
WATER REGULARLY
The large, leafy potato plants and
developing tubers need a reliable
supply of water to produce a
good harvest. Keep potting soil
moist but not wet, and make
sure trash cans have holes in the
bottom for drainage.
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VEGETABLES // GROWING POTATOES IN A POT 194–195
Even three seed
potatoes, if using
a smaller trash can,
will produce a
good crop
3
Add potting soil around the plants in
stages as they grow until the trash can is
full. Known as “hilling up,” this encourages
more tubers to form, prevents them turning
green and poisonous on exposure to light,
and reduces frost damage.
2
From mid- to late spring, make
drainage holes in the base of the
trash can and fill one third with potting
soil. Evenly space five potatoes or fewer
on the surface, shoots pointing up. Cover
with 6 in (15 cm) of soil and water well.
4
With consistent watering, potatoes
should be ready to crop when the
plants flower. Empty the trash can and
harvest the tubers all at once or allow
plants to continue growing and pick
through the soil to take what you need.
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