Growing potatoes in barrels is an ingenious way to cultivate a healthy crop of spuds even if you don’t have a large garden. The contained environment of a barrel allows you to easily control moisture, soil quality, sunlight exposure and other factors critical for potato growth.
In this simple guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process of growing potatoes in a barrel, from choosing the right container to harvesting a bountiful crop. Whether you’re an experienced gardener looking to try something new or want to grow potatoes for the first time, follow these tips for success.
Choosing the Right Barrel
The first step is selecting an appropriate barrel to use as your potato planter Here are some things to consider
-
Size Look for a large 55-gallon plastic or wooden barrel, at least 3-4 feet tall. This gives potatoes enough room to develop an extensive root system. You can also use half-size 26-gallon barrels.
-
Material: Wooden barrels like oak whiskey barrels are ideal, as they allow for excellent drainage and air flow. Avoid metal barrels that may corrode or leach harmful substances.
-
Color: Steer clear of black plastic barrels that can get extremely hot in the sun. Dark colors absorb more heat which potatoes don’t like.
-
Previous use: Don’t use barrels that stored harsh chemicals, as residues could contaminate your crop.Food-grade barrels are best.
-
Drainage: The barrel must have drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging. If not, drill holes every 6 inches. Elevating the barrel on cinder blocks improves drainage further.
Once you’ve obtained a suitable barrel, scrub it thoroughly with a bleach solution to kill any lingering fungi, bacteria or chemicals before planting.
Prepping the Potatoes
Potatoes grown specifically for planting, called seed potatoes, produce the most consistent, productive crops. Purchase certified disease-free seed potatoes from a reputable supplier. Organic grocery store potatoes can also work if untreated.
Look for potato pieces with multiple robust sprouts, indicating they are ripe for planting. Place them in an egg carton with the sprouts facing up. Keep indoors in bright, 60-70° F weather for 2-3 weeks until sprouts are 1-2 inches long. The warmth activates vigorous growth.
Larger seed potatoes yield more tubers, while smaller chunks produce bigger individual potatoes. Cut any large spuds into chunks with at least 2 sprouts each. Handle gently to avoid knocking off sprouts.
Planting and Growing Potatoes in the Barrel
Now it’s time to transplant your burgeoning seed potatoes into their new barrel home:
-
Fill the bottom 5-8 inches of the barrel with rich potting soil mixed with compost, which provides nutrients.
-
Place seed potato pieces sprout-side up evenly around the barrel, spaced 8 inches apart. Put 4-5 spuds in a standard 55-gallon barrel.
-
Cover them with 4 inches of soil so the pieces are completely buried. Gently water until moist but not soaked.
-
When sprouts emerge and reach 6 inches, mound another 4 inches of compost-soil mix around the base of plants. This hilling process protects developing potatoes and encourages more tubers.
-
Add more fresh soil every few weeks as plants grow. Supplement with compost or organic fertilizer to nourish plants.
-
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Allow surface to dry between waterings.
-
Once foliage reaches barrel rim and flowers appear, tubers are mature and ready for harvest!
Harvesting Your Crop
After about 4 months of growth, potato stems will yellow and wither once tubers stop swelling. Avoid harvesting too early, as potatoes won’t reach maximum size.
Invert the barrel, dumping out the contents. Search through the pile of dirt and compost to gather all the potatoes. Rinse off soil, let dry and cure for 2 weeks in a dark, cool spot before enjoying your fresh harvest.
Store cured potatoes in a cool, humid place like a basement or root cellar. They’ll remain firm and edible for months. Re-plant a few as seed potatoes next season!
Tips for Success
Follow these tips to get a prolific potato yield from your barrel garden:
-
Use quality seed potatoes and pre-sprout them for best results
-
Plant in early spring once nighttime temperatures stay above 45°F
-
Fertilize regularly and hill soil around plants as they grow
-
Ensure excellent drainage by elevating the barrel
-
Water thoroughly but don’t oversaturate the soil
-
Cure harvested potatoes before long-term storage
Growing your own potatoes in a DIY barrel planter is easy, fun and productive! With just a little effort, you’ll be rewarded with armloads of homegrown spuds to enjoy all season long.
Growing and Harvesting Your Potatoes
- 1 Add 4 in (10 cm) of soil when your sprouts are 6–9 in (15–23 cm) tall. As your potatoes grow, you want to continue replenishing their soil. Look for potato sprouts or flowers to poke above the soil level, and refill your potting soil and compost mixture when 6 in (15 cm) or more is visible.[9]
- This is important because your potatoes grow best went completely underground.
- 2 Mix in compost or liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks to add more nutrients. Your potatoes should grow healthy with your potting soil and compost mixture, though you can also provide additional nutrients by using more compost or liquid fertilizer. Toss in about 1 in (2.5 cm) of organic compost material, or purchase liquid fertilizer and follow the instructions on the packaging.[10]
- While this is not required, it will provide rich nutrients to help your potatoes grow and you may end up with a better harvest.
- Adding compost to your potatoes will help to provide moisture and nutrients.
- 3 Continue to add soil until your potatoes grow to the top of the barrel. As your potatoes grow, pour more soil and compound mixture over top of them. Your potatoes will be full-size and ready to harvest when your barrel is nearly full to the brim with soil and the potato plant has wilted.[11]
- You can also add fertilizer until the soil level is at the top.
- 4 Tip your barrel over after your potatoes flower and wilt. When your potatoes are fully grown, their shoots will sprout flowers. When their growth cycle is complete, the flowers will turn yellow and brown as they wilt. Once your flowers are wilted on top of your soil, your potatoes are ready for harvest! Simply push or kick your barrel over, dig out the potatoes with your hands, and cut off the roots.[12]
- This will likely be at the end of August or in September if you started your potatoes in early spring.
- Be sure to wash your potatoes thoroughly!
Advertisement
Planting the Potatoes
- 1 Plant your potatoes in the spring to utilize the best growing times. You can grow potatoes in barrels throughout the year, but for best results, plant them about 1 month before your frost date. Your potatoes will grow to full size in about 4 months, and you can start them early in the spring season.[8]
- Your frost date is the average date of when to expect your last frost for the season.
- To find your frost date, search online using your zip code. You can use sites like the Farmers’ Almanac, for example.
- 2 Fill your barrel 5–8 in (13–20 cm) high with a mix of soil and compost. Grab a bucket, and pour some potting soil and compost into it. Use a garden tool to stir up your mix, and pour it into your barrel. Add soil until you have roughly 6 in (15 cm) in the bottom of your barrel.
- Use about the same amount of potting soil and compost.
- You can also use fertilizer in place of compost.
- Your mixture does not have to be completely perfect. Using both potting soil and compost helps your potatoes grow healthy and strong.
- 3 Place your seed potatoes about 6 in (15 cm) apart from each other. Once you have a base layer of soil in your barrel, place your seed potatoes on top. Leave a few inches in between each potato so they have enough room to grow healthy roots. You should use about 4 potatoes per large barrel.
- If you want to increase your potato yield, use another barrel to grow more potatoes.
- 4 Cover your potatoes with about 3–4 in (7.6–10.2 cm) of soil. When you have all your potatoes in your barrel, pour in a bit more soil-compost mixture. You want each potato to be completely covered with soil.
- This can be a rough estimate. A little more dirt won’t hurt!
- 5 Water the potatoes to moisten your soil and repeat once a week. Using your garden hose, add water to your barrel. After a few minutes, you will see water dripping from the bottom. You want your water to be moist, but not soaked. Regularly water your potatoes about 1 time a week to keep your soil moist.
- Excess water can lead to mold and disease growing with your potatoes. To test how damp your soil is, insert 1 finger into the top of your soil and check for moisture.
- The soil in the bottom of the barrel will hold more moisture than the rest of the soil in the barrel.
Advertisement Part
How to Grow Potatoes in a Barrel – DIY Project Turns One Barrel into Two Grow Tubs
FAQ
How long does it take to grow potatoes in a barrel?
Layer the seed potatoes in a container with plenty of organic material. Water throughout the summer and harvest after about 10 weeks.Nov 2, 2023
How many potatoes will a 5 gallon bucket yield?
A: A five-gallon bucket will give you about two pounds of potatoes. It’s a fun and no-fuss method of gardening!
How to fill a barrel planter?
Filling the bottom half of the barrel with Styrofoam peanuts or other lightweight filler can make the barrel easier to move and still give the plants enough soil to grow in. Use a weed barrier cloth between the soil and the peanuts or put them in plastic bags so they do not become clogged with dirt.
What month do you plant potatoes?
- Timing: Aim to plant potatoes about 2-4 weeks before the average last frost date, which is typically in late March or early April for Los Angeles.
- Soil Temperature: Ensure the soil temperature is at least 45-55°F (7-13°C) for optimal growth.
- Seed Potatoes: Use certified disease-free seed potatoes from a reputable source.
- Planting Depth: Plant seed potatoes 3-4 inches deep and 9-12 inches apart.
- Sunlight: Potatoes need at least 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.
- Soil: Potatoes prefer well-drained, loose soil.
- Harvest: You can expect to harvest potatoes in late summer or early fall, depending on the variety.
Can you grow potatoes in a Potato Barrel?
Growing potatoes in a potato barrel is an easy project ideal for small-space gardens. Potatoes grow best from tubers, not seeds. To grow potatoes at home, start with seed potatoes from the Garden Center or organic potatoes from the grocery store. Layer the seed potatoes in a container with plenty of organic material.
How many potatoes can you plant in a barrel?
When you’re using a barrel to grow potatoes, you can usually plant about four to six seed potatoes in a standard-sized 55-gallon barrel. This number can vary based on the size of the barrel and the type of potatoes you’re planting. It’s important to give each potato enough space so they can grow well without crowding each other.
How big should a Potato Barrel be?
Potatoes require ample room for their roots to grow, so in order to harvest many potatoes, go with a large barrel about 3–4 ft (0.91–1.22 m) feet tall. If you already have a barrel at your home, you can repurpose it to use for your potatoes. You can also purchase barrels specifically for potato growing at most home supply stores.