Sweet potatoes are a lot of fun to grow, and despite what you might think, you don’t need a ton of space to grow them. In fact, my favorite way to grow sweet potatoes is right in an old chicken feed bag on my deck. When we first moved to Maine I wasn’t sure I could grow sweet potatoes like I had done in Virginia because they are more fragile and not cold- tolerant, but the beauty of growing them in bags is that I can start them indoors, move them inside on cold days or at night, keep them in the sun as needed. In short, give them exactly what they need in order to thrive.
Growing your own sweet potatoes is incredibly rewarding but not everyone has the space for a large garden plot. Fortunately you can easily grow sweet potatoes in grow bags! With just a few simple supplies you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of sweet potatoes right from your patio, balcony or small yard.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything you need to successfully grow sweet potatoes in grow bags, step-by-step.
Choosing a Grow Bag
You can use any type of breathable fabric grow bag to grow sweet potatoes. Look for sturdy bags designed for growing vegetables.
The ideal size is 10 gallons, as this gives the potatoes enough room to form tubers without getting overcrowded. You can certainly experiment with larger or smaller bags if needed.
Make sure the bag has drainage holes on the bottom and the material is porous to allow for good airflow. Thick canvas bags work very well.
Grow Bag Soil Mix
Sweet potatoes thrive in loose, well-draining soil that warms up quickly. A soil mix specifically formulated for containers and raised beds works perfectly.
Look for a mix that contains:
- Compost for nutrient density
- Peat or coconut coir to retain moisture
- Perlite or vermiculite for drainage
- Sand or small gravel for aeration
Avoid heavy potting mixes made for houseplants, as these will hold too much moisture.
Fill your grow bag about 3⁄4 full with potting mix, leaving room at the top for planting.
Fertilizing
Before planting, mix in a shovelful of compost and a handful of organic vegetable fertilizer into the potting mix. This gives your sweet potato plants all the nutrients they need for vigorous growth.
An organic granular fertilizer with an NPK ratio close to 5-10-10 provides the right balance of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Slow release organic fertilizers provide a steady supply of nutrients throughout the growing season.
Acquiring Slips
Sweet potatoes are grown from slips, which are sprouts that form on existing sweet potato tubers. You can buy certified disease-free slips from garden centers and nurseries, or grow your own.
To grow your own, place an organic sweet potato tuber with lots of bumps and ridges in a jar of water. Roots and slips will begin to form in just a few days. Transfer the slips to soil or water once they are 5-6 inches tall.
Planting Slips
Wait until all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach 65°F to plant sweet potato slips outside.
Plant the slips through the drainage holes at the base of your grow bag, spacing them 12 inches apart. Bury the stems up to the bottom 2-3 leaves. Gently firm the soil around each slip.
Sweet potato slips easily break, so handle them carefully. Plant on a cloudy day or late afternoon to avoid transplant shock.
Water thoroughly after planting to moisten the entire soil column. Mist the foliage if the plants appear droopy.
Caring for Plants
Sweet potatoes require very little care as they grow. Just a few simple practices will ensure strong, healthy vines:
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Water 1-2 times per week during the hot summer, less if you get frequent rain. Let the soil partially dry out between waterings.
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Apply a 2-3 inch layer of straw or leaf mulch around plants to retain moisture and discourage weeds. Replenish as needed.
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Fertilize again 6-8 weeks after planting with an organic vegetable fertilizer. Sprinkle around each plant, avoiding direct contact with stems.
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Prune off any wayward vines that spread outside of the grow bag to keep plants tidy and prevent roots from forming.
Harvesting Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes take 90-120 days to reach full size, depending on the variety. Dig too early and tubers will be undersized.
As the vines start to yellow and die back, tubers are ready for harvest. Avoid watering late in the season to make harvesting easier.
Carefully tip over the grow bag and empty out the contents. Gently dig through the soil to find the potatoes. Use your hands instead of tools to avoid bruising or cutting the tubers.
Curing the Harvest
To enjoy sweet potatoes all winter, you need to cure them properly after harvesting.
Keep cured sweet potatoes in complete darkness at 55-60°F with high humidity. A basement or cool closet works well, as long as it doesn’t drop below 50°F.
Wrap each potato in newspaper and place in open crates or cardboard boxes, not sealed containers. Avoid refrigerating them.
With proper curing and storage conditions, sweet potatoes will keep for 4-6 months.
Tips for Maximizing Your Grow Bag Harvest
Follow these tips to get the highest yields from your sweet potatoes grown in grow bags:
- Choose compact, bush-type varieties like Vardaman Bush Porto Rico
- Plant 3-4 slips in a 10 gallon grow bag, spaced 12 inches apart
- Position bags in full sun for at least 6-8 hours daily
- Use black or dark colored bags that absorb more heat
- Cover bags with black plastic mulch to boost soil temperatures
- Provide consistent moisture, especially as tubers start to size up
- Use a liquid fertilizer or compost tea every 3-4 weeks
- Harvest promptly after vines decline and before cool weather sets in
Common Problems and Solutions
Growing sweet potatoes in grow bags prevents many traditional pest and disease issues. But here are some potential problems and how to resolve them:
- Leggy vines – Lack of sun. Move bag or prune vines.
- Curled leaves – Insufficient watering. Water more frequently.
- White crust on leaves – Hardened sap from insect damage. No action needed.
- Chewing insect damage – Caterpillars, beetles, etc. Remove pests by hand or use organic pesticides.
- Rotten tubers – Excess moisture. Check drainage holes and reduce watering.
Enjoying Your Sweet Potato Harvest
Nothing beats the flavor of sweet potatoes freshly harvested from your own garden. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy your homegrown sweet potatoes:
- Roast them whole in the oven drizzled with olive oil and spices
- Fry up sweet potato fries or chips for a tasty snack
- Mash them with butter, cinnamon and maple syrup
- Bake them into pies, breads and other desserts
- Puree them into a creamy soup topped with herbs
- Grill them over an open flame for a caramelized treat
Growing sweet potatoes in grow bags allows anyone to enjoy this versatile and nutritious crop. Follow this guide to get a bountiful harvest on your patio or small garden plot.
Harvesting and storing your potatoes
It should take between 4 and 5 months until your potatoes are ready for harvest, depending on the variety you grow and where you live (be sure to choose a short season variety if you live in zone 4-5 like I do).
Gather and assemble the parts
So don’t throw out your empty chicken feed bags. Here’s what else you’ll need to grow sweet potatoes: Empty feed bag Small piece of window screen Potting soil Straw Sweet potato slips (you can buy them commercially, or see how to start your own) Flatten the bottom of the feed bag so it sits level on the ground, then roll down the top of the bag until it is about a foot tall. Next, cut several holes in the bottom for drainage, about 1” in diameter, and then cut a piece of window screen to fit in the bottom of the bag. (This will keep the soil inside the bag.) Fill the bag with about 4” of potting soil mixed with some straw. This will keep the soil nicely aerated and a good composition for the potatoes to grow in. Now you’re ready to plant!
Once the danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature has reached 60° F. (or several weeks earlier if you’ll be keeping the bag indoors for awhile), tuck three or four slips into the soil and then cover with four more inches of the soil/straw mix and water well. Set the bag in the sun and keep the soil moist. Note: You don’t want to fertilize your potatoes. That will encourage foliage growth, instead of root growth and lead to a smaller harvest. As your plants start to grow, roll the top of the bag up little by little and mound more straw/soil around them, keeping all but the leaves buried in the soil. Keep the soil moist, but be sure not to overwater. Since sweet potatoes are so cold-sensitive, you might need to cover the bag at night or even bring it inside until the weather gets warmer. They prefer temperatures around 75° F., but can survive down to about 60° F. And remember that the soil in your grow bag will likely be warmer than the ground soil, which is another benefit to growing in bags.
EASY PLANTING SWEET POTATO IN GROW BAGS
FAQ
Do sweet potatoes grow well in grow bags?
Absolutely. We’ve successfully grown sweet potatoes in pots and bags. Like anything, the size of the pot will determine yield. Bigger pots equal more potatoes. I wouldn’t recommend attempting in anything smaller than 50cm.
What not to plant next to sweet potatoes?
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Tomatoes:These have a high appetite for phosphorus, competing with sweet potatoes for nutrients.
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Squash:Squash plants can be aggressive and outgrow sweet potatoes, shading them and competing for resources.
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Sunflowers:Sunflowers can steal nutrients and release allelochemicals into the soil that inhibit sweet potato growth.
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Other plants to avoid:Asparagus, Brassicas, carrots, cucumber, kohlrabi, melons, parsnips, rutabaga, turnips, and vining plants like cucumbers, pumpkins, and winter squashes.
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Plants that do well with sweet potatoes:Onions and garlic can help deter pests, and alyssum can attract beneficial insects.
How many potatoes should I plant in a grow bag?
Plant one seed potato for every 3 gallons of fabric pot capacity. For the #10 container, for example, plant three to four seed potatoes. Place the seed potatoes evenly in the pot. Water the soil thoroughly.
Can you grow sweet potatoes in a grow bag?
Today’s topic is making a grow bag for and planting sweet potatoes. This is the first year that I am growing sweet potatoes in a grow bag so I don’t damage them when harvesting. Instead of digging them out, I will gently dump the dirt and harvest the sweet potatoes. I used premium landscaping fabric that was good for more than one year.
Can you grow sweet potatoes in a container garden?
You can get a great harvest of sweet potatoes from a container Growing sweet potatoes in pots as part of a vegetable container garden, or in raised garden beds, is a great way of getting a crop in a small space.
How big should a sweet potato grow bag be?
When growing sweet potatoes, it’s essential to select the right container size for optimal growth and harvest yields. The ideal grow bag size for sweet potato plants is between 10-15 gallons. This provides enough space for healthy root development and tuber formation without being too overwhelming.