Growing your own potatoes is one of the most rewarding things you can do in the garden. They’re easy to grow, produce generous harvests, and taste far better than anything you can buy in the shops. Plus, you don’t need a big garden—potatoes can be grown just as successfully in pots and containers.

This guide will take you through everything you need to know to grow potatoes at home, from choosing the right type to harvesting your first crop.

Choosing the Right Potatoes to Grow

Not all potatoes are suitable for planting. Supermarket potatoes are often treated to prevent sprouting, so if you want the best results, you’ll need seed potatoes. These are specially grown to be disease-free and produce strong, healthy plants.

There are three main types of potatoes to consider:

• First Earlies – The fastest to mature (10-12 weeks), perfect for small, new potatoes.
• Second Earlies – Slightly longer to grow (13-15 weeks), great for summer salads.
• Maincrop – Larger potatoes that take 18-20 weeks to mature, ideal for roasting, baking, and storing.

If you’re short on space or want a quick harvest, first and second earlies are the best choice.

Growing Potatoes in Pots

If you don’t have a dedicated vegetable patch, growing potatoes in pots is a fantastic alternative. It saves space, reduces the risk of disease, and makes harvesting incredibly easy.

What You’ll Need

• A large container – A deep pot, bucket, or even a compost bag will work. Just make sure it has drainage holes.
• Good-quality compost – Use a peat-free, multi-purpose compost. Mixing in some organic fertiliser will help boost growth.
• Seed potatoes – Choose a variety suited to your needs (first earlies, second earlies, or maincrop).
• Water – Potatoes need regular watering, especially once they start flowering.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Chit your potatoes – Place your seed potatoes in an egg box in a cool, light place for a few weeks until small shoots appear.
2. Prepare your container – Fill your pot with about 15cm of compost.
3. Plant the potatoes – Place them in the compost with the shoots facing up, then cover with another 10cm of compost.
4. Water well – Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.
5. Earth up as they grow – Once the shoots reach about 10cm, cover them with more compost, leaving just the top few leaves visible. Repeat until the pot is full.
6. Harvest when ready – First earlies can be harvested when they flower, while maincrop potatoes should be left until the foliage dies back. Simply tip out the container and enjoy your homegrown spuds!

My Potato Growing Plans for This Year

This year, I’m trying something a little different, I’ll be growing organic eating potatoes from Riverford rather than traditional seed potatoes. Since organic potatoes aren’t treated to prevent sprouting, they should grow just fine. There’s a slightly higher risk of disease compared to certified seed potatoes, but by growing in pots rather than in the ground, I can limit these risks.

The biggest reason for trying this? Cost! Organic seed potatoes can be expensive, whereas using what I already have is a great way to grow food for free. It’s a bit of an experiment, but that’s part of the fun of gardening!

If you’ve ever considered growing potatoes, I highly recommend giving it a go. Whether you use seed potatoes or try organic ones like me, it’s an easy and rewarding way to grow your own food.

Are you growing potatoes this year? Let me know what varieties you’re trying—I’d love to hear your experiences!