Feed sack Potatoes

[Llama Gardener]

I read in one of th many potato posts recently about growing them in feed sacks and well I can't find that post So I thought that I'd ask for anyones advice/experience with this type of planting system. Thanks

 

[Collector]

I have heard of it and I think someone on here has done it. I am going to try the potatos in a barrel this year to try and save space. Someone will chime in soon who has done the feed sack method for sure. Good luck with it!

 

[thistlebloom]

Collector and Llama - you can find one discussion of it here:
http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=274941#p274941

 

[wifezilla]

I grew sweet potatoes in feed sacks and in an old little tykes toy box

for the feed bags, I filled it most of the way with aged duck compost, topped it with some organic potting soil, and poked a few holes in the bottom of the bag for drainage. Easy Peasy

For regular potatoes, you start with the bag rolled down, and as the plant grows you add more compost, straw, leaves, etc... and roll the bag up.

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-grow-potatoes-in-a-trash-bag/index.html

 

[Llama Gardener]

Thanks for all the links!

Wifezilla, how were your yeilds? Do you feel that this is a good way to go? Did you have any trouble with this method?

Thanks again all of you!

 

[wifezilla]

Here is my most of my yield

Now this was a test crop. I used 2 bags and the toy box had 3 slips planted it in. I did NOT buy a northern variety. I just went to Vitamin Cottage and got an organic sweet tater and made slips off of it. That is why my potatoes were small.

There were no growth problems with the vines (in fact they were really pretty), since they weren't in the ground, bugs didn't get them, and the bags helped save me a ton on water.

This year I am doing it again, in fact I am going to increase my bags. BUT, I am actually going to invest in sweet potatoes made for short season areas. I found a source for purple korean potato slips. I can't wait to get started!

:tools

 

[Ariel301]

I'm trying it this year. I saw a page online somewhere about growing them in trash bags...having chickens and goats, I go through a lot of those plastic sacks that feed comes in, so I'm going to try growing my potatoes in those.

The idea is that you put drainage holes in the bottom, and a layer of soil. Plant the seed potatoes in there, and roll down the top of the bag so it's easy to get to them. As the plants grow, you add straw/soil/whatever you would normally hill them with, and roll the bag back up a little at a time until you have a full bag.

 

[Neko-Chan]

I am experimenting with the potato bag thing too:

Bag #1:

Bag #2:

It seems to be doing very well. We'll see what they come up with in yield later on this year.

 

[lesa]

The plants certainly look great, lets hope the sack if full of potatoes! That is one thing I don't like about potatoes, you don't really know what you have until you harvest...Keep us posted on your success!

 

[the1honeycomb]

I am going to try to use the bags from chicken feed? some sort of plastic.
and I will be starting them in the basement now!!!
I am soo eager to get something growing that I can eat, I'll try anything!!!!

:watering