growing potato in buckets

If you want to grow potatoes in buckets you will need to know a few things. You can use 5 gallon buckets but as large as plastic garbage can (you know the big round ones) Just make sure they are plastic and not see through. You will want to drill at least 1/2 inch size holes in the bottom. Drill quite a few for drainage. You will need to drill more along the bottom sides. It is best to put them on top of rocks or bricks so they drain well. put about 4 inches of dirt in the bottom to start. Place your tater seed on top of the dirt. 2 seed potato for 5 gallon buckets and a few more if you use a big trash can. Just space them apart well. If you use a large trash can you can fit at least 4 or 5 seed, one in the middle and a few around it. Cover them with about 3 more inches of dirt. After they start to come up you need to cover them again but with a dirt and mulch mix. Some people use cut hay and dirt maybe with a little cow manure. I think a 1/3 of each is a good mix. Keep using this method until your are 4 inches from the top of the 5 gallon bucket. If you have used a trash can figure about 2 feet from where the potato seed is. If your trash can is very tall and wont be about 5 or 6 inches left at the top you need to cut the trash can down to make it a bit shorter. Once the buckets or cans are filled just let them go wild. The potato plant is very nice looking with flowers. Once it has stopped flowering and the plant starts to yellow a bit and get droopy it is time to harvest. You can check for potatoes by digging down a side carefully with your hands to check to see if you have good size taters. Pull the plant out by hand. Pick any off still attached to the root system. Then dump your buckets on the side and start pulling dirt and potatoes out. Save this dirt for another area of your garden. It ends up being pretty rich. Just don't replant potatoes in it. This dirt can also be the start of a compost pile. By adding banana peels, old plants, l.eaves, crushed egg shells and old veggies from the fridge it will become the best dirt ever.