Growing Potatoes In A Barrel.

Growing potatoes in a barrel is an easy and productive way to enjoy home-grown potatoes, even if space is limited.

Preparing the Barrel

Start by adding a drainage layer to the bottom of the barrel. This can be made from broken pots, stones, or even pieces of broken polystyrene. Good drainage is essential to prevent waterlogging when you water the plants.

On top of this, add around 15 cm of good-quality potting compost.

Planting the Seed Potatoes

Use certified seed potatoes that have been chitted (they should have short, sturdy shoots). Seed potatoes are recommended because they are disease-free and give more reliable results.

Place around four seed potatoes on the compost, ideally spacing them about 15 cm apart. Cover them with 5–10 cm of compost and water well.

Some gardeners like to place a perforated pipe vertically in the centre of the barrel. This allows water to reach the roots more easily as the barrel fills.

Earthing Up

Once the shoots start to appear, continue adding compost, always leaving 10–15 cm of the growing shoots visible above the surface. Repeat this process as the plants grow.

If you are using garden soil rather than compost, consider mixing in peat or perlite to keep the growing medium light and free-draining. Soil on its own can become compacted and restrict growth.

Feeding

If you are using peat or a low-nutrient growing medium, you may need to feed the plants with a general fertiliser such as Miracle-Gro or an organic potato fertiliser. If you are using a blended compost, there should be enough nutrients to support the plants throughout the growing season.

Harvesting

Once the plants reach the top of the barrel, your potatoes will be ready to harvest. This is usually around May or June, depending on when you planted. Using this method, it’s possible to enjoy fresh, home-grown potatoes for up to nine months of the year.

When to Plant

First early seed potatoes can be planted in barrels from late March. Be prepared to protect them from hard frosts, especially early in the season. A greenhouse can be an ideal place to start them off.