Potato Seed Preparation
Potato 'seeds' are actually bits of potatoes with at least a couple eyes, from which the plants develop. Larger seed potatoes can be cut if they include at least 2 eyes each, just be sure to allow 24 hours to dry or become callused before planting.
Potatoes will tolerate light frost if covered or mulched. If your seed potatoes do not have evident eyes, place them where they have a minimum temperature of 75 degrees for 2-3 days.
Growing Potatoes in Containers
Potato Soil in Containers
Fabric or plastic buckets can be used for growing potatoes. Fill container with just 4-6 inches of native soil mixed with added well-draining loose soil and decomposed material. That includes local pine needles, compost, and wood chips. Save a stash of pine needles for unexpected frost and for mulch later in the growing cycle
Fertilizing Potatoes in Containers
Fertilize soil bed at planting with an organic or slow-release fertilizer, supplementing with a liquid fertilizer every few weeks.
Planting Potato Seeds in Containers
2-3 seed potatoes (same variety recommended) per 5-gallon bag/container, water deeply & cover with 4 inches of mixed soil. Include plant labels so you can identify how the varieties look and produce.
Potato Care in Containers
When green sprouts & leaves are 6-8 inches, add soil over/around, but do not cover completely unless frost is expected and uncover as soon as possible. Leaves need sun & air for growth. Hill the bottom of the stems about every 2-3 weeks until flowering. It is fine to add soil if the plant has some green above ground. If you see spuds peeking out at the surface, add soil or mulch to cover. Fingerlings will do this.
Watering Potatoes in Containers
Evenly water until the leaves die/turn yellow, then stop watering for at least a week. Containers will require a bit more water overall than beds. Seed potatoes have their own internal water for a bit. But no soggy soil ever. Heavy water at planting. Then Even watering. Taper watering. Stop watering.
Harvesting Potatoes from Containers
In a container, dump it over and uncover the treasure! Save your (washed) container or bag for future plantings.
Growing Potatoes in a Raised Bed or In-Ground Garden
Planting Potatoes in a Raised Bed Garden
Soil must be at min 45 degrees, loose, slightly acidic & well drained. Amend if necessary, to have soil pH between 5-6 and 5-7. Plant each seed potato 10” apart (fingerlings can be closer) & 4-6” deep. Remember potatoes grow horizontally & up as you “hill” from the mother (seed) potato, so no matter how deep you plant, remember you will be adding soil as you go.
Care & Water of Potatoes in a Raised Bed or Garden
Heavy water at planting - Even Watering - Taper watering - Stop watering.
Harvesting Potatoes from a Raised Bed or Garden
When plants are spent or dying-looking, gently use a spade or kid hands (fun!) to carefully dig around 10-12”. You can harvest the smaller (“new”) potatoes near the surface & leave the deeper spuds to keep growing or harvest one plant at a time, no need to pull up all the plants at the same time.
Storing Potatoes
Allow to dry for a day, brush soil off and store in a cool, dry, ventilated place (not fridge unless you let them mature in the soil.)
Information provided by Melissa Guthrie, Lake Tahoe Master Gardener, 2025