Growing Potatoes

12 years ago

I am looking to grow potatoes in Ohio. I am growing them in 5 gallon buckets that I drilled holes in already to drain excess water. My question is, I want to bury the buckets in the garden just so it would keep them cooler and easier then digging them out of dry hard dirt. Has anyone done this or can it be done? Also how many plants for a 5 gallon bucket should I put in?

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Comments (7)

cold_weather_is_evil
12 years ago
zero. no buckets.
elisa_z5
12 years ago
LOL Not sure why cold/evil (actually his real nickname is "lazy") said that, but maybe because your plan sounds like a lot of trouble for no benefit?

Why not plant them in the ground and mulch them with leaves, hay or straw, then you'll be digging them out of nice soft ground.

I tried to grow potatoes in a big trash can once, to no avail.
In the ground they work great.
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cold_weather_is_evil
12 years ago
@elisa_Z5, you don't smell something?
elisa_z5
12 years ago
Hmmm . . . only confusion.
Time will tell?
pnbrown
12 years ago
No need for buckets.
gardenper
12 years ago
Look into alternatives for growing potatoes instead of just in the ground. Potatoes just need darkness, and that can be simulated above ground, where it will be easier to pick out the potatoes. You can do this with chicken coop, planter, 5-gallon bucket, trash can, etc.

If you are concerned about hot temps, then it may be better to shield them from afternoon sun.
peter_6
12 years ago
Why would you plant potatoes in anything but soil when you have some soil? You will need to hill them, which seems unnecessarily awkward in a bucket. Furthermore, on of the benefits of potatoes is that they clean up the ground, which you would miss with buckets. Finally, there is special pleasure in digging mature potatoes out of the ground, why give that up? Regards, Peter.