I'm growing potatoes in a bin for the first time

[WhiteTara]

and the potato shoots are coming out the side of the wire bin. Should I be trying to cover those shoots with dirt? I really want to end up with potatoes!

Can anyone give me some tips on how to do this?

[SamKnause]

1. YouTube has many videos on growing potatoes in bins.

Hope that helps.

[WhiteTara]

6. Thanks. I hadn't thought of YouTube!

THey have almost every video you can imagine. Thanks again!

[stopwastingmymoney]

2. Can you put a wire cage around your bin?

Then fill the space between the bin and wire with straw. Not too tight, potatoes like loose space.

The best thing is those outside the bin potatoes will be easy to harvest without disturbing the main plant

[WhiteTara]

5. They are definitely in a wire cage

and it started dirt, straw, dirt, potatoes, dirt, straw, dirt, potatoes and so on up to the top of the wire bin. But the shoots from the bottom of the wire bin are coming out the sides. Do I need to cover those?

[stopwastingmymoney]

7. I mean put another layer of wire around the existing bin

[WhiteTara]

9. oh, and then fill the outer bin?

That's a good idea. I have lots of wire.

[stopwastingmymoney]

11. Yes

[WhiteTara]

12. cool thanks

[AJT]

3. Don't forget you will need to be well armed.

Guard those potatoes!

[WhiteTara]

4. Thanks for that important reminder

they are close to the road and those marauders can see them! Call out my dog!

[Backseat Driver]

8. My attempt to grow potatoes in a deep-boxed bin failed.

Unsure about the reasons as I watched those youtube videos and thought I had followed the tips to growing them re: planting, adding dirt as the green parts grew; adequate sunshine and drainage. Above ground, the plants looked great. The roots from which the potatoes were supposed to grow in abundance just made very few vegetables below the ground and what there were -- small, soft, and deformed; nowhere near a 50 lb haul of anything usable. I can only think the dirt used to fill the bin did not provide the necessary nutrients???

Here's hoping your attempt will be more successful!

[WhiteTara]

10. I'll let you know.

[Vinca]

13. Glad I read your post. I cut some potatoes yesterday to let them dry out and was

so busy today mulching the garden I forgot about them. Now scheduling tomorrow's garden job. LOL. Maybe I'll try your method.

[WhiteTara]

14. If I could figure out how to post pictures from my phone

I'd show you how they are doing...great!

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

15. I've never grown potatoes, but have been meaning to try it using this method:

I didn't save the details on how to do this, just the photos, but they seem to be self explanatory.

Is this similar to what you're doing?

[WhiteTara]

16. Similar. I'm using a wire bin

and it is about 4 feet high and 4 feet diameter and I layered straw, dirt, potatoes for about 4 or 5 layers and they've heavily watered with the rain. If I could figure out where my phone deposits my pictures, I'd show you. It's really pretty.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

19. I can't.picture it.

How do.you get the potatoes out?

[spinbaby]

17. I don't see why they shouldn't be growing out the sides

I often grow potatoes even though I don’t have a vegetable garden, simply by planting whatever is sprouting in the pantry somewhere in the flower garden. They’re surprisingly decorative and I’ve never failed to get a crop of potatoes. Really, I think it’s hard to mess up growing potatoes.

[WhiteTara]

18. Now that's another cool idea!

I love the idea of just planting them around for the beauty and getting potatoes!

They are definitely growing out the sides and they are flowering, but shouldn't I be covering up those flowers? That's what I remember from the dim past of my mother's garden when I was a child.

[spinbaby]

20. Potatoes are traditionally hilled

They form potatoes along the stem underground, so dirt was pulled up around the plants to bury more of the stems. You’ll get potatoes even without hilling, enjoy the flowers. If you’re growing red potatoes, blossoms are your cue to burrow for baby potatoes.