Grow Guides
How to Grow Foolproof Potatoes in Bags 🥔
If there is one vegetable you absolutely must grow with kids in Ireland, it's the humble spud! They thrive in our climate, they don't need a greenhouse, and harvesting them is exactly like digging for buried treasure.
You don't even need a garden bed for this. Old heavy-duty compost bags or reusable potato planters work perfectly on a patio or balcony.
What You Need:
- Seed Potatoes: Buy these from a garden centre. 'First Earlies' are the best for kids because they grow the fastest!
- A Large Bag: A specialised potato bag, or an empty 50L compost bag.
- Compost: Peat-free multi-purpose compost.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Chit the Spuds: Put the seed potatoes in an old egg carton on a bright, frost-free windowsill. Leave them there until they grow little green shoots.
- Planting: Roll down the sides of your bag. Put about 15cm (6 inches) of compost at the bottom. Place 3 to 4 seed potatoes on top.
- Earthing Up: As the green leafy stems grow up through the soil, keep adding more compost to cover the stems.
- The Treasure Hunt: Once the plant flowers and the leaves die back, tip the whole bag upside down and let the kids rummage!
⚠️ Frost Warning
Potato leaves hate late Irish frosts. If a cold snap is forecast in May, throw a layer of horticultural fleece or an old bedsheet over your potato bags at night to keep them warm.
