For a deep dive in to growing potatoes, watch our Potato Growing Masterclass:
Enjoy a no-obligation, completely free trial of the Garden Planner here:
https://www.GrowVeg.com/grow-planner-free
And for your completely free abridged version of Ben’s book, click here:
https://www.growveg.com/grow-book-download
Feeling Impatient and ready to grow? Grow super speedy spuds in record time with Ben’s five top tips that will supercharge your crops of pots. This is the clever way smart gardeners grow potatoes!
50 Comments
Thank dor the great video. I grow mine in containers now. Would you say, weather dependent, water every 3 days or 2? Thank you x
This has reminded me to get mine in asap!!! 😊
Grocery store potatos from the non organic version will have chemical growth inhibitors applied. So no use trying to plant them.
Other question: Why bother with the egg cartons? Just single layer in the light (not direct sunlight) in a shallow crate(s) will do the same and be way less work 🙂
Anyways, you are reminding me of some garden stuff I will have to go and do 😀
Good morning Ben, the potatoes you harvested look as good as you say, creamy and what a good size. It is so worth it to grow your own. Spring veggies are really the best, the full rich flavour and colour is so good to eat and enjoy. Not much potting soil/compost sticking to the skins either, well done. Do enjoy. Thank you for always being so encouraging, I need that. Kind regards, have a beautiful day and week ahead.
Great video Ben, I've got my first earlies (Belle de Fontenay) in large pots in the tunnel. My mum (she's 84) loves your channel too, and will be chitting her potatoes now, thank you!
Some good tip and knowledge I’d not heard before. I grow in pots but didn’t know the fact about earlies not needing earthing up! Why is that not more commonly shared!
What’s the name of the organic fertiliser you used?
This reminds me of the river cottage series with Hugh F. W.
Hi Ben, where can I get one of those covers from please. Love the channel ❤️ thanks ❤
another stellar presentation..thanks! this is my first year growing potatoes (grow bags and a raised bed)
I got a variety called Elgar from Aldi or Lidl and hey were absolutely delicious, I thought I’ll grow some of these but can I find any, no. Help. Phil.
I tried growing in containers last year and overwatered or the drip trays stayed filled and rotted my poor potatoes. I could smell the rot (nothing like it) and no harvest. 😢
Do you concern yourself with whether or not the straw is organic? Locally it is a waste product and I can’t find any with a guarantee that it hasn’t been sprayed with herbicides.
inspired to try taters again this year: Ben, any chance of linking where you can purchase that tent? cheers
It really doesn’t matter how long one has been gardening, there is always something new to learn; more often than not your videos are the source of new knowledge, helpful tips and, somehow, what feels like personal guidance. Delighted to have the book for inspiration in between the videos. Many thanks for being such a generous and thoughtful gardener.
My understanding is that 'earthing up' in containers only really applies if you are planting an indeterminate variety as they are the ones that send out more spuds further up and so you get a larger crop. Like tomatoes, potatoes come in both determinate and indeterminate varieties. The problem is that when spuds are sold there often isn''t any indication which type they are, indeterminate or determinate, so it can be hard to find them.
Tried straw last year a became a slug fest. Going to use compost as mulch this year. Love your videos
Ben, what potting mix are you using? Also, how often do you water? Oh.. and where did you get the plastic bed cover from?
Some useful tips but I can only imagine that the potatoes must be quite expensive to produce what with the seed potatoes, fertiliser, potting mix, compost, straw etc.
What about climate and soil categories? US? Elsewhere?
The only reason I don't grow potatoes is due to storage..other than freezing them. Even the store bought ones ended up sprouting which I'm told as unsafe to eat…just like potatoes that are still green.
Hi can you still plant potatoes like this if still expecting frosts?
Thank you for another entertaining video. I’ve always loved gardening – have only lived in a couple of suitable places but bought a house 2 years ago with an overgrown but brilliant bones garden. The no-dig veggie patch is half way done, decrepit fruit trees removed or pruned and plans made for replacements. I hadn’t work out how I’d do spuds but the containers will be worth a go I think! ❤
This video is incredibly helpful! The tips on growing potatoes efficiently are practical and easy to follow. Thank you for sharing such valuable knowledge. Looking forward to more gardening insights!🤗🌱❤️
Brilliant video as usual! I’m going to try adding all the compost mix at once great idea! Thanks Ben your videos are the best 😊 🥔 🥔 🥔
Taking a break from gardening!!! The seasons are shifting in Houston, and the shady spots are gone 😢 . No worries, I'm still your biggest fan. Now I'm renting my backyard for a dog!!!
Excellent as always…love to know where you got the transparent tents from…can't see them on Amazon or Temu…keep up the great work and spread the knowledge and the compost!
Your channel has inspired me to start growing this year, ive got 3 kinds of potatoes (pentland javelin, elfe, vivaldi). Dont suppose anyone can tell me if elfe potatoes are determinate or indeterminate as i cant find any info anywhere
I'm growing potatoes for the first time ever this year. I would love to know where you got the cover for your raised bed, please…
Can't go wrong with spuds! Great shelf life too 👍🏼
Thanks 🙏❤
Do Sifra also grow fast? Of my varieties, it was up first.
I've always been able to grow potatoes but you gave me some extra tips here I will try out for a better crop. Now what I do struggle with is growing carrots, for the life of me I just cannot grow them, I've tried all sorts, put them in the ground, fertalised the ground, left the ground, put them in buckets, bins and raised beds but never managed to ever grow them. I did once manage to grow some that were like matchsticks, literally the size of matchsticks, so if your doing a video on the humble carrot I'll be watching that for sure.
Great info, as always, Ben! We actually plant our spuds directly into several inches of straw in our veg garden. Almost no tending needed, just watering – less than in soil or pots – and they are fabulous. It works really well. We'll be planting them soon 😀😀
Another brilliant video! Thank so much for all this advice mate! 🥔
Dear Ben, are you aware that some other youtuber uses parts of your squash video? have a look at „frugal solutions „ 50 garden tricks, uploaded 2 days ago march 22. I remembered your green garden shoes and the new squash patch. love your videos, best regards from Switzerland!
Personally I use Smart pots for my potatoes, cumcumbers and peppers, I find they provide a really good level of air circulation to the roots, i use a mix of perlite for best airation to the roots, chicken manure, powdered and liquid seaweed (liquid through out and powdered dug in begining of season and late season) i also use Bat Guano from amazon begining and late season, i also always dig in natural pot ash from trees on my property, we always have a big fire multiple times in the winter and dig the ash in to the soil, this helps to regulate the PH i also add Lime powder from Amazon for the same reason, i have always had good results for potatoes 😅🥔
What a great video! Thanks for sharing, I'll look out for the varieties mentioned. Are there any companion plants you can recommend for spuds?
That’s the best film on potato growing iv seen and thanks for not playing bloody music.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THE CORRECT WAY TO POSITION A GREENHOUSE
LEVEL AN AREA 100 FT X 18 FEET NORTH TO SOUTH
THEN MAKE DRILLS 4 INCHES DEEP AROUND THE BOUNDARIES
SPRINKLE SAWDUST THROUGHOUT THE DRILLS
AND LEAVE UNCVOERED
IN 7 DAYS A GREENHOUSE WILL HAVE GROWN
GROWING
WHEN YOU GET NO FINANCIAL RETURN
THRE IS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY TO SELL YOU GOODS, CHEMICALS, COMPOSTS AND FERTILISERS.
AS SOON AS YOU WANT TO GROW FOR FINANCIAL RETIURN – FARMING
EVERYTHING IS SET AGAINST YOU TO FAIL.
I thought you were buttering me up but you weren't chitting me
Your Enthusiasm is Unbelievable! Thank you so much about these practical advices for the potatoes! 😊😊😊
Started following about a year ago after last years potato video and I'm really excited to try growing potatos for the first time this year 😊
You sound very much like Stephen Merchant (comedian) and you also kind of look like him a little bit. Its so funny and I love it! Lovely video very informative and entertaining. 😊
Thank you ❤ what are those long sleeve glove please
What would you say is the coldest night temperature potatoes can be planted? Day temps are above 15c here now but night temps drop to -4c… I’m considering planting now under a frost cloth…?
I have used potato peels that were meant for compost to grow potatoes. You really don't even need potatoes, you can grow them just by planting the eye/chit. 😊
Amazing video as ever Ben. Ive just got the garden planner and so far im very impressed.
So fun! I just planted my potatoes in laundry baskets! I have a video about it – sooo sooo fun! I can’t wait for harvest 🥔🥔🥔❤️
❤