Laundry Basket vs Trash Bag Potato Growing which method REALLY produces more?
I tested both container gardening methods side-by-side for an entire season using identical soil, potatoes, sunlight, and care. The results were shocking: 51 lbs from a trash bag vs 32 lbs from a laundry basket. This video breaks down the full experiment with real data, real yields, and practical lessons for small-space gardeners.
If you want to grow potatoes at home, maximize food security, and get the highest yield from container gardening, this comparison will help you choose the BEST method.
🌱 What You’ll Learn:
• Which method produces more potatoes: laundry basket or trash bag
• How progressive filling affects potato yields
• Water retention differences between containers
• Cost per pound comparison
• Setup time and ease of use
• Harvest results and storage quality
• Best method for beginners vs serious growers
🥔 Final Test Results:
• Trash Bag Yield: 51 lbs
• Laundry Basket Yield: 32 lbs
• Difference: 59% higher yield from trash bags
• Cost Per Pound:
• Trash Bag: $0.50/lb
• Laundry Basket: $0.63/lb
🏆 Final Verdict
Choose Trash Bags if you want:
• Maximum potato production
• Best return on investment
• Higher food security yields
• More progressive filling layers
• Less frequent watering
• Serious bulk growing
Choose Laundry Baskets if you want:
• The easiest beginner method
• Quick setup with no tools
• Faster, cleaner harvest
• Reusable containers
• Low-maintenance gardening
🎯 Who This Video Is For:
• Container gardeners
• Apartment and balcony growers
• Urban homesteaders
• Survival gardening enthusiasts
• Beginners learning to grow potatoes
• Budget gardeners
• Anyone comparing small-space gardening methods
💡 Key Takeaway:
Both methods work but if your goal is maximum yield and food independence, trash bags win. If your goal is simplicity and convenience, laundry baskets are better.
#PotatoGrowing #ContainerGardening #SmallSpaceGardening #UrbanHomesteading #TrashBagPotatoes #LaundryBasketPotatoes #GrowYourOwnFood #FoodSecurity #Homesteading #BudgetGardening
👍 Take Action:
If this experiment helped you, LIKE the video, SUBSCRIBE for more real garden tests, and COMMENT which method you’ll try first!
47 Comments
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I grew potatoes in a laundry basket as well but I lined mine with landscape fabric from the dollar store. That way you don't lose soil, And there is less drying. Also if you had used a vertical laundry basket instead of a horizontal type the depth that you could have added soil would have been more similar. Try the experiment again with those two additions and then make a new video.
I use potato bags that I got from my garden center. I put them in the dollar store oil changer plastic containers…Works GREAT with those potatoes that are starting to mush. I keep starting new batches in my garage since it is winter and then finish them off outside. Easy peasy no hassle
😅that flashing message to subscribe constantly flashing throughout the video was a pain! I stopped watching halfway through!
I think I would get a tall laundry hamper put a plastic bag inside and punch the drainage holes so we have better water retention we also have the higher sided plastic hamper and be able to do multiple fillings while still getting the stability of the hamper get the best of both worlds
People have done this for years… but once you're potat[es start to take root..don't move the trash bag..it tears the roots off. Lesson learned…
Why not put a trash bag in a tall laundry basket… punch a few more holes… $.75 more. But the yield outweighs the cost. Also ease of access to the dirt and ability to roll the trash bag higher is still there, butbut with the support. That makes more sense to me. Good experiment thank you for sharing!
Seems to me when you put the dirt into the laundry basket or it just fall right out the holes
Both
Hos about a paper bag inside the laundry basket? Do you still need to makes holes at the bottom?
Gross plastic!!! No, Nay, never!! Evolve!!
How do you keep the soil in the laundry basket? The soil will just fall out of those holes. Also every time you water the laundry basket you wash away the soil through those giant holes.
How long from planting to harvest?
Use laundry net inside the laundry basket $1.25 holds more soil and still gets airflow.
Two baskets with garbage bag liners = 64
How about a jute bag in a laundry basket?
could one just use the potting soil came in to grow in?
Btwci am not going to like this video which was good but the subscibe now button flashing in the upper right sceen is horrendous. Although good if u r trying to people off their phones.
In the very first comparison the leaves are identical this would be impossible. Why would anybody make up such a video, fake
I’m going to grow potatoes for my first time. I am trying the trash bag out. Wish m good growing!
I thought or maybe do both together. Used the laundry basket for support of the plastic bag. Put the bag in the basket, as it gets filled, it stabilizes and you can then continue filling the bag. I will try both.
Combo bag and basket.
Why not get a tall laundry basket & use the trash bag inside of the basket? Have you tried that?
does Miracle organic plant food work or should I buy generic soil and compost. I'm new at this and I'm looking for help.
This was a really interesting ripping off vlog it will help me as I am a first timer for growing veggies in a container
❤ what I'm going to do is, put the basket inside the trash bag. I can roll up the trash bag around the basket.
Can I do this for sweet potatoes?
What about stray cats, raccoons,or other critters tearing bags apart looking for garbage food.
How about using plastic waste can inside bag. Easy to fill and firm sjdes! Put holes in can.
Why not use a taller basket?
I watched a video where she used tall laundry baskets and put a type of netting inside of it. Someone else used toile!
I'll try this out. I really don't have a space in my garden
I do not agree with the assessment that the laundry basket is less maintenence intensive,the watering demands are less forgiving and more critical . Too little water for too long (a day or so ) and end up with zero crop. He had to water twice per day (for a while ) to keep hydrated. Too much (driving rain storm ) could wash out and away much of the soil from the roots leading to dehydration. To me the hamper was more critical and had to be 'watched over ' more.
Hot days and too much rain would cause concern with the black plastic bags also ,maybe easier to overcome.
These would be problems that are more likely in the South
I will try this ❤
Thanks for doing this!
Laundry basket
🇨🇦🥔Id go with the Basket method, cleaner, easier and I have only time on my hands. Tku for this🥔🥔
I know which one I will use! Thank you for this!!!
But what about contamination from using plastic?
⁹
Does this work for sweet potatoes as well?
No no no….stop your causing cancer…Yes, sturdy black trash bags can leach chemicals and microplastics into the soil over time. While they are effective for warming soil and retaining moisture, they are generally not designed for food-safe growing, and UV degradation causes them to break down and shed plastic particles into the soil, especially over a growing season.
Stupid your poisoning your system…Key Concerns with Trash Bags for Growing:
Microplastics: As the plastic degrades from sun and heat, it releases small particles into the potting medium.
Chemical Leaching: Although some, like LDPE or HDPE plastics (marked 2, 4, or 5), are relatively safe, others may release chemicals, particularly if used for multiple seasons or in intense sun.
Heat & Drainage: Black plastic can overheat the soil, potentially harming roots, and if drainage holes are not added, it can create a waterlogged, anaerobic environment.
This only works. indeterminate potato seeds
I will try the trash bag method. However, I am going to put the bag into a plastic laundry hamper/basket to give more support as the bag fills.
Would have liked SEEING a video of you harvesting the potatoes instead of the photos
Wonder why he didn’t add that third treatment.. plastic lined laundry basket???
I live in Arizona and we are pretty drought pruned down here so I would think that the water you saved by doing it in the trash bag is well worth the effort and the money.