Cut your potatoes so each section has at least two eyes.
Potatoes from the grocery store are relatively inexpensive and readily available all year, but they can't match the flavor of tender "new potatoes" harvested from your own garden. Traditionally grown in rows and hilled to give the tubers plenty of room to develop, potatoes require adequate space to grow. When faced with limited space, many gardeners mistakenly believe they do not have room for potatoes. You can grow several potato plants in a whiskey barrel and enjoy sweet, tender new potatoes without sacrificing precious garden space. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Drill six to eight drainage holes near the bottom of the whiskey barrel. Washington State University recommends drilling 1/4-inch holes near the base of the container, but does not recommend drainage holes in the bottom of the container. This allows water to drain and prevents soil from becoming soggy.
2. Combine a mixture of 1 part potting soil, 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite. Mix well to combine all ingredients. Garden or potting soil compacts easily in containers; this lighter mixture improves aeration and promotes drainage.
3. Add 5-10-10 fertilizer and lime, following the recommended application rate on the label. Peat moss lowers the pH of soil, making it necessary to add lime to adjust the pH of the soil. Mix in well.
4. Place the whiskey barrel in a sunny location that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. Fill the whiskey barrel with the potting mixture, stopping 6 inches from the rim.
5. Cut potatoes into two or more sections so that each section has at least two eyes. You may notice small nubs or sprouts in the indentation of the eye. This is the point where the potato sprouts and sends up shoots.
6. Place two to four cut potatoes in the soil, with the eyes facing upward. If you intend to harvest potatoes when they are young for "new potatoes," four plants can be grown in one container. For mature potatoes, two plants are ideal. According to the University of California at Davis, potatoes require soil depth of 16 to 18 inches and can be planted 6 inches apart.
7. Cover with 4 inches of soil. Firm the soil down with your hands to secure the potato sections and remove air pockets.
8. Water thoroughly until water runs freely from the bottom of the pot. Water again when the soil is dry 2 inches below the surface. Check the soil moistness by inserting your finger 2 inches into the soil. Soil in containers dries quickly. Your container may require daily watering during hot, dry periods.
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