If you haven't experienced the almost child-like joy of digging for potato treasure because you live in a small space or apartment, then growing taters in containers is for you ...
If you think growing your own potatoes is out of reach because you live in an apartment or have a small courtyard, think again. Container gardening—especially using Root Pouch grow bags—makes it not only possible but incredibly rewarding. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of digging into the soil and unearthing home-grown potatoes.
Home-grown potatoes can differ quite noticeably from store-bought ones in taste, texture, and even appearance. Some differences are -
Seed potatoes are not actually seeds, but rather small, certified potato tubers that are used to grow new potato plants. They are selected for being disease-free and true to type, ensuring a healthy and productive crop.
Before planting, check your local climate zone to determine the ideal planting window. You can read our helpful blog, Know Your Grow Zone, for guidance.
Here’s a general guide based on Australian climates:
Warm (Frost-free) climates: Plant in March–April or in autumn if there's no risk of frost.
Cool climates: Plant in July–August.
Frost-prone areas: Wait until after the last frost.
Temperate zones: Plant in late winter to early spring.
Harvesting time:
Warm climates: June–August
Cool climates: December–February
Use certified seed potatoes from reputable garden centres or online stores. Supermarket potatoes are often treated to prevent sprouting and may carry disease—best avoided.
For container-grown potatoes, we recommend Root Pouch fabric grow bags. These are:
Lightweight and breathable
Made from recycled BPA-free plastic bottles
Tested food-safe
Free-draining (essential to prevent tuber rot)
Container size matters - the larger the bag, the larger the yield. :
30L Root Pouch: Suitable for 2–3 seed potatoes
76L Root Pouch: Grow 4–6 seed potatoes for a bigger harvest
👉 Browse our Root Pouch Grow Bag Range
🔥Tip: Each potato plant requires roughly 10L of soil. Overcrowding leads to smaller or misshapen potatoes.
If you haven't experience the almost child-like joy of digging for potato treasure because you live in a small space or apartment, then growing taters in containers is for YOU! I’ll run through what works for me on my Balcony.
Potatoes are categorised as either determinate or indeterminate:
Grow in one layer—no mounding needed
Faster growing: 70–90 days
Good for beginners
Popular varieties: Yukon Gold, Kipfler, Red Pontiac, Fingerlings
Grow tubers along the buried stem—require mounding
Higher yield: 110–135 days
Ideal for grow bags
Great varieties: Dutch Cream, Nicola, King Edward, Pink Fir Apple
You can:
Plant whole seed potatoes
Cut large tubers into chunks (egg-sized) with 1–2 eyes each
Let cut pieces air dry for a day or two before planting to avoid rot. Place them in an egg carton in a cool, bright spot to encourage sprouting.
Use a premium quality potting mix that is:
Free-draining
Rich in nitrogen (for foliage) and potassium (for tuber growth)
You can also make your own:
1/3 compost
1/3 coconut coir or peat moss
1/3 perlite or vermiculite
Add a couple of handfuls of organic fertiliser (e.g. chicken manure pellets)
Indeterminate potatoes benefit from the rolled grow bag method to increase yield **best suited to grow bags not the garden beds due to the size of the beds**
Roll down your grow bag to about half-height.
Add 10–15cm of growing mix to the bottom.
Place seed potatoes evenly on the surface.
Cover with 10cm of soil and water well.
Once plants reach 10–15cm tall, mound up soil around the stems. This encourages more tubers to form.
Repeat the hilling process as the plant grows, gradually unrolling the bag until it is full.
Determinate potatoes are simpler to grow in containers as they produce tubers in a single layer, close to the base of the plant. Unlike indeterminate varieties, they do not require hilling or repeated additions of soil during the growing process.
Choose your grow bag – A 30L Root Pouch grow bag is suitable for 2–3 seed potatoes. For more yield, use a Root Pouch Grow Bag such as the 76L size or a Root Pouch Raised Garden Bed of 95L for a huge harvest!
Fill the bag – with a quality potting mix or compost-rich soil to the bottom of the bag.
Plant your seed potatoes – Place the seed potatoes or cut pieces (each with 1–2 eyes) evenly on the surface of the soil.
Cover with soil - making sure the potatoes are well covered.
Water well – Give the container a deep, even watering to settle the soil around the potatoes.
Once planted, determinate potatoes need no hilling—you simply allow the plant to grow naturally. The tubers will form at the base, and your job is to ensure consistent watering, regular feeding, and adequate sun exposure.
You can start harvesting early potatoes when the plant begins to flower or wait until the foliage yellows and dies back for a main crop harvest.
Sunlight: Potatoes need 6–8 hours of sun daily. In hot climates, offer some afternoon shade.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist—not soggy. Avoid letting it dry out or overwatering, both of which can reduce yield or cause rot. This is one of the main problems with growing potatoes in hard pots - drainage. With Root Pouch grow bags you an be confident that water will flow freely from the bag as they are free draining.
Feeding:
Use a slow-release fertiliser in spring.
Feed every 6–8 weeks during the growing season.
Supplement with liquid feed only as a short-term boost.
Fertiliser tip: Use organic, phosphorus-rich options like blood & bone or chicken manure to support healthy tuber growth.
Potatoes are generally ready in 15–20 weeks (around 4–5 months) after planting.
You can:
Harvest new potatoes when the plant flowers or around 10-12 weeks after planting.
Wait for main crop harvest when foliage yellows and dies back
Stop watering 1–2 weeks before harvest to allow the skins to firm up. Simply tip out the grow bag and enjoy the treasure hunt!
Rotate crops yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases
Store harvested potatoes in a cool, dark place
Don’t eat green potatoes—they contain toxic solanine
Whether you're growing on a balcony, rooftop, or compact courtyard, Root Pouch grow bags make it easy to enjoy a productive potato harvest—no backyard required.
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Rose of NSW - Urban Root Pouch Grow Bag Farmer
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