Growing potatoes in containers is a popular method for gardeners with limited space or challenging soil. The laundry basket technique offers an accessible, low-cost solution, transforming a common household item into an effective growing vessel. This method leverages the potato plant’s natural tendency to produce tubers along its buried stem, maximizing yield in a compact, vertical space. The basket’s built-in drainage and structure simplify the entire process, from planting to harvest.
Gathering Supplies and Preparing Seed Potatoes
Before planting, secure the right materials and prepare the seed potatoes. A laundry basket with numerous holes is ideal because it provides the necessary ventilation and drainage. To prevent the growing medium from falling out, the basket’s sides must be lined with a permeable material like newspaper, cardboard, or straw.
The growing medium should not be dense garden soil, which compacts easily and restricts tuber development. Use a light, well-draining mix of high-quality potting soil combined with compost, often in a half-and-half ratio, to provide structure and nutrients. A preparatory step is “chitting,” which involves allowing the seed potatoes to sprout before planting. Place the seed potatoes in a bright, cool, and frost-free location for four to six weeks until short, sturdy sprouts emerge from the eyes.
Seed potatoes should be cut into pieces roughly the size of a golf ball, ensuring each section has at least two healthy eyes. If a potato is small, it can be planted whole. Allow the cut surfaces to dry and form a protective, calloused layer for 24 hours before planting. This curing process helps prevent rot once the pieces are placed in the moist soil.
Step-by-Step Planting and Layering Technique
Planting begins with a base layer of the prepared potting and compost mix at the bottom of the lined laundry basket. This initial layer should be approximately six inches deep. Place the chitted seed potato pieces directly onto this soil layer with the sprouts facing upward. For a typical basket, three or four seed potato pieces, spaced evenly apart, is appropriate to ensure adequate room for growth.
Immediately cover the seed potatoes with a thin layer of soil, about two to three inches deep. This covering protects the seed while allowing new shoots to reach the light quickly. The majority of the basket remains empty at this stage for the subsequent technique known as hilling. The potato plant produces new tubers from the stem sections that are buried beneath the soil. As the plant grows, the goal is to continually bury the stem to encourage the formation of more potatoes higher up in the container.
Essential Care and Ongoing Hilling
Once the initial shoots emerge and establish foliage, consistent care is necessary. Adequate moisture is important because the porous basket and well-draining soil cause water to evaporate quickly. The soil should be kept consistently moist but never soggy, often requiring daily watering during hot weather. Potatoes require a location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day to support tuber development.
The most important maintenance task is hilling, the process of continually adding soil around the growing stems. When the foliage reaches six to eight inches tall, add soil until only the top four inches of leaves remain exposed. This stimulates the plant to produce more underground stems, called stolons, where new potatoes form. Repeat the hilling process every time the exposed foliage grows another six to eight inches, progressively filling the basket. This layering prevents developing tubers from being exposed to light, which causes them to turn green and produce solanine. Apply a balanced fertilizer, one with higher phosphorus, every two to three weeks to replace nutrients leached by frequent watering. Monitor the plant for common pests, such as the Colorado potato beetle.
Knowing When and How to Harvest
The timing of the harvest depends on the desired size and type of potato. Gardeners seeking “new potatoes,” which are small and thin-skinned, can begin gently harvesting them about seven to eight weeks after planting, often coinciding with the plant’s flowering stage. This is accomplished by carefully reaching into the soil and removing a few tubers without disturbing the main plant, allowing the rest to continue growing.
For a full harvest of mature, storage-ready potatoes, wait until the plant’s foliage naturally begins to yellow, wither, and die back. This dieback signals that the plant has finished its energy production cycle and directed all remaining nutrients into sizing up the tubers. Stop watering completely once the foliage starts to die back and wait approximately two weeks before harvesting. This dry period allows the potato skins to thicken and “set,” improving their storage life.
The laundry basket method simplifies the extraction process compared to traditional in-ground digging. When the time is right, simply tip the entire basket over onto a tarp or flat surface. The loose, well-draining soil will spill out, revealing the clusters of potatoes with minimal effort and without the risk of damage. After harvesting, the potatoes should be cured in a dark, well-ventilated area with high humidity, ideally between 45 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, for one to two weeks. Curing heals minor scrapes and further thickens the skin for long-term storage.