Easy container potatoes

Sam demonstrates how to easily plant potatoes in a container  it is easy and fun all you will need is...

1. Compost
2. Potatoes
3. A decent sized container

 If you find a green potato do not eat it. The potato is in the deadly nightshade family.  You can eat the potatoes but any potato showing any green colour is poisonous.  You cannot eat the leaves either as they contain solanine which can make you very sick.

•  The container can be any old thing you have lying around the garden.  For example a pot that a plant came in but is now empty, an old bucket or a trug.
• We are using this old  chicken fertilizer container
• Make sure your container has drainage holes in the bottom. 
• If it does not have holes get an adult to help you drill some holes. 
• Now you don’t need any special seed potatoes.  You can just use regular run of the mill potatoes.  The ones that have started to sprout are the best and you might be throwing those out anyway. 
• Now you're going to  fill your container 1/3 of the way up with compost. 
• Place the potatoes in the container on top of the compost  with the eyes facing upwards
• Put 3 or 4 potatoes into a container this size and adjust for bigger or smaller containers. 
• Put more compost into the container  to just cover the potatoes up.
• Leave in a sunny spot and water regularly.  Because it’s Ireland you know - you might not have to water too much!
• Over the next few weeks as the potatoes grow keep topping up the compost to cover then until you get to about an inch from the top. 
• After the potatoes finish flower you can harvest them by tipping out into a wheelbarrow or on the ground. 
• Enjoy!