Growing potatoes in containers is a practical and space-saving method that works well for small gardens, patios, and balconies. Containers allow better control over soil quality, drainage, and moisture, which are all important for healthy potato development. This method also reduces problems with soil-borne diseases and pests that often affect potatoes grown directly in the ground.
Choosing the right container and soil is essential. Containers should be deep and have drainage holes to prevent waterlogging. A loose, well-draining potting mix enriched with compost helps tubers expand easily and develop evenly. Avoid heavy garden soil, as it can compact and restrict growth.
Potatoes grown in containers need plenty of sunlight and consistent watering. Place containers where they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist, especially during flowering, as uneven watering can lead to small or misshapen tubers.
As the plants grow, hilling is an important step. Gradually adding more soil around the stems encourages the formation of additional tubers and prevents developing potatoes from being exposed to light, which can cause greening. This process also supports the plants and improves overall yield.
Harvesting container-grown potatoes is simple and rewarding. Once the plants flower, small “new” potatoes can be harvested carefully, or you can wait until the foliage dies back for a full harvest. Simply tip the container and collect the potatoes.
Potatoes That Can Grow Well In Containers
Yukon Gold
Yukon Gold is an excellent all-purpose potato with buttery yellow flesh and thin, edible skin that performs exceptionally well in containers. These medium-sized potatoes mature in 80-95 days and produce reliable yields even in confined spaces.
Yukon Golds have a creamy texture perfect for mashing, roasting, or boiling, and their compact growth habit makes them ideal for container gardening where space efficiency is essential.
Red Pontiac
Red Pontiac is a reliable red-skinned potato with white flesh that thrives in containers and produces generous yields of medium to large tubers. These potatoes mature in 80-100 days and are known for their disease resistance and adaptability to various growing conditions.
Red Pontiac’s waxy texture makes them excellent for boiling, roasting, and potato salads, and they store well after harvest, making them practical for container gardeners seeking productive, versatile varieties.
Fingerling Potatoes
Fingerling potatoes, including varieties like Russian Banana and French Fingerling, are naturally small and perfectly suited to container growing. These elongated, finger-shaped potatoes mature in 75-90 days and produce multiple small tubers per plant, maximizing yields in limited space.
Fingerlings have creamy, buttery flesh with excellent flavor and are prized by gourmet cooks, and their compact size means containers don’t need to be as large as those required for full-sized potato varieties.
All Blue
All Blue potatoes have striking purple-blue skin and flesh that retains its color when cooked, adding visual interest to dishes. These medium-sized potatoes mature in 90-110 days and adapt well to container growing, producing good yields of uniquely colored tubers.
All Blue potatoes have a slightly nutty flavor and moist texture, and while they take longer to mature than some varieties, their novelty and nutritional benefits from anthocyanin pigments make them worthwhile for container gardeners seeking something different.
Red Thumb
Red Thumb is a fingerling variety with rose-red skin and pink flesh that’s specifically well-suited to container cultivation due to its compact size. These small potatoes mature quickly in 70-85 days and produce abundant yields of bite-sized tubers perfect for roasting whole.
Red Thumb’s waxy texture and sweet flavor make them excellent for salads and side dishes, and their early maturity allows container gardeners to harvest quickly and potentially replant for successive crops.
Charlotte
Charlotte is a popular European salad potato with creamy yellow flesh and a waxy texture that excels in container growing. These oval-shaped potatoes mature in 75-90 days and are known for their excellent flavor and consistent yields. Charlotte potatoes hold their shape well when cooked, making them ideal for salads, boiling, and steaming, and their moderate size and reliable performance make them favorites among container gardeners in both Europe and North America.
Caribe
Caribe potatoes feature distinctive purple skin with bright white flesh, creating an attractive appearance that appeals to gardeners and diners alike. These medium-sized potatoes mature in 70-90 days and produce good yields in containers with proper care.
Caribe has a smooth, creamy texture and mild flavor suitable for various cooking methods, and the colorful skin adds visual interest to meals while the variety’s adaptability makes it reliable for container cultivation.
German Butterball
German Butterball is a golden-skinned potato with rich, buttery yellow flesh that performs excellently in containers despite being a larger variety. These potatoes mature in 90-110 days and produce medium to large tubers with exceptional flavor.
German Butterball’s creamy texture is perfect for baking, mashing, and roasting, and while they require slightly larger containers than fingerlings, their superior taste and versatility make them worth the extra space.
Adirondack Blue
Adirondack Blue potatoes have vibrant purple-blue skin and flesh packed with antioxidants, making them both nutritious and visually striking. These medium-sized potatoes mature in 80-95 days and adapt well to container growing, producing colorful tubers that retain their hue when cooked.
Adirondack Blue has a slightly earthy flavor and dry, fluffy texture, and their unique color makes them conversation starters at dinner while providing the health benefits of anthocyanin-rich foods.
Chieftain
Chieftain is a red-skinned potato with white flesh that’s known for its disease resistance and reliable performance in various growing conditions including containers. These medium to large potatoes mature in 90-110 days and produce good yields with proper container management.
Chieftain’s smooth texture works well for boiling, baking, and mashing, and the variety’s hardiness makes it forgiving for beginning container gardeners still learning optimal growing techniques.
Lady Finger
Lady Finger is a classic fingerling variety with golden skin and waxy yellow flesh that’s ideally sized for container cultivation. These elongated potatoes mature in 75-90 days and produce numerous small tubers per plant, maximizing productivity in confined spaces.
Lady Finger potatoes have a rich, buttery flavor and firm texture that holds up beautifully in salads and roasted preparations, and their traditional fingerling shape and excellent taste make them favorites in gourmet cooking.
Kennebec
Kennebec is a versatile white potato that adapts surprisingly well to container growing despite being developed for field production. These large, oval potatoes mature in 80-100 days and are prized for their excellent all-purpose qualities and disease resistance.
Kennebec produces fluffy, white flesh perfect for baking, frying, and mashing, and while they may require larger containers than fingerlings, their reliability, storage quality, and culinary versatility make them excellent choices for container gardeners seeking a classic, dependable potato variety.