Growing Red Pontiac Potatoes in Containers

At the Rusty Hoe, we plant potatoes in both the garden and in containers. We use 25 gallon cattle supplement buckets for our containers. Our favorite variety is the Red Pontiac. A red-skinned early main crop potato variety originally bred in the U.S., the Red Pontiac, is sold in the United States, Canada, Australia, Algeria, the Philippines, Venezuela and Uruguay. It arose as a color mutant of the original Pontiac variety in Florida, by J.W. Weston in 1945. 

Locally, you can purchase seed potatoes at both of the downtown CoOps and BP Nursery in Clarksville. At the Rusty Hoe, we save potatoes from the previous year for our seed potatoes. You can do this too, by picking a few select potatoes from your crop that have several eyes (sprouts) on them. We wrap our seed potatoes in brown paper bags and store them in a dark and cool place. Do not allow your saved potatoes to freeze! We store ours in our pantry, but any dark space inside your house will suffice. 

You will need large containers for potatoes. We use 25 gallon cattle supplement buckets that we've drilled holes in for drainage. To begin, you'll need straw, garden soil and compost, 10-20-10 fertilizer, and your prepared potato "eyes". 

1. Mix your straw, garden soil, and compost in equal parts, then add a 4-6 inch layer to the bottom of your container. 
2. Cut Side DOWN - arrange your potato seed eyes on top of this mixture, allowing about 2 inches between each eye.
3.  Add another 4-6 inch layer of your soil, straw, and compost mix.
4. Add 10-20-10 pelletized fertilizer according to package directions for your container size. If you're using cattle supplement buckets, sprinkle 1 Tablespoon on top of soil mixture.
5. Water very well.

As the vines grow, continue to add layers of your soil mixture until you reach the top of your container. You may harvest “new potatoes” as soon as plants begin to flower, about 10 weeks after planting. Harvest mature potatoes about 15 weeks after planting. When harvesting new potatoes work carefully to disturb the plants as little as possible.

You'll know when it's time to harvest by the look of your potato vines if you lose track of the weeks. When the vines begin to yellow, lay over, and die back - it's time to harvest! 

The very best part of growing your own vegetables is eating them! One of our favorite ways to eat Pontiac Red Potatoes is oven-roasted in olive oil and herbs.