I Grew Potatoes in Supermarket Paper Bags — Here’s What Happened

Quick Overview

The potatoes grown in repurposed supermarket paper bags yielded a successful harvest of 6.546 kg (14.4 pounds) after 14 weeks, proving that the bags are a viable, sustainable, and practical method for growing potatoes, even surviving unexpected hail and heat.

Key Points: The experiment successfully grew potatoes (Sebago, Pontiac, and White Star varieties) in repurposed supermarket paper bags over 14 weeks. The total harvest yielded 6.546 kg (14.4 pounds) of potatoes. The paper bags, made from craft paper with water-based, biodegradable glues, held up well, only requiring the bags to be split open to remove the potatoes. The watering method utilized the black plastic trays beneath the bags as a wicking system, ensuring consistent moisture. The soil mix used was a quality potting mix with added Ocean2Earth compost for nutrients, avoiding synthetic fertilizers. The grower found that the Pontiac potatoes were generally larger than the Sebago potatoes, though some of the largest potatoes rotted in the bag. The grower plans to reuse the paper bags and compost for future plantings, promoting sustainability.

Context: The video documents a gardening experiment where the creator, Mark from Self Sufficient Me, tests the viability of growing potatoes inside repurposed supermarket paper bags instead of traditional containers or in-ground planting. This method is presented as an environmentally friendly alternative, utilizing materials like paper bags that might otherwise be discarded, and incorporating a self-watering/wicking tray system for consistency.

Detailed Analysis

The creator harvested potatoes grown for 14 weeks inside repurposed supermarket paper bags, yielding a total of 6.546 kg (14.4 pounds). He notes that the paper bags, made from craft paper with biodegradable glues, held up surprisingly well, only splitting open when harvested. The potatoes survived adverse weather, including hail and heat. The growing setup used black plastic trays under the bags to act as a wicking system, providing consistent moisture. The planting medium consisted of a quality potting mix supplemented with Ocean2Earth compost. The harvest included three varieties: Sebago, Pontiac, and White Star. The creator observed that the Pontiac potatoes generally grew larger than the Sebago potatoes, although a few of the largest potatoes in the batch had rotted. The spent soil and bags are planned to be composted and reused. The video concludes with the grower demonstrating the final yield and encouraging viewers to check out links for Epic Gardening products where a sale is running.