The Weird Trick with Eggs, Milk, and a Plastic Container That Grew My Best Potatoes Ever

This guide walks you through the step-by-step process of growing potatoes in plastic containers using eggs and milk—an affordable, eco-friendly technique that delivers impressive results.

Why Grow Potatoes in Containers?

Container potato gardening has become popular due to its space-saving convenience and ease of management. Whether you live in a city apartment or a home with a small yard, you can grow potatoes almost anywhere with enough sunlight.

Advantages of container-grown potatoes:

• • Requires very little space

• • Easier to manage pests and soil conditions

  • Clean, controlled harvest

  • Can be placed on balconies, rooftops, or patios

• Ideal for beginners

Why Use Eggs and Milk?

Eggs and milk provide essential nutrients that benefit potato plants:

• Eggs (especially crushed shells and raw yolks) are rich in calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals that support healthy root and tuber development.

• Milk adds calcium and natural proteins that feed soil microbes and encourage stronger plant growth.

These natural additives break down over time, releasing nutrients slowly to the roots.

What You’ll Need

To start growing potatoes with this method, gather the following materials:

• • 1 large plastic container (minimum 18–20 inches deep)

  • Potting mix or loose garden soil

  • Compost or aged manure

• • 1 raw egg (with shell)

  • 100–200 ml of milk (diluted)

  • 2–3 seed potatoes (sprouted)

• Water

• Optional: straw or dry leaves for mulching

Preparing the Container

1. 1. Choose a container with good drainage—large paint buckets, storage bins, or garden pots work well.

   2. Drill 4–6 holes in the bottom to ensure excess water drains properly.

   3. Fill the bottom 6 inches of the container with a mix of soil and compost.

   4. Crack a whole egg (unboiled) and place it in the center of the soil layer. Do not break the yolk if possible.

   5. Add a splash of diluted milk (mix 1 part milk with 4 parts water) and pour it around the area where you’ll plant the potatoes.

   6. Cover the egg and milk mixture with another 3–4 inches of soil.

This buried nutrient pack will feed your potatoes as they grow deeper into the container.

Planting the Potatoes

• • Use sprouted seed potatoes or organic potatoes with visible “eyes” or growth nodes.

  • Place them on the soil surface with the sprouts facing upward.

• Space the seed potatoes 6–8 inches apart if using a wide container.

• Cover the potatoes with 4 inches of soil.

   

Do not fill the container completely yet—potatoes grow best when soil is added in layers as the plant grows.

Caring for the Plants

Sunlight: Place your container in a location that receives 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.

Watering:

• • Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during tuber formation.

• Avoid overwatering, which can cause rot, especially early in growth.

Fertilizing:

• After 3–4 weeks, you can add another round of diluted milk or compost tea to boost nutrition.

• You may also bury a few more crushed eggshells as a calcium supplement during the growing period.

Hilling:

• • As the potato plants grow (about 6–8 inches tall), add more soil to cover the lower stems, leaving just the top leaves exposed.

     

  • Repeat this process two to three times as the plant continues to grow—this is known as “hilling” and helps increase tuber yield by encouraging underground stem growth.

Pest and Disease Management

Growing in containers reduces the risk of many soil-borne diseases, but keep an eye out for:

• • Aphids or leaf miners—spray neem oil or a mild soap solution if needed.

• Rot or mold—ensure the container drains well and avoid overwatering.

   

To further protect the plant, use straw or dry leaves as mulch on top of the soil, which helps retain moisture and discourage pests.

Harvesting Your Potatoes

Your potatoes will be ready to harvest in about 90–110 days, depending on the variety.

Signs they’re ready:

• • The foliage turns yellow and begins to dry.

  • The plant naturally starts to die back.

How to harvest:

• • Tip the container onto a tarp or garden bed and gently sift through the soil.

• Collect your homegrown potatoes—many will be found in the lower layers near the egg and milk nutrients.

• Allow them to air dry for a few hours before storage.

Conclusion: Big Yields from Small Spaces

With this natural method using eggs and milk, you can grow a generous potato harvest in a small container without relying on chemical fertilizers. This approach is low-cost, beginner-friendly, and makes use of kitchen scraps that would otherwise go to waste.

Perfect for urban gardeners and eco-conscious growers, this technique proves that a big, healthy crop of potatoes is just a container—and a little creativity—away.