Growing Potatoes for the First Time

Earlier this year I had a bag of potatoes sprouting in my pantry.  I did basic research on how to grow potatoes and ended up planting a few, using the garbage bag method.  It involves planting in a garbage bag and rolling down the sides.  As the plants grow, add soil around them and unroll the bag little by little.  At the end of the season I'm supposed to be able to just cut the bag open and take out my potatoes.

I've never grown potatoes and certainly have not tried this method before.  Crossing my fingers that potatoes are actually growing in there.  If I do it again next year I'll definitely try a different planting technique.  So far, I've noticed 2 problems with this technique...

1. The bag is splitting from the weight of the soil.  Although, I could double bag or use industrial strength bags next time.
2. It has gotten so hot at one point that the rolled sides of the bags have melted to each other in various places.  Of course, this causes more bag tearing as I try to up the sides of the bags.

Potato updates to come...