Several years ago we experimented with growing early potatoes. We live along the Canadian border in central ND where the earliest we can plant is usually May.
What we did was take gallon plastic ice cream pails and line them with burlap. Then filled the pail with garden soil. In each pale was planted a seed potato. This was done about a month before planting time.
What we did come planting time was to carefully pull the potted potato plant from the pail by pulling on the overhanging burlap. The burlap, dirt and plant were then placed in a hole about the same size and shape as the pail.
The burlap stayed in the ground. The potato root runners went right through the burlap. We had new potatoes long before anyone else did. The burlap rotted into non-existence.
We love new potato soup made from fresh dug baby potatoes the size of a golf ball or smaller.
That was an ingenious experiment. Where did you keep the buckets - inside - outside?
Brilliant idea on the potatoes! Loved that!
I planted Red Norland and Kennebeck this season. I’ve dug a few hills so far, but they keep so well in my raised bed that I just dig them as I need them through the fall.