Potatoes in containers

[JMCKG]

Wee maybe daft question. I'm growing potatoes in containers, coming along nicely so far. Would it make any difference if I filled the containers with compost at first sight of potatoes growing or should I just add compost as they grow? Cannot think why I can't just fill containers. No doubt there is a good explanation.

[Bigmallly]

I can't think of a good explanation as to why you can't. I fill mine to the top at the time of planting.

[JMCKG]

I can't think of a good explanation as to why you can't. I fill mine to the top at the time of planting.

Yes going to fill mine tomorrow. Can only think the reason for not doing so us that you can see that the potatoes are growing? Thanks.

[Nannysally99]

My hubby insists on covering them up as they grow, what a faff about.
If I was in charge of spuds, I'd fill straight to the top

[Cadalot]

First year I filled the containers as they grew, but later years I have filled the bottom of the buckets with compost & coir at 80:20 mix with potato fertiliser and then just filled the containers to the top with a mixture compost & coir at 50:50 mix

[snakeshack]

filling in stages lets light get to the leaves earlier and speeds growth, even if you're going to bury those leaves later. Filling right up initially means the plant has to use all it's reserves from the seed potato to grow through the covering soil and is weaker when it finally reaches the surface. How much this would affect your crop though I couldn't say, and filling up initially conveys a little more frost protection.
You pays your money and takes your choice

[Martin H]

Monty on Gardeners World was showing us his potato bags this week. He was adding compost to cover the bottom of the stems, leaving the foliage uncovered. This makes sense to me: if you cover the plants you will slow them down and make them spend stored energy forcing their way through more compost.

[dilettante]

I keep wondering this. I wonder how much energy is actually made and stored when the leaves are produced as opposed to being put straight into growing more leaves which is what the plant wants to do early on (I think). This would be a good experiment to do actually. New project while there's still time?

[Jungle Jane]

Filling to the top at the time of plantings alright but it sounds like the potato leaves are showing,so I wouldn't cover them up now they've emerged.

[boatsman]

From what I've seen on Youtube, it is recommended that if you plant potatoes (chunks with eyes) in a container you should plant in about ten centimetres of soil. Then when the leaves have emerged you add more soil. You carry on this way until the container is full of soil. Apparently this method increases the quantity of potatoes produced.

[vixylix]

I filled my tubs about 2/3s full - one because it gives me some leeway to add down the line if / when I need to for frosts etc and two because I was worried whether they would have enough energy to even get to the surface if it was full.

One of my tubs is just showing leaves, I'm leaving it for now, although might need some frost protection this week.

Its too much effort keeping topping them up so my thoughts are that once the stems are above the container top I'll fill the container and then just leave them to it

[Potstubsdustbins]

I don't think there is a definitive answer as it really depends on what container your using.

I fill my small buckets for new spuds to the top and find very little difference in yield or time to harvest.

My 80ltr dustbins I do the opposite the seed is planted in about 6" of compost then I fill as they grow always leaving green haulm above the surface. Frost is not a problem as I just bob the dustbin lid on for protection.

About 5 years ago I did one dustbin from 6 differently, filled it to the top and awaited the results. Out of 4 seeds one did not show and rotted in the ground. The overall yield was down and later than the bins topped up as you go.

[dilettante]

I don't think there is a definitive answer as it really depends on what container your using.

I fill my small buckets for new spuds to the top and find very little difference in yield or time to harvest.

My 80ltr dustbins I do the opposite the seed is planted in about 6" of compost then I fill as they grow always leaving green haulm above the surface. Frost is not a problem as I just bob the dustbin lid on for protection.

About 5 years ago I did one dustbin from 6 differently, filled it to the top and awaited the results. Out of 4 seeds one did not show and rotted in the ground. The overall yield was down and later than the bins topped up as you go.

Oh that's pretty interesting. It's good to hear from someone who's done an experiment. I'd still be interested to see if it makes a difference in a smaller container - a dustbin is a pretty huge container for them to grow up to the surface through.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I really don't think it does make a difference with smaller containers, they seem able to get through that depth of compost without any problems.

These are my early spuds taken today, they are in various containers from an old plastic beer barrel and green trug to MFB's. They were all filled to about an inch from the top, the deeper ones took a little longer to show but as you can see they are pretty much on a par now.

[JMCKG]

Decided to fill my small pots which only have one seed potatoe in each, will continue to top up the large containers as the totties grow.