Potatoes Made Easy

[Brengirl]

I have saved bought tatties that we like. I am only interested in earlies. They are in egg boxes and are chitting. I didn't have a good yield last year and wonder if I over crowded them in the container. 18"x18"x18" how many seeds? Perhaps if I got smaller containers and one per pot?

[Jardiniere]

crikey all these people with potatoes already...i shant even buy mine until February....but has anyone ever grown Amandine or Anoe wich i was going to try to get for 1st earlies? I grew Belle de Fontenay last year and was not impressed.
My seconds will be Charlotte as usual ....but what does anyone know about Ratte or Red Pontiac for main crop? I grew Desiree last year ...they were OK.

[Lazgaot]

I'm keeping back Charlotte and Sante spuds from last years crop that I'd initially bought from Tattieman. For the record they were both excellent but the Sante were not as heavy cropping as I expected (possibly because it was a new plot on the lottie). I didn't get on with the Red Duke of York first earlies and need some recommendations on other (First Earlies) varieties before I order.

[tattieman]

crikey all these people with potatoes already...i shant even buy mine until February....but has anyone ever grown Amandine or Anoe wich i was going to try to get for 1st earlies? I grew Belle de Fontenay last year and was not impressed.
My seconds will be Charlotte as usual ....but what does anyone know about Ratte or Red Pontiac for main crop? I grew Desiree last year ...they were OK.

Not tried the Amadine or Anoe but we used to grow ratte and they were not really a commercial crop. They were a very soft potato and didn't suit our system. They might be ok in a garden if you plant them early and harvest before blight strikes.

I'm keeping back Charlotte and Sante spuds from last years crop that I'd initially bought from Tattieman. For the record they were both excellent but the Sante were not as heavy cropping as I expected (possibly because it was a new plot on the lottie). I didn't get on with the Red Duke of York first earlies and need some recommendations on other (First Earlies) varieties before I order.

What type of potato do you like for a firsy early? Floury or waxy etc etc?
There is a potato that will suit your needs.
We should have a poll for the most popular varieties that people are growing.

[Lazgaot]

Waxy First Early please! Charlotte is waxy right, I love Charlotte tatties!

[trowelanderror]

Hello, I'm new here and I have a question if you don't mind.

I have some of those potato growing bags, I have some seed potatoes with instructions. What it does not tell me is what type of compost to use. Is any type OK or are there any types I should not use? Do I need to add any fertilizer or anything like that?

Thanks

[nerdgas]

This is a link to one of tattiemans videos on growing in growing bags.

YouTube - Kanal von potatospecialist

Should give you an idea of what to do although I think the latest recommendation is to put 2/3 pots per bag rather than five which will increase the crop (I'm sure tattieman will correct me if this is wrong).

[Ringo Grumio Nibbler]

So I have a spud bag from Wilko's and a bag of seed main harvest Maris Pipers and a bag of seed very early rockets.

I know I have to chit them eyes up for 6 weeks or so, but then what? Can both harvests share the same bag. For instance, main harvest below the very earlies, or will the bag be too small?

[nerdgas]

So I have a spud bag from Wilko's and a bag of seed main harvest Maris Pipers and a bag of seed very early rockets.

I know I have to chit them eyes up for 6 weeks or so, but then what? Can both harvests share the same bag. For instance, main harvest below the very earlies, or will the bag be too small?

Not sure the bag space will be an issue as such.

More like the mechanics of how the spuds grow will be an issue - as eventually the earlies and maincrop would occupy the same 'levels' in the bag thus rendering selective harvesting impossible.

If you grow in a bag you build up the soil as the foliage comes to the surface.

I assume that this is so the foliage is forced to grow up and leave stems in the compost from which will grow further spuds. This is where your theory of trying to place maincrop seed pots above early seed pots may hit a problem.

Happy to be corrected though if I have this completely wrong!

[nerdgas]

This is a good article that explains how the spuds grow.

Worth noting that the spud you harvest grow 'above' the seed potatos not below it.

Food Gardening Guide :: National Gardening Association

[trowelanderror]

Thankyou for the videos, very helpful indeed

[Ringo Grumio Nibbler]

Not sure the bag space will be an issue as such.

More like the mechanics of how the spuds grow will be an issue - as eventually the earlies and maincrop would occupy the same 'levels' in the bag thus rendering selective harvesting impossible.

If you grow in a bag you build up the soil as the foliage comes to the surface.

I assume that this is so the foliage is forced to grow up and leave stems in the compost from which will grow further spuds. This is where your theory of trying to place maincrop seed pots above early seed pots may hit a problem.

Happy to be corrected though if I have this completely wrong!

Thanks for that. I think I'll play safe and keep the harvests seperate.

One more question though, is 5 the maximum number of chitted spuds to plant for bag growing? Any idea on the yield I'll get from these 5?

[Caro]

What a great thread - thanks for the original and thanks for resurrecting.

I'm off to Morrisons to see if I can get some flower buckets! Then I'm off looking for first early seed potatoes. I almost sound like I know what I'm doing, thanks to this thread!

[growingkasbar]

To chit or not to chit

I brought a beginners growing set of poatatoes, it came with 3 types of potatoes and bags to grow them in. On the instructions it says you can chit them before in an egg box but you done NEED to. I was just wondering if it makes a big diference? Ive never grown potatoes before and so im quite clueless!!

[nerdgas]

Thanks for that. I think I'll play safe and keep the harvests seperate.

One more question though, is 5 the maximum number of chitted spuds to plant for bag growing? Any idea on the yield I'll get from these 5?

From what I've read recently I think tattieman (who is the expert on all things to do with potato growing) is recommending 2/3 spuds per bag.

This leads to a larger harvest apparently.