Hi I'm new...

[SarzWix]

Welcome to the 'Vine MarthaClematis

[vegnut]

You could always dig bits of your patio up and plant there too when you become addicted like the rest of us! Good luck.

Patio?????. Mine went years ago LOL
Welcome to the nut house Marthaclematis

[Marthaclematis]

Guess what I've just bought? A bucket, some compost and some seed potatoes!! I can't plant till next weekend as its being delivered (I don't have a car and I'm at work all week and don't get home till dark). My very first attempt at growing something to eat! And we eat a lot of potatoes. I'm very excited! Thanks for the advice SmallBluePlanet!

[smallblueplanet]

My pleasure Martha - you shouldn't need many potatoes in a standard sized bucket, one or two. Many Grapes get 'used buckets' from Florists, or supermarkets with flower depts as they often sell off the black ones they stand flowers in.

We've not got ours yet, what type of spuds did you buy?

Its still a bit early to plant seed potatoes even in buckets, I think. I'll check some of the threads from last year to see.

What you can do is stand your seed potatoes in an old egg box and put them in a cool light place to start them chitting (they'll start to grow the shoots you often get on 'normal' spuds when you've had them a while! Seed spuds are 'normal' spuds, its just you can be sure that they carry no diseases).

[Marthaclematis]

They're First Early and they're called Rocket (I've never heard of them!) I bought ten and the bucket I have isn't really a bucket, its like a bucket, its BIG and cost £12.50 from the garden centre. I reckon I could put 7 in there and maybe get a couple of other vessels to grow the others in. I have put them in the utility room for now, still in their packet. Should I put them somewhere darker and cooler? And is next weekend too soon to plant? How long should I let the shooty sprouts grow before I plant?

[smallblueplanet]

Here's an interesting thread about potatoes in containers...

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_10458.html

Take the spuds out of their bag and stand them in a 'container' (egg box, seed tray, small box, etc) in a cool, light (not direct light) place - not in the dark. I think next weekend will be too early, haven't found a thread giving dates yet.

With a big 'bucket' you might need some food for the spuds - something like pelleted chicken poo is a fairly good fertilizer for lots of things and is clean and easy (but smelly!).

I think some people on here have grown spuds in old dustbins so there might be info about how many spuds is enough and not too many. The search facility is along the green menu bar at the top of the page.

If you have specific questions its always best to start a thread in the appropriate section with a title so people know what info you need. So for spuds post (and search) mainly in the 'Vegging Out' forum. In reality info gets posted lots of places, but its easier to use with some system!

Oh and I'd pop down the local library and see if they've any basic veggie/herb growing books with pictures - you might get hooked!!!

[Marthaclematis]

Thanks, I did a search and have been reading lots of advice. I have realised that 7 seeds is too much for my container so I will look for more. It might work out for the best anyway as I can stagger the planting and maintain a longer crop. I might also buy a bag of manure to feed them as they grow. The good thing is that I'll only have to wait 13 weeks to see how well I've done!

[Flummery]

I think Alice did some research last year and found better yields with a few spuds in a medium container than she did with more spuds on a bigger container. It doesn't seem to be the size of container that dictates the yield.

[HeyWayne]

I think Alice did some research last year and found better yields with a few spuds in a medium container than she did with more spuds on a bigger container. It doesn't seem to be the size of container that dictates the yield.

So size isn't important!

Welcome aboard martha.

[Flummery]

So size isn't important!

I'm sure it is if you're 6' 8"

[HeyWayne]

I'm sure it is if you're 6' 8"

You've done it again ma, getting us confused! I'm the 6ft 7 son!

[Flummery]

D'oh. PhantomVeg is 6' 8"! Shouldn'ta put so much muck in his boots!

[araminta]

Hi Martha, I was asking advice at the allotment this weekend about chitting and was told that if you put the potatoes (I bought "Swift") in a tray of compost they will also grow roots and you can start them even earlier!!

[axe70]

i have some potatoes in tubs growing away that are in my greenhouse
that is heated to over winter some of my other plants like scardy cat
ps i am also growing some carrots

[Hans Mum]

Hi welcome from me too.....enjoy your growing be it edible or not