Potato Buckets

[Iamhanuman]

I have seen these discussed before a while ago but wanted to get some up to date info.

I have heard of a lot of success growing potatoes in this way and want follow suit. Do I need to purchase ready-made potato buckets from Dobies or similar, or can I purchase a bucket of some respectable size from B&Q or similar and drill a few holes in it for the same effect?

The potato buckets I have seen are 40cm high and 40cm dia.

I've heard talk of flower-buckets from supermarkets being used...?

I'm a new shoot - see my raised bed thread!

[TEB]

Do they have to be buckets, I used/recyled compost bags.

PS B&Q were selling a pack off 3 Potato Patio planters (45cmx35cm) for just under £8.00 (£20.00 if you went to Thompson and Morgan)

[Iamhanuman]

there are also these:
Buy Bargain Potato Planters plus 15 seed potatoes online from Dobies

[Iamhanuman]

hi TEB
do you have a link for the B&Q patio planters?

i have thought of the grow-bag/compost bag idea, but as they're going out front this has been ruled out
they have to be aesthetically pleasing!

[TEB]

I cannot find them online at B&Q but these are the ones POTATO PLANTERS - 3 PACK: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors they look very similar to the Dobies offering

[Hazel at the Hill]

Do I need to purchase ready-made potato buckets from Dobies or similar............

Tsk! Of course not

i have thought of the grow-bag/compost bag idea, but as they're going out front this has been ruled out they have to be aesthetically pleasing!

If you turn the compost bags inside out, you will only be able to see the black plastic side facing outwards. Bit like a black planter.

[Alice]

I use B & Q buckets with holes drilled in them. 99p each. I drill holes in the sides at the bottom as it's easier to see if water is getting all the way to the bottom when watering.

[Iamhanuman]

Buy Bargain Potato Planters plus 15 seed potatoes online from Dobies
the Dobies ones are a little cheaper and you get some seed potatoes with them

the compost bag inside out is a good idea Hazel. I will keep that in mind whenever i use one up!!

the b&q buckets Alice - are they big enough?

[BrideXIII]

i have answered this in your other post

however, flower buckets from the co-op, free to take away

one or two seeds spuds in each, plant at half depth, earth up to the top of the bucket as they grow, then cut the bottom off another one, sit it inside and continue to earth up potato towers good space savers

[selfraising]

I've grown spuds in large planters before and it worked well. Just thinking about being 'aesthetically pleasing' and you may already have some which would save money too!

[BrideXIII]

and as for nice to look at, why not bung some tumbling toms in at the edges?or even trailing lobelia, potato towers that look good!!!

ok i need to sit down now and breathe.

[selfraising]

Don't stop now Bride, your on a roll!

[BrideXIII]

Don't stop now Bride, your on a roll!

it is a definite case of spring fever i think, plus i had some REALLY good news on the allotment front today.

seems i am NOT 8th on the list after all, cos the top 3 already have an allotment and just want to move to another one, they have to wait, the next two don't want an allotment until july/august ??? the woman was laughing when she told me that, somehow i dont think they are going to be getting one
that leaves me at 3rd, plus i am 3rd on my second choice site as well so we have been up there today to have a look and chat to the locals who say there have been a couple of 'multiplot' plots coming free do to illness and deaths ( awful to feel pleased i know) so the allotment lady is going to get the inspections done on site 1 first because she is concerned at the lack of cultivation being reported (one full plot has 4 meter square raised beds the rest is under woodchip ) but she thinks i might get one this year.

[selfraising]

Wow I'd be excited too!!! Perhaps you could 'persuade' one or two people up there that they should take it easy (ooh that's wicked too!). Anyway I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[zazen999]

Whoppee Bride!!!

One of my best mates in the world lives in your village and has a lottie...fingers crossed you will get on the same site...it's his first year and it would be great if you could get him to join up here.

[c'mon Paul - flippin' join up you muppet].

*ahem - as you were