Potatoes - a beginner's guide?

[lisab]

Hi all,
I don't know anything about growing potatoes but I know that I want to try it because i've seen that it can be done in a bucket. Can anyone please offer advice for a new shoot like myself (I couldn't find a link on GYO website, but aplologies if one already exists).
I'd really like to know:

When do i sow?
What on earth is 'chitting'?
How long do they take to grow?
When do i know to top up with compost?
How many could i put in a tyre/bucket for a good crop? - i only have a small garden/patio area
Do I cut them in half?
How do they grow more potatoes from one half of a potato? - seems a bit like a magic trick!

Thank you in advance

Lisa B

[SarzWix]

I've moved your post out of Growing Techniques section Lisa, because nobody can answer your questions there You might find a few of your answers in the video posted by tattieman; http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...deo_29386.html

[Eyren]

Hi Lisa

I would second the advice to check out Tattieman's tutorials - very useful! (He's a potato-growing pro, so he should know!). Here's the non-video version (handy for quick reference):

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ers_28513.html

Do I cut them in half?
How do they grow more potatoes from one half of a potato? - seems a bit like a magic trick!

You can cut them in half if you don't have many seed potatoes, but it's not necessary.

Seed potatoes aren't literally seeds - they are swollen underground stems with several points (eyes) where new shoots can grow from. Think of it like taking cuttings - all you need is a bit of stem with leaf buds, and roots will automatically be produced from the base.

Apparently, during the war, potato peelings were used instead of seed potatoes - you just have to be careful to cut out the eyes cleanly!

[Two_Sheds]

Lisa, spuds are the easiest thing in the world.

If the jargon does your head in, just stick a spud in a bucket of compost, water it and watch it grow.

[lisab]

Thanks everyone,
I feel a bit more confident now, I can't belive its that easy and I've never grown them before! Its fascinating about the war - they really did know what they were doing! I think its a shame that times have changed, we should all be growing spuds like that!
Thanks again ,
Lisa B

[cheerfulness]

I agree with you Lisab - I'd love to know more about how they grew things in the war when they needed to be so frugal.
I must try and find out more as it would really come in handy and I love the 'waste not want not' philosophy.

[Eyren]

Somewhere online there's a whole collection of veg-growing leaflets from the war period that you can download - maybe someone here has it bookmarked?

EDIT - that would be me

http://www.earthlypursuits.com/Allot...AllotGuide.htm

Enjoy!

[markwcel]

great link....thanks for sharing

[susiewoosie]

Lisa, spuds are the easiest thing in the world.

If the jargon does your head in, just stick a spud in a bucket of compost, water it and watch it grow.

Yay my type of advice

[Mooresey]

I have done exactly that and I hope done it right will just have to wait and see.