Potatoes in a bag - have I done this right?!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Hi HoofyLoo,

Nicola are a second early salad variety, highly recommended for taste.

As a second early they will need to be in the ground 16 to 18 weeks dependant on the year. Your compost will start to run out of nutrients after about 6 weeks and you then have to start feeding them. I normally use a high nitrogen fertiliser to begin with something like miracle grow, this will help give you a good strong plant. At about week 10 to 12 I would change to a high potash feed tomato food is good this will help the forming tubers.

As already stated by others you must give them all the water they need especially when the tubers are forming, spuds are mainly water and if you let them dry out you won't get a decent crop. As soon as the haulm (greenery) gets over the top of the bag ignore rain they haulm is one of natures best umbrellas and rain just will not penetrate. One more tip to check whether you are watering correctly put your hand deep into the bag down where the tubers are forming if its not wet down there you need to give them more water.

[Dorothy rouse]

I'm trying a couple of bags this year, so these comments are very helpful. Thank you.

Got some coming up already, and added more compost yesterday.

Am also going to put the 'extra pots' that came with that fated January potato offer, they to are going to have to be put in bags, certainly easier than putting them in the ground

[HoofyLoo]

As I've filled these entirely with shop bought compost in inclined to empty them a bit, get some growth through and then top up with the copious amounts of chicken poo compost I've got.
Thanks for the tips on ignoring rain once foliage has appeared!


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[Kristen]

inclined to empty them a bit, get some growth through and then top up with the copious amounts of chicken poo compost

I wonder if that will give you "more leaf" at the expense of "More tubers"?

[Nannysally99]

As I've filled these entirely with shop bought compost in inclined to empty them a bit, get some growth through and then top up with the copious amounts of chicken poo compost I've got.
Thanks for the tips on ignoring rain once foliage has appeared!


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I did that last year, had a great crop don't worry

[HoofyLoo]

Right I'll leave it and be patient!


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[Nannysally99]

Right I'll leave it and be patient!


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Just looked up the back of the garden Loo, and there are a dozen potatoes planted 6/8" deep all showing their heads. Wait till they find out they are in a shady part because some inconsiderate b@@@@d built a full garden width 10' high brick built 'office' in the garden behind us lol

[HoofyLoo]

Well the potatoes are peeking through! I have about half an inch of foliage poking through! I can't wait to show the kids tomorrow!


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[Nannysally99]

Good for you, hope you enjoy them

[Potstubsdustbins]

Now they are through keep an eye out form the night time temperatures. There is a cold snap forecast for the first weekend in May and the last thing you want is to get the haulms frosted.

It may not happen but look at the weather forecast for your area.

[Dorothy rouse]

Now for the first time ever I have potatoes in bags, the first bag are main crop (left overs) so I put them in bag and they are doing very well, maybe 8 inches? Have topped up with compost. Hope they're not getting too big? Threw a few slug pellets on them today.

Also now 2 bags of Charlotte's, the 'free offer' ones, bag never arrived so have split them between 2 cheap bags, (small bags),

Also some of the Santara the extra ones we were sent, have just planted 5 so far in bag.

And some 'old' (last years ) Pink Fir, not expecting much of these, but you never know.


What do you think Potty?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Its hard to say without pics, but its sounding OK.

I started off my earlies in the GH back in late Feb so they are well away reckon on about a month to first harvest.

My main crop have just poked through in the last couple of days so another 22 weeks for those lads.

[Ja9]

HoofyLoo, I think it's a great idea to grow your potatoes in bags. I don't have enough room to grow mine all in the soil so always have some in bags too. Yield does depend upon good watering as mentioned above and mine were rubbish one year when I neglected them. Also feed.I usually fill mine up as they grow but tend to forget till it gets really difficult so I have don't them to the top this year.for your children it would be more fun to watch the sprouts come up and fill gradually but don't let the frost get them!My children love emptying the bags and hunting for the potatoes.To help support the foliage I have mine sitting on pallets ,that I scrounged, that have sides on them.

[HoofyLoo]

How do I protect the tatties from frost? I have some garden fleece do I just place it over the top?! I also have hay if that's any use.


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[Kristen]

How do I protect the tatties from frost? I have some garden fleece do I just place it over the top?! I also have hay if that's any use.

Could you bring the bags in for the night when frost is forecast? They don't need light at night, of course, so garage / shed / utility room/corridor would be fine.

I don't suppose you get many frosts in May where you are - here we probably get a May frost about one year in four - if you are the same then the hassle of having to bring them in will really just be "bad luck" if you get one/several frosts in May.