Questions about poly pots for potatoes - size and location

[spiritPan]

Morning,

I have a few questions about polypots im hoping someone with experience will be able to help

So I have taken advantage of a thompson and morgan deal where you get 5 charlotte seed potatoes and 5 polypots/bags, on the website they say that after trials they have found the best crop comes from 1 seed per bag and the bags they provide are 8l bags.

This does seem a little small but im not sure? Can any advise if they have tried 1 seed in a bag this size?

If this is something that works well etc I would be hoping to pick up more bags the same size,some to share with my mum and some for potatoes and tomatoes - these are the ones ive been looking at: Hadopots 8L Polythene Plant Pots (Pack of 50): Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
Would these 8l be ok for 1 per bag or should I get the 10l or even larger?

The other queries I have are around whether or not its recommended to stand these pots on a patio rather than soil? Could there be drying/damaging side affects if I store these on slabs? I do have the option to store on grass but that's in my garden as I dont have an allotment, it wouldn't be a huge hardship besides having to move frequently to mow. If I can store on the patio id rather do that.

Many thanks in advance everyone!

[Kristen]

JBA have an article on it:

Growing Potatoes in Containers

might also be worth looking at YouTube from AllotmentDiary - he has some interesting instruction videos

[Kristen]

His harvest from a container (although not a Polypot)

[Potstubsdustbins]

The bags shown have got to be at least 15lts.

I would have thought that with 8lt bags you might struggle with watering. For my very first early spuds I use the Morrison's black flower bucket 10 to 12 litres with one seed and just get away with it.

[spiritPan]

Thank you both, I will look for 10-12l polypots instead then although I've been meaning to ask my local morrisons if they will sell the flower pots.

Does anyone have any thoughts on storing on patio instead of soil and if this would be workable?

Thanks

[Snow]

These T&M ones are small and don't look very rigid. But i'venot tried them or seen firsthand. They are too small for more than one plant certainly. Should be okay with one though. If you enjoy it then get bigger ones next year I would suggest.

They will be fine on the patio. Water everyday in hot water as they will dry out fast and potatoes need lots of water. Water at base of plant, so the leaves don't get wet anf develop disease.

[Bill HH]

These T&M ones are small and don't look very rigid. But i'venot tried them or seen firsthand. They are too small for more than one plant certainly. Should be okay with one though. If you enjoy it then get bigger ones next year I would suggest.

They will be fine on the patio. Water everyday in hot water as they will dry out fast and potatoes need lots of water. Water at base of plant, so the leaves don't get wet anf develop disease.

I think you meant weather?

[Veggiemama]

I used a mixture of poly pots and big bags last year. I got them from the JBA site (which unfortunately this year they do not deliver to my address :-( )

Anyway, the poly pots were 20L. I used 60 of them, planted one seed potatoe in each and harvested around 5Lb potatoes from each of them.

I do feel however i could have got more because the bags were bunged with potatoes, so this year i am also trying some in 36L pots to seed if the yield is higher. I normally have only used the huge potatoe bags from JBA, which give me a good crop, but last year was my first year growing maincrop potatoes and we are still eating them now. They stored well.

The 8L ones i believe are gonna be far too small

hope this helps
veggiemama

[spiritPan]

Thank you, so I think I may need larger polypots and to also find out which of my neighbours have free compost this year =] my mum's ordered a 60 seed collection she's offered to give some to me (20) and I don't think I have enough compost for them plus the 5 from t&m in 20l bags!!

[Snow]

I think you meant weather?

ha, yes, indeed. Predictive text can take the blame for that one

[spiritPan]

Thanks everyone

Been to morrisons today got 16 flower pots for £1.98 so there's a start... also stopped by Wilkes and bnq picked up some potting compost, new seed tray,jenny kiwi plant,new gardening gloves,new hose nozzle..etc etc.. just went in to browse - as you do!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Don't forget those Morrison's buckets will need drainage holes in them.

[Jay22]

Our local Morrisons will not, for some reason, part with these blooming flower pots! What's the secret on bagging some?

[spiritPan]

Our local Morrisons will not, for some reason, part with these blooming flower pots! What's the secret on bagging some?

I actually emailed morrisons head office and asked if my local store would sell them (as it's not really local and I wouldn't usually shop there or drive out that way) head office called me back after a day and said the manager put some aside for me, when I went in to collect the guy that worked on the flower section got them for me and just said ask anytime I come in and they would sell whatever they have, I got 2 bundles of 8 pots 99p each, so it's worth emailing if the store is saying they won't sell them

[TrysHard]

They cost more but Asda have 15 litre buckets for £1 each big bigger and handy if you are not near a Morrison - Buckets so much cheaper than plant pots - must be the holes that cost so much more.