Early potatoes in polytunnel - advice for newbie please

[moreteavicar]

With the benefit of hindsight do you have any advice on growing early potatoes in a polytunnel?
Mainly I am thinking about spacing and access for earthing up I guess.

[roitelet]

Grow them in pots, MFBs. One potato to a pot about half filled and as the shoots break the surface add more compost until the pot is full. Keep well watered and fed. If they are in pots you can move them round, I grow carrots in pots for the same reason and to keep the carrot fly off.

[moreteavicar]

MFBs? Metropolitan Fire Brigade?

[veggiechicken]

MFBs = Morrison's Flower Buckets (other supermarkets are available).

Have a read of our abbreviation guide - there are lots of oddities here https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ses_86211.html

[moreteavicar]

Thank you!

As I have a large empty polytunnel, wouldn't it be easier to plant them direct?

[veggiechicken]

What else do you plan to grow in it?
How big is it as you need elbow room to earth and dig up spuds.

[greenishfing]

I grew earlies in the border soil of 2 of my greenhouses last year. I put them in in February and dug them up through May before I planted out my tomatoes and peppers. I planted one row around the border. I had rotovated with the Mantis tiller before I planted them so the soil was nice and loose for earthing up. I didn't get a vast amount but they were early and tasted delicious and the greenhouses would have been empty otherwise.
This year I have already got earlies in 2 of my greenhouses and due to better weather (so far) I am hoping for an even better crop...............touch wood.

[moreteavicar]

Got some MFBs yesterday
However, they are now white translucent so I am unsure if they are suitable for spuds?
Ok for tomatoes?

[roitelet]

Wrap them in old compost sacks or spray them black. They need to be dark or the roots will get confused. Make some holes for drainage in the sides about an inch up from the bottom then will give you a small water reservoir. Make the holes with something like a hot poker it will reduce the risk of splitting the buckets.