My tattie sprout theory!

[Snadger]

I have just twigged something that has bothered me for a while! If you have early tatties chitting and you put some into there pots of compost they will invariably break the soil surface whilst the rest of your chitted tatties still have small sprouts.
I would liken this to chitting tatties in the dark (not recommended) when you get long brittle white shoots which break off easily
Once chitted tatties are planted you get long brittle white shoots with there own root system but the difference is the roots are protected and the root hairs derive nourishment from the compost.

So, if you can keep the pots frost free, I reckon the tatties do better when planted than they do chitting on the greenhouse bench!

[shirlthegirl43]

The Charlotte spud I planted a few weeks ago has nice haulms on it now Snadger, you have reminded me to take a picture and post it tomorrow. The bucket is sitting in the house next to the patio doors and gets put outside when the weather is dry (only coz I don't want a wet drippy bucket in the house). I planted a Vales Emerald today and it is outside the back door on the patio - another experiment.

[veg4681]

I have come to the similar conclusion Snagder (after Shirl's unchitted potato experiment) and am going to plant some of my better chitted potatoes e.g. charlotte with the view to keeping them warm always.

[piskieinboots]

and whilst we're on the chitting/spud thing - I'm planted some earlies this year in pots at home garden (mains up at lottie), do you use normal multi compost for tattie growing in pots?

[shirlthegirl43]

and whilst we're on the chitting/spud thing - I'm planted some earlies this year in pots at home garden (mains up at lottie), do you use normal multi compost for tattie growing in pots?

I do, just add a good handful of chook poop pellets, well rotted muck or proprietary spud fertilizer (less smell around the house) to the soil around the seed spud.

[Flummery]

My two individual spuds are in multipurpose with added chickiepoo. Yesterday I planted 3 Anya in a huge tub. I used a mixture of sieved garden soil and multipurpose with added Wilko's organic spuddie fertilizer. Will be interesting to see the results.

Over the next couple of weeks I'm intending to do more potted spuds and will put the rest in the garden over the Easter hols.

[piskieinboots]

I'm on chuck watch for my next door neighbour (she has three) I'm off to grab their poo

[Flummery]

I use the pelleted stuff Piskie. It's already composted (fresh might be a feed too far!) and easy to handle.

[denise]

I have over ordered big time on seed potatoes! BUT we do eat a lot of pots. - was thinking of planting some in pots at home to save filling all the space on the lotty plot - what size pots are you all using? and how many pots. per pot?
Do you start them off with a little compost in the bottom and fill up at each stage of growth? Sorry to ask a simple question but haven't done this before.

[shirlthegirl43]

I have over ordered big time on seed potatoes! BUT we do eat a lot of pots. - was thinking of planting some in pots at home to save filling all the space on the lotty plot - what size pots are you all using? and how many pots. per pot?
Do you start them off with a little compost in the bottom and fill up at each stage of growth? Sorry to ask a simple question but haven't done this before.

You have got the idea denise. I put one seed spud in a 10litre (ex-flower) bucket. Just make sure you have drainage holes in the bottom

[terrier]

I'm on chuck watch for my next door neighbour (she has three) I'm off to grab their poo

Don't forget to wear gloves, it's 'orrible when you get it all over your hands, YUK!

I've just UN potted some Pink Firs because a kind soul on here reminded me that they were MAIN CROP and replaced them with some earlies, 1 per bucket in wilco's small black buckets (the tall narrow ones).

[smallblueplanet]

I'm on chuck watch for my next door neighbour (she has three) I'm off to grab their poo

Now I have a bad vision of you squeezing fat chickens for their .....

[smallblueplanet]

...
Do you start them off with a little compost in the bottom and fill up at each stage of growth? Sorry to ask a simple question but haven't done this before.

Yep, thats how we do it (plus Rooster poo) - have just put two Vales Emerald in a plastic recycling-sized box.

[veg4681]

You have got the idea denise. I put one seed spud in a 10litre (ex-flower) bucket. Just make sure you have drainage holes in the bottom

Potato size tends to vary greatly so I'll be experimenting with 2 small tubers in one florist bucket if they make the equivalent of one normal size potato. Does anyone agree with me on this? Same thing with B&Q bucket, it's 3 tubers but if they very small, I'll push it with 4 tubers.

Does anyone know which of the fertiliser is the best, specific potato fertiliser or chicken manure pellets? Haven't got either at the moment so need to decide which one to go for.

[shirlthegirl43]

Personally I have not found that the size of the seed spud has that big an influence on the crop of spuds you get back, mind you I do tend to buy all my seed spuds a similar size. It seems to be more down to the space they have to develop in and the conditions being right. It might be different if you grow in the ground. I will stick to one seed spud per bucket. Why not try 2 small tubers in one bucket and one tuber in another bucket and do a direct comparison?