Potato Fertiliser

[Crosbie]

Is it necessary to use potato fertiliser do you think?

Thanks
Crosbie

[crichmond]

I dont bother myself but apparently it is supposed to increase the yeild you get.

[bridget mc laughlin]

I use it all the time although it isn't that cheap this year £20.00 for 50kg

[Flummery]

I've never used it before - been growing since Adam was in short pants! However, I bought some Own Brand at Wilko's this year - I shall see how it goes.

[fiveravens]

I used to use it years ago, before I went organic; now I wouldn't touch the filthy stuff. I get plenty spuds and their texture and flavour are better than when I used to use it; but having said that, my ground is in very good heart - I suppose if your land is poor and you really can't get organic matter...

[nemo]

i always use fresh cow dung from healthy that aren't high on any drugs antibiotics etc

[Snadger]

Funnily enough, quite pricy organic potato fertiliser was for sale next to the seed tatties in the local Garden Centre.
Out of interest I picked a box up to see what it contained and couldn't find a nurient analysis anywhere? Not only that, even though it stated it was organic it didn't say what it was made from.

Needless to say, I put it back on the shelf!

[jacob marley]

When getting ground ready for planting i scatter a good dose of chicken muck pellets and grow organic mixed 50/50 and once the spuds are through a good watering with comfrey tea mixed 10-2 -1 when needed and it seems to work by the way the ground is very free draining and of course the contents of one of the compost bins before as well jacob

[Crosbie]

Interesting, I did a Google search - albeit a quick one - potato fertiliser sounds like the vegetable equivalent of buying vitamin pills...NPK ratios are pretty much the same as general fertiliser...with maybe slightly more nitrogen & potassium. I don't think I'll
bother...tempting tho'...

[Gwyndy]

I have always thought that potato fertiliser was ridiculously expensive so have never used it. I just use a little Growmore before planting and have always had acceptable yields. Incidentally, the books do not recommend growing spuds in freshly manured ground.

[Two_Sheds]

I've never heard of potato fertiliser. It's never occurred to me to use it - my spuds grow anyway, and I always have more than I can eat.

[gojiberry]

Haven't used it before this year but the lottie shed had some for sale by the lb and so I bought a few lbs. Can't remember how much it was but didn't think it was expensive at the time. Looked like multi coloured growmore. Will see at the harvesting time if it was any good.

[rustylady]

If your soil is good you shouldn't need it. Maybe a scattering of general purpose fertiliser might be a good idea. I'm usually pretty wary of "special" fertilisers. The only one I use is Tomorite for the tomatoes and chillies as it doesn't contain as much nitrogen as the others.

[Crosbie]

Thank you for your advice everyone...much appreciated...I feel a lot
more potato-fertiliser-savvy now...and won't be buying any!

Regards
Crosbie