potatoe advice

[firstimer1]

hi all i no pots are normally planted april/may? but i have some that have gone to seed in my veg basket can i plant these or not? or do i have to buy proper seed pots? if so thought id try for some xmas spuds if they work they work if not lost nothing i no i have to watch out for frost many thanks in advance belle

[Alice]

Hello Firstimer, if you grow your potatoes in a bucket I reckon you have nothing to loose. If the pots do have any infection it won't infect your ground if they are in a bucket, and you still have time for them to be ready for Christmas. But you're right they are not frost hardy. You will have to cover them with fleece in frosty weather. Good luck.

[firstimer1]

hi alice thanks 4 that can i cut the spud up or do u plant it whole i havnt got a clue

[Alice]

I wouldn't cut it up Firstimer. They will grow from bits but you won't get good results.
I use a bucket with holes drilled in the bottom for drainage.
Put a couple of inches of soil or compost in the bucket. Mix in some manure or fertiliser.
Put in 3 potatoes and cover them with more soil or compost.
Now some people fill the bucket to within an inch of the top.
Some people just cover them a few inches and wait til the potatoes show through then cover them some more until they are within an inch of the top.
Some people say it makes no difference which way you do it - so it's up to you.
Hope this helps.

[firstimer1]

thats great advice ive got some old recycling bins so thought id use them mite try both ways thanks again

[firstimer1]

would rabbit poo an bits count as a manure i herd its ment 2 be gud an my mate has promised me hers

[Two_Sheds]

Hi FirstTimer, just a friendly pointer (no offence intended )
can you avoid text-talk? Because it will put a lot of people off answering you (I myself find it very difficult to understand)

[Two_Sheds]

You can use rabbit poo as a manure, but it needs to be composted first. You can't just throw it on your crops as it is.

[firstimer1]

sorry Two Sheds no offence taken and will do, with the rabbit poo should i add that to my compost bin or do you compost it on its own many thanks

[Skotch]

Hi firstimer1, I use neighbours rabbit poo and bedding to add to the compost heap and thereafter to the sacks I grow my spuds in. It may be a bit harsh just adding it directly to the bins/sacks. The poo and bedding acts as an accelerant in the composting process