Help please! I Hope to try some potatoes for the 1st time!

[Irie Jan]

Hi all! I want to try some potatoes this year, will be my first time! There are so many types out there I am at a loss as to which ones to try. If I give a little info 1st, that might help you peeps sort me out a bit better thanks!! As you can see I live in Essex, Near to London end so not on the coast!

No 1. There is just me to feed, so need to know how many seed potatoes to use. don't want to be inundated but if things do go a bit mad I could give a few to my daughter and her OH!

N0 2. I do not have much ground so looking to grow in a container of some sort, will have a look around for idea's soon!

No 3. I do like Jersey Royal taste for a new potato, any suggestions as to which ones to try for that sort of thing please?

No 4. I would also like to try a good all rounder for mashing roasting and so on

No 5. Any more hints or help would be welcome thanks!

No 6. as for storage I do have a garage that does not get much light in it so am I right in thinking that would be a good place to keep any that I'm not ready to use?

Thanks peeps!
Much love to all.

[smallblueplanet]

There are lots of old threads on growing spuds in containers that will be able to give you ideas on what can be used (we used recycling boxes and buckets!) how many to plant (3 in a box, one in a bucket) and what sorts to try. We use multipurpose peat free compost and add pelleted chicken manure to grow the spuds in.

You like Jersey Royals so I'd guess you'd want to grow waxy salad type spuds - charlotte is a good one to try. You probably don't want to grow maincrop types as they won't do as well in a container. Then what spuds you can try might depend on where you can buy them from? Garden centres and markets often sell lots of varieties in small numbers which makes it economical to try lots of different varieties.

[Irie Jan]

Thanks smallblueplanet!

For the containers my 1st thought was those flexy buckets with the handles so I can move them easy if needed. They sell in Tesco and here there and everywhere quite cheap so would not want too many so cost would not be too much! I was just going to put some drainage holes in the bottom.

As I said there are so many types of potatoes to try. I know is a bit of a hit and miss question but from say one potato plant what would you say would be the expected average yeald if all goes well? I have no idea!

[BrideXIII]

Thanks smallblueplanet!

For the containers my 1st thought was those flexy buckets with the handles so I can move them easy if needed. They sell in Tesco and here there and everywhere quite cheap so would not want too many so cost would not be too much! I was just going to put some drainage holes in the bottom.

As I said there are so many types of potatoes to try. I know is a bit of a hit and miss question but from say one potato plant what would you say would be the expected average yeald if all goes well? I have no idea!

you will probably get less using containers than you will in the ground, but..... the advantage of containers is you can try more varieties, my charlottes are doing quite well STILL in their bucket ( they got planted late for xmas)

i seem to recall JO doing them in buckets and getting a good meals worth from each one, and he feeds six at a time.

thing is if you want a big yield , you are going to need a LOT of containers, flower buckets are ideal, one seed spud per bucket for salads. for BIG pots ( maincrops?) you need a sack, either potato sack or old compost sack or tyre tower, they need more room.

[Alice]

Irie jan, do the search on here. There's loads of info on growing potatoes in containers.
If it's Jersey Royal you like then the potato you want is International Kidney. It's the same potato but you can't call it Jersey Royal unless it's grown in Jersey.
Have a look at Tattieman's link, I'm sure it tells you about different varieties there.
Good luck.
Here's some of mine grown in buckets - Charlotte and Cherie. Both good salad potatoes.

[BrideXIII]

Irie jan, do the search on here. There's loads of info on growing potatoes in containers.
If it's Jersey Royal you like then the potato you want is International Kidney. It's the same potato but you can't call it Jersey Royal unless it's grown in Jersey.
Have a look at Tattieman's link, I'm sure it tells you about different varieties there.
Good luck.
Here's some of mine grown in buckets - Charlotte and Cherie. Both good salad potatoes.
[ATTACH]6835[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]6836[/ATTACH]

^ see^ feeds six

[Irie Jan]

you will probably get less using containers than you will in the ground, but..... the advantage of containers is you can try more varieties, my charlottes are doing quite well STILL in their bucket ( they got planted late for xmas)

i seem to recall JO doing them in buckets and getting a good meals worth from each one, and he feeds six at a time.

thing is if you want a big yield , you are going to need a LOT of containers, flower buckets are ideal, one seed spud per bucket for salads. for BIG pots ( maincrops?) you need a sack, either potato sack or old compost sack or tyre tower, they need more room.

Not looking for that big a yeald; as I said is just me to feed! I do not eat potatoes every day but wanted to try a few. I keep seeing about (flower buckets) What sise are these and where do you get them from? Sorry for all the questions but I dont think I have ever seen a flower bucket! Am quiet new to growing veg. Have only done toms and few cues years ago a couple of chili plants tlast year. I just want to have a bash at quite a few different things but only a few of each. That way I can see what works for me and what does not for next year.

Thanks Birde!

[BrideXIII]

Not looking for that big a yeald; as I said is just me to feed! I do not eat potatoes every day but wanted to try a few. I keep seeing about (flower buckets) What sise are these and where do you get them from? Sorry for all the questions but I dont think I have ever seen a flower bucket! Am quiet new to growing veg. Have only done toms and few cues years ago a couple of chili plants tlast year. I just want to have a bash at quite a few different things but only a few of each. That way I can see what works for me and what does not for next year.

Thanks Birde!

ok flower buckets are those black buckets you see full of cut flowers in co-op, morrisons, tescos etc,

they throw them out or sell them on cheap, cos they dont re-use them, they arrive each delivery day complete with flowers in.
i get mine from the co-op, they just chuck em out, so i get them for free


drill a few holes in for drainage and they are perfect size for container veg etc.
i grew peas, beans, tomatos and potatos in them last season, but you can do squash, courgettes, lettuce all sorts really, usually one or two to a bucket, carrots do ok in them, as do parsnips , onions and garlic, oh and rocket and mustard.

[smallblueplanet]

...I keep seeing about (flower buckets) What sise are these and where do you get them from? Sorry for all the questions but I dont think I have ever seen a flower bucket! Am quiet new to growing veg. Have only done toms and few cues years ago a couple of chili plants last year...

Flower buckets are those black plastic buckets that supermarkets (and florists?) stand their flower bunches in...they often sell them off cheaply, some even give them away. Stick some holes in the bottom for drainage and you have a container that's a good size for various veggies, good for chillies.

[tattieman]

Good all round potatoes are Romano,Cara and Celine. These are all maincrops and would grow a larger crop but would take longer to grow. 1 seed potato could grow you 1kg of potatoes in a container if it is fed and watered properly.
Premiere is a very good all round first early.
Charlotte is one of the best salad varieties and is a second early.

[Irie Jan]

ok flower buckets are those black buckets you see full of cut flowers in co-op, morrisons, tescos etc,

they throw them out or sell them on cheap, cos they dont re-use them, they arrive each delivery day complete with flowers in.
i get mine from the co-op, they just chuck em out, so i get them for free


drill a few holes in for drainage and they are perfect size for container veg etc.
i grew peas, beans, tomatos and potatos in them last season, but you can do squash, courgettes, lettuce all sorts really, usually one or two to a bucket, carrots do ok in them, as do parsnips , onions and garlic, oh and rocket and mustard.

Yeah thanks for that Birde! I will have to ask at my local tescco see what deal I can do with them! Shops throwing them out what a waste!!! most of the veg you have listed above is what I want to try. I have some rocket in the ground now, left from a late sowing last year. I had some back in the summer. Was nece and bitter makes a nice change from some of the sweet salads!

[Irie Jan]

Good all round potatoes are Romano,Cara and Celine. These are all maincrops and would grow a larger crop but would take longer to grow. 1 seed potato could grow you 1kg of potatoes in a container if it is fed and watered properly.
Premiere is a very good all round first early.
Charlotte is one of the best salad varieties and is a second early.

Thanks for your help Tattieman! I will look out for them and have as go see what happens!

[Irie Jan]

Thanks to all that have helped and thanks in advance to anyone else that has any advice!

Hurry up spring time and hurry up harvest time! lol
Happy growing to all

[bluemoon]

If you really want to try a maincrop in a container I might suggest 'Majestic'. The plants aren't huge (nor are the yields these days) but the flavour is wonderful when used for mash and they're a good all-rounder for other things too, they make lovely chips and roasties and superb, delicious bakers if they get large enough.

[Irie Jan]

If you really want to try a maincrop in a container I might suggest 'Majestic'. The plants aren't huge (nor are the yields these days) but the flavour is wonderful when used for mash and they're a good all-rounder for other things too, they make lovely chips and roasties and superb, delicious bakers if they get large enough.

Thanks for the heads up on that! I might try just a couple in the ground for a few main crop spuds! I have not got that much space in my garden. I want some flowers as well, I'm fed up with a bare garden!

I planted a few shrubs from lidl back in September also some fruit bushes and a couple of fruit trees bit cheap and cheerfull but when you have not got much money to spare then I saw it as better than nothing!