poor potato harvest

[Jax]

Hi all,

I have just emptied my second potato sack and for the second time I have had a measly amount out. My salads were brilliant but my mains I had 5 small potaoes out. Anyone else had this or any ideas?

[Munch]

What are you growing them in?

[Crundy]

I have this problem as well. I always thought it was because I wasn't watering them enough, or perhaps feeding them enough. I use potato growing sacks from the garden centre and always use compost rather than soil.

[Jax]

compost, grass cuttings etc in both potato sacks from GC and turned inside out compost bags. Last year they done well but this year has been rubbish

[northepaul]

I had three potato bags along with the ones in the ground - the bags were a complete waste of time. I got a handful of tiny potatoes out of two and nothing at all out of the other.
The ones in the ground I have had over 20kg, until a late showing of blight.

[Munch]

I grow mine in a big black bin and used compost from the garden centre, I got a measly few potatoes not even enough for one of the kids dinners!

My FIL said it was because I used compost, apparently something to do with science zzzzzzz but next year I am just going to use well fertilised dirt from veggie patch.

[womble]

but next year I am just going to use well fertilised dirt from veggie patch.

Good idea.... and leave it in the ground where you found it

[Kevstir]

i grew charlottes in 1 bag and maris piper in the other, the charlottes gave me quite a good crop, was surprised really as i just let them get on with it and only watered them once a week , the maris pipers werent as good but g0t enough for a good 3 or 4 nights worth of chips between 2 of us , i used b&q multi in both bags.

will be growing the charlottes next year but think i leave the maris pipers, they take to long lol

[tattieman]

The problem with growig maincrops in bags or containers is that there is only so much feeding in your compost. I think there is about 6 weeks feeding in compost and all of that feeding will go into the haulms. You could do to add feeding to your container/bag with something like a maxicrop product that is poured into the container and not on the leaves. I use a liquid version of nutrimate to bulk them up.