Spuds in Dung

[Holmsie71]

Probably a silly question but can you grow potatoes solely in well rotted horse manure in patio containers or should I mix some compost/soil in with it.

Only ask as I have an inexhaustable supply of the stuff.

Thoughts please?

[Glutton4...]

I mixed it with compost and other media last year, but crops were small. I put that down to under-watering more than anything, though. I would also be interested in the experts' opinions.

[solway cropper]

Potatoes are quite a hungry crop and rotted manure doesn't contain much in the way of plant nutrients. It's value lies more in the help it gives to soil structure and its ability to aid water retention. I'd certainly mix it with something else AND add a good helping of a balanced fertilizer such as blood fish and bone or growmore. You can also get specialized potato fertilizers but these can be expensive.

A mistake that many people make is in thinking that manure and compost are fertilizers. They are not, although they do have some nutrients.