'Bag for Life' Early potatoes

[francesbean]

Sorry if this has been posted before - I need to grow my earlies in some sort of bag. (Doing some landscaping to the veg area early spring). I've been Looking at the proper potato bags on offer in the garden centre, they look similar to the plasticy woven type of supermarket bags for life - albeit with a few drainage holes.

Has anyone had any success growing spuds in a 'Bag for 'Life' ?

Not that it has any bearing but I've chosen Rocket for my earlies this year and need to get them in soon.

Cheers

francesbean

[dave_norm_smith]

Hi

I was going to get some of the Morrisons ones. 50p each and actually have a picture of spuds on the outside! lol. I was going to heat an old screwdriver up as well to melt the drainage holes. That way the hole does not continue to fray!

Dave

[mary-belle]

I am planning to do the same, was going to use tesco ones with ladybirds but quite like the idea of using the ones with spuds on, just in case i forget!

3 for a tenner for the 'real' vs 50p each, no contest in my book!

[LittleShamrock]

I got potato bags from Poundland (along with Rocket seed potatoes) and they look about the same as the Bags for Life, although I can't remember which one was bigger. Either way its a bargain compared to "real" potato bags!

[scarletrunner]

Have also used empty compost plastic bags.

[Aberdeenplotter]

remember that if any light whatever can permeate the bag, any tubers growing immediately adjacent to the sides will turn green. The empty compost bags turned inside out with drainage holes made are ideal and effectively free.

[francesbean]

I think that's a resounding yes for 'bags for life' - thanks aberdeen plotter for reminding me not to crowd them in - I think just a few seed pots per bag should do it. I've got three of the tesco ladybird bags sitting around so that should do just fine. I might even start a 'Bag for Life' garden as I've got to dig up some strawberries from my raised beds - the bloke whose helping me with the landscaping is starting next week, and there are a few established plants that I don't want him stomping over = come to think of it there's quite a lot!

francesbean

[gojiberry]

4 potato bags plus 5tubers of 4 different potato varieties £9.99 from JBA. I know that doesn't compare with compost bags which technically are free.

[francesbean]

Wow expensive potatoes = more like waitrose prices than grow your own !
- I spent £2 on 30 tubers of rocket and charlotte and it'll be 50p each (or free as they're already used) for the bags - just proves those pre prepared packs are a ripoff!

francesbean

[solway cropper]

I've got a big Morrisons bag with a nice picture of apples on the side. Now, what shall I put in it?.........I know, spuds. All those 'bags for life' seem to let quite a bit of light through but if you cut the bottom from a black bin bag you can use it as a lining and not get green tatties.

[fruitylou]

Brilliant idea! I will definately be giving it a go, it'll be good to hear everyones results also

[Furny]

I did it last year

Yep I did this last year & I got great results! just pierced a few holes in the bags.

[Kristen]

Wow expensive potatoes = more like waitrose prices than grow your own !
- I spent £2 on 30 tubers of rocket and charlotte and it'll be 50p each (or free as they're already used) for the bags - just proves those pre prepared packs are a ripoff!

I've got Potato growing bags. Bought on impulse without considering the alternatives - I could be using a freebie Compost Bag. However, I've had them for years and they don't appear to have deteriorated at all.

I do rather resent that they sell 5 tubers per bag, realistically only 3 will fit - and what is someone with no garden going to do with the rest? (The half empty bags the compost came in probably!)

[cupcake]

Last year I used rubble sacks from B&Q, I think they were £2.99 for 10. (they come on a roll)

[Jono]

I've used those builders bags that you often see discarded on sites. They've worked really well, but if space is a problem they might not be very good as they are massive.