Spuds - Rows or Bags? Pros and Cons please...

[ugley_matt]

I am trying to decide whether to dig out another bed for growing my spuds in, or to go the bag/pod route.

The bag/pod would be less hassle and require no extra digging etc but are the yields as good?

How many spuds per bag need to be planted?

What are the pros and cons to rows vs bags/pods.....

Away you go...

[jackie j]

I havent been very succesful with bags but I have plenty of room to grow at the lottie. its normally a maximum of five in a bag. Depends how much room you have.

[zazen999]

Try looking at our very own Tattieman's videos on potatoes in bags...

http://www.youtube.com/user/potatosp...19/zbkqzHTaXMk

[Kristen]

I put 3 in a bag, I think more would be crowded and would not increase yield

[salilah]

I also do 3 in a bag
Last year I had low yields - largely I think because of the lack of rain, and bags won't retain the water so well - I watered weekly but I think most just went straight through!
Bags though are easy to top up, easy to harvest, and don't use space I want for beans (no allotment :-( )
S

[Lovely Helen]

If you have the room go fo rows. I only have space for bags and there are drawbacks. It's mainly the watering - if you let the compost even get a bit dry then it's nigh on impossible to get the compost wet again. I'm going to be mixing in water retaining gel this year and see if that helps. If the potatoes are in bags then their foliage pretty much prevents water getting to the compost so it's all down to you. The yields are not that great either - I just have no choice.

[tattieman]

Yes when the compost drys out it is a problem but my solution is to put the potato bag into a container of water about 2" deep and let it sook the water upwards from the bottom. You can them let the bag soak up as much water as you think it needs and then do the next bag. A small amount of soil added to your compost may also help to retain some moisture but really it is trial and error as to what suits your areas weather patterns.

I know people that used the water retaining gel last year and they said it worked.

[Jono]

I can't help but think if you've got the room, do it on the plot. Bags are okay, but from my experience, not as good and only really worth it if you're lacking in space.

That said, I did have a good crop in an old builders bag, but they are massive!

[VirginVegGrower]

I am trying to decide whether to dig out another bed for growing my spuds in, or to go the bag/pod route.

The bag/pod would be less hassle and require no extra digging etc but are the yields as good?

How many spuds per bag need to be planted?

What are the pros and cons to rows vs bags/pods.....

Away you go...

5 Tubers a bag generally - yield not as great in bags but easier to move around, also no scab and less chance of blight I have found. Need much more watering though - don't forget. Easier to earth up too - just add compost then keep adding to earth up. I tend to use bags for some earlies as I can succession sow and start early in semi heated greenhouse

Ground best for maincrops IMO.

[Alison]

I have done them in bags but didn't find it that good and you needed to buy compost. Now I have a plot I find it a lot easier in beds as I can pretty much forget about them until they need to be dug up. Do this in stints so that I'm not dealing with too many at a time.

[kingkano]

Bags for me as I don't want to do them in the raised beds. I only do earlies though not sure its worth the effort for maincrop? Mostly same pros and cons as others have said. Got to get the compost from somewhere (I use some of my own leafmould... only benefit of so many trees around). Need to keep on top of watering and feed them. Yield is probably a bit smaller.

But pros are they can be moved for whatever reason, simple to start earlier ones under cover, much easier to harvest.