A potato query

[briggsy2011]

I have about 8 potatoe plants growing very well in potato grow bags. Each time they shoots came through the soil i earthed them up again. This i did until the bag was 3/4 full of soil. The plants are now grown really tall but no flowers on them as yet.

I have read you can harvest when the plants start to die off (if thats right?) do the plants actually flower?

thanks for you help again x

[SarzWix]

Not all varieties get flowers, so the best way to work out when you might have potatoes to eat is to go by how long they've been in the ground. Earlies 8-10 weeks, 2nd Earlies 12-15 weeks, Early Maincrops 15-20 weeks and Late Maincrops about 22 weeks.

The potatoes will start forming at the bottom of the plant first, and gradually they'll grow out of the stem further up. If you've planted Earlies, the plant may die off before it forms many potatoes on the top part of the stem though.

[briggsy2011]

thanks for that - fingers crossed i should be harvesting 2-3 weeks from now.

[Florence Fennel]

Hope you get a good yield briggsy. I was a bit disappointed with my harvest from the bags last year, so I've got some in the ground as well this time. I keep putting off the harvesting 'cause I'm worried there'll be no spuds!

[briggsy2011]

just emptied one of my bags as the plants were wilting. Out of 2 potatoe plants I got one large soggy potato!. As this is my first attempt i am very disappointed! Now i am wondering what the other 4 bags have in there (or not!)
Am I to late to start again?
Can I use the same soil to grow other veg or potatos? As the soil seems 'nice' lol

thanks
*disppointed spud grower* sulking in a corner ;(

[Potstubsdustbins]

Is it just bags people have trouble with, or is it more to do with the fact that there are more new growers using bags.

I have used various containers over the years and get consistantly good yields.

Colin

[Potstubsdustbins]

Briggsy,

At this time I would hold off on using that compost for potatoes again until you have established you do not have a problem. Can you post a pic of the remaining plants.


Colin

[briggsy2011]

photos attached of my spuds

[shirlthegirl43]

Potatoes in bags and containers need an unbelievable quantity of water to make the tubers swell. Wait untill the foliage has really died off. Yours look like they could use a feed briggsy - tomato fertiliser in the water is fine.

Your big soggy spud is your seed potato.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Shirl is oh so right about watering, people look at the top of the compost and see it is damp, where as if they could see down where the spuds are it would be dry as a bone.

Another thing that can happen in extreme circumstances is that the plant will pull the water out of the tubers to survive, leaving you with very little or nothing.

Briggsy if you follow Shirl's advice you won't go far wrong.

Colin

[Jo Sara]

I was wondering what the soggy potato was in my potato bag. I emptied out my Foremost the other day, and found two of them. I couldn't understand why two would rot off and the rest of the spuds were fine.

After asking about watering on here earlier in the season, I've tried to keep the bags moist, and I ended up with about 5 one-person portions of Foremost. I'm now onto my Charlotte and they seem to have a lot more in their bags. Overall, I'm quite pleased with my first attempt. So thanks all that helped with the watering question.

P.S. None of my potato plants have flowered, Briggsy. I just dug some potatoes out of the bags roughly around the time they were due to be ready according to the planting date, and dug more out as and when they were needed. The foliage was just about dead by the time I had finished. My Charlotte foliage is going over now too, and no flowers.

[briggsy2011]

thanks guys. have given them a good watering. next time i will trying to grow them in the ground xx

[Potstubsdustbins]

Briggsy, If you have some comfrey tea or tomorite, give them a good feed of one or the other twice a week, the potash content will boost your yield on end.

Colin

[briggsy2011]

thanks for that colin - i gave them a good feed tonight with tomorite. Hopefully all will be ok, otherwise a good learning curve!

stop sulking now

[Potstubsdustbins]

To give you an idea about watering, I water my dustbins with a 2 gallon bucket, its far quicker than a watering can. In this weather we are having a the moment each bin gets 1 gallon every other day but as and if it warms up this will be increased to 1 gallon every day.

Hope this helps Colin