A potato query

[Tam]

I see that your containers are on soil - why don't you plant them in the ground ? I would never dream of growing vegetables in containers - too much palaver. As long as the ground is fertile they look after themselves.

[briggsy2011]

Tam - I will be planting in soil next year. I planted in containers due to space, but since have taken over all of the bottom of my garden now (was only going to have 2 raised beds, now have 3 with plans for a 4th!) so where the containers are now I will planting my spuds.

[Germinater]

As all have said potatoes in bags and pots need lots of water .I water every day a good gallon and have had a decent heals from the two iv harvested early .so fingers crossed it will be ok.also tomato feed as the spuds will exstust the feed that's in the compost quite quickly iv also put sum slow realise granules on as a top dressing now witch last about 6-8 weeks so should give them the best chance to really grow well.will just need one more dressing for the main crop before I harvest them.. Try to leave untill they die back to .yur plants still look very vigourose still .I also plant about 4 seed spuds to a bag like that size .good luck hope you have a better second harvest

[poppysocks]

I have grown my earlies and second earlies in bags due to shortage of space and my main crop in the ground. I only put 2 seed potatoes per bag as I thought that was enough I am pleased to note you can put up to 4 as that will reduce my workload greatly and I have ordered some Carlingford seed potatoes for a late and Christmas crop

[hamsterqueen]

I grow mine in containers as , being an old crock, I find digging difficult. With containers I can just furtle around or empty the whole bucket into a wheelbarrow and pick out the spuds. Same reason I am using raised beds, I can just pull out the old crops and fork over the compost/soil for next season..no more asking husband and son to dig it and then waiting weeks til they can spare the time.

[Ken the Chef]

I had a question but after reading all the above comments I am still a little concerned that, after emptying one of my tubs [30ltrs] with three potatoes in each. A small crop with all the potatoes in the bottom 4 inch layer and nothing any higher; what is the main reason for this All the adverts show potatoes in all layers.
Some have suggested I have not left them long enough but I found no evidence that any were forming higher and I will certainly be watering more now as the compost was quite dry as I turned out the tub.

[scarletrunner]

I had a question but after reading all the above comments I am still a little concerned that, after emptying one of my tubs [30ltrs] with three potatoes in each. A small crop with all the potatoes in the bottom 4 inch layer and nothing any higher; what is the main reason for this All the adverts show potatoes in all layers.
Some have suggested I have not left them long enough but I found no evidence that any were forming higher and I will certainly be watering more now as the compost was quite dry as I turned out the tub.

After having the same problem i thought of trying planting potatoes at different heights in container.4,8 and12 inches from bottom,it works!crop was excellent.(with plenty of watering and tomato feed).

[mrpaulbradley]

The soggy, squishy, slimy, pongy, putrid, potato you may find is the remnants of the original seed potato so nothing to worry about. Does give you a tad of a shock the first time you furtle and come across it!
Apologies to those who hate alliteration.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Just harvested my first bin of Lady C, I know they are a first early but I like to leave them in a little longer. I find it improves the yield and gives me some chippie sized spuds.

I love Lady C chips.

Colin

[chris]

Looking good me ode!

Grab a couple of piccies for the grapevine show! (Check last years, I think it was 3 spuds of the same variety or something)

[Germinater]

Hi Colin just a quick question ..when you say harvested from bin do you mean big black bin??or smaller kitchen sized swing bin??how many seeds do you put in you bin?.do also like the idea of the earlier post of laying seeds in at levels as you earth up to maximise the crops .think il try that with the Xmas spuds I planted last week .as they grow and earth up il lay a new layer of seeds.

[Potstubsdustbins]

This was the first dustbin 75ltrs, They don't do as well as main crop but still give a reasonable return. I use just 4 seed planted in the bottom and find that I get spuds thoughout the depth of the bin.

I then gave a new home to my largest PSB from a Morrisons bucket into the bin and not a moment to soon LOL.

Colin

[Germinater]

Thanks again Colin .always get great advice from you .my bags for main crop and last of the earlys are about 70 Ltr so I should be fine .think il leave the early a little while longer and get more spuds from them..I'm using growmore as a balanced fertiliser ant tomato feed for pot ash is the growmore a good balanced feralizer to use ?I'm putting it in so I can reuse again after for psb and leeks .will this with a bit of bfb work ok to keep the compost nice and fertile for the next crop?

[Florence Fennel]

Love those Lady C potatoes Colin, Chris is right, they could win prizes, well done!

[Potstubsdustbins]

Thanks for the kind words everyone, trouble is I can smell one right now in the oven, it might be a little hard to take a pic where it is going to be in 30 mins.

To be honest I have never thought of entering competitions did'nt think I would ever be good enough, but again thanks for the kind words.

Germinator, I use either growmore or BFB to sweeten my compost which ever I have to hand. But it wouldn't harm to use both.

Hope this helps Colin