Potato growing as easy as I was told?

[Jason Cartwright]

I spoke to a bloke in B&Q last week and explained how to grow potatoes.
Sounds really easy to do.
Is it ?
and
Could I grow them in the spare wheelie bin I've got?

Thanks

J

[Capsid]

Yes and yes. I got disappointing results growing in containers, the soil was surprisingly dry so I recommend plenty of water. Will you have drain holes in the wheelie bin? I think holes will be necessary despite my drying out concern since overwatering may cause the spuds to rot and then you end up with nothing rather than a small yield.

Hmm, now it sounds complicated!.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Yes spuds are easy to grow in containers and providing you follow a few basic rules can yield a good harvest.

First earlies can be grown in a fairly small container something the size of a black cut flower bucket, larger containers work well with second earlies and main crop.

I have never used anything larger than a standard plastic dustbin and these use approx 75ltrs of compost so consider this before deciding on the container you are going to use especially if you are going to have to buy your compost.

All containers must have holes in the bottom to provide good drainage otherwise you will drown your plants.

After that its a case of gradually filling the container as the plant grows and watering and feeding.

As an idea when we get into summer I will use a 2 gallon bucket of water every other day on one dustbin. Do not rely on rain as this will have very effect as the haulm of the plant will act like an umbrella.

Bought MPC will feed the plant for about 6 weeks by then the tubers should be starting to form underground and they will need feeding. I use tomorite at twice the recommended dose for tomatoes and this seems to work for me.

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

they will need feeding. I use tomorite

The cheap (well, free) option is this

Did you get seed spuds from B&Q? It's perfectly possible to plant supermarket spuds, I always do

[snuffer]

Wow! I knew we could use urine on the compost heap but I didn't know it could be used directly (well diluted first) as a plant food.

Surely it's only a matter of time before some enterprising soul starts selling it back to us.

[Two_Sheds]

it's only a matter of time before some enterprising soul starts selling it back to us.

They probably already do, but it will be labelled as urea or something more acceptable than pee

Nature's clever isn't she? We eat the plants, and our "waste" contains everything the plants need to keep growing. A virtuous circle

[snuffer]

Years ago I used to buy a product called 'Black Gold'. It was 'solids' recycled from the sewerage plant. Made a brilliant soil conditioner and potato fertiliser.

[Dead Dogs]

Years ago I used to buy a product called 'Black Gold'. It was 'solids' recycled from the sewerage plant. Made a brilliant soil conditioner and potato fertiliser.

When I was but a wee lad, the local water treatment plant dumped the solids close to the estate. In the summer it was covered in tomato plants. 'Black Gold' = fertiliser and free seeds.

[Jason Cartwright]

Will you have drain holes in the wheelie bin?

Hi,
Yes i will be drilling holes. Question is how many.

What i was told by the guy in B&Q (using a potato grow bag as an example) was
I was to put a couple of inches of compost in the bottom place the potato seeds on top (haven't bought them yet.) and then cover with a couple more inches of compost (Wilkos are selling it 81p for 15kg or Asda for 99p). After a bit the shoots will show through and i'm to cover with compost (he didn't say how big the shoots were when i'm to cover them) and then repeat till bag is full of compost and then let the plant grow.

Is this right? and Will the same method apply to using the wheelie bin?

Nothing was mentioned about earlies or anything like that and nothing was mentioned about when and how i should water and feed them.

I was told that my aquarium water is good to use on plants in garden so i can use that each week. A 10% water change is about 24l so i have plenty.

Thanks

J

[di]

Nature's clever isn't she? We eat the plants, and our "waste" contains everything the plants need to keep growing. A virtuous circle

Put like that, it makes perfect sense.

I've never fancied drinking it for breakfast, but as a fertiliser.....

[Bigmallly]

Hi,
Yes i will be drilling holes. Question is how many.

What i was told by the guy in B&Q (using a potato grow bag as an example) was
I was to put a couple of inches of compost in the bottom place the potato seeds on top (haven't bought them yet.) and then cover with a couple more inches of compost (Wilkos are selling it 81p for 15kg or Asda for 99p). After a bit the shoots will show through and i'm to cover with compost (he didn't say how big the shoots were when i'm to cover them) and then repeat till bag is full of compost and then let the plant grow.

Is this right? and Will the same method apply to using the wheelie bin?

Nothing was mentioned about earlies or anything like that and nothing was mentioned about when and how i should water and feed them.

I was told that my aquarium water is good to use on plants in garden so i can use that each week. A 10% water change is about 24l so i have plenty.

Thanks

J

Yes that's right Jason, 3 or 4 inch of compost in the bottom, plants your seeds, cover them, when the shoots are a few inches above the soil, cover again and keep repeating the process till they reach the top of the bin............P.S. Remember not to put the bin out........

My only concern would be the amount of light getting into the bin cos with bags, you roll them them down initially then roll them up as you fill them.

[MojoJojo]

I am a complete newbie too, but I've been reading about it a fair bit.

I don't think there is anything particularly hard about growing potatoes in a container, but it will require a lot of attention. Most experienced growers won't think about it, but they'll need a lot of watering and feeding during summer. Experienced growers are used to watering everyday and either never go anywhere or have a set of reliable neighbours to do the watering when they're away. Even a few days neglect can mess up a crop (so I've read).

(I'd also be worried about light in a bottom of a wheelie bin.... too deep, how long will light reach the bottom).

This is all a bit of a downer... B&Q had some reasonably cheap containers and seed sets which look simple and easy. Potatoes and carrots in bags or troughs. If you're committed to growing in the wheelie bin, I think you'll want to cut it half, they're too deep and there just won't be enough light at the bottom.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Light doesn't matter to much with spuds if you think about it you keep on covering them so I don't see that as a problem.

As I posted above my main concern would be the amount of expensive compost used for the crop you are likely to get.

If you have any old compost, riddle it, mix in some NPK neutral fertiliser and use this to top up the bin.

Colin

[Jason Cartwright]

Hi,
Thanks for all responses.
I didn't think there would be a problem with light as the seeds and shoots are cover all the time but I may have a go at cutting the bin down a bit.
Having time to water them isn't a problem either i or my wife can do it i'm just wondering on how much to water them and when to feed them with food. I can, once a week, provide tank water from my fish tank which i was told is a very good thing.

I've seen compost in Wilkos for 81p for 15kg, Asda for 99p for 15kg and in B7Q there is some compost that expands up to 3 times when added with water for £3.98 which i think is quite reasonable.

How will i know when they're ready to harvest (getting ahead of myself now considering that i've not even bought the seeds yet but i could do with knowing)

Thanks

J

[Two_Sheds]

I didn't think there would be a problem with light as the seeds and shoots are cover all the time

Well, they aren't meant to be. We earth up mostly because the plant is frost tender, and we are prone to planting potatoes when frost is still around (up to May in some of the UK).
Plants need light to photosynthesise. You can't grow them in the dark

How will i know when they're ready to harvest

You have a "furtle", which is a rummage round in the soil with your fingers, feeling the size of the tubers without snapping them off.
If you feel a big one, take it out for dinner, and leave the rest to keep growing