Advice for a potato newbie please :)

[clairebear]

I've started off some early potatoes in a couple of bags (the sort you buy from the garden centres specifically for potatoes) and they're doing really well. I've got a lot of leafy growth popped up and am now wondering...what do I do now!! I know they need covering with compost as they grow but how big do they need to be before I add some more compost and how much do i cover them? I'm assuming I need to leave at least some of the leaves poking through if not all of them. Sounds daft but for some reason I was expecting white shoots, the kind that you have on seed potatoes when you buy them lol
Any advice would be brilliant. Thanks in advance

[Two_Sheds]

Those shoots are white if they've been grown in the dark ~ same as you would be

You don't "have" to cover the leaves with compost at all. Some do, some don't. You do need to protect them from frost though

Read this

[rustylady]

You don't exactly cover them with compost, more top the compost up around the leaves.

[Kaiya]

I layer with non-compost as well, to save on compost costs. So grass clippings and paper go between layers of compost. I leave the top of the plant out but otherwise bring the compost level up (but not covering) to their top leaves, until I run out of bag.

[Potstubsdustbins]

When growing in containers some advocate total covering though I have never seen why unless as stated above for frost protection.

I always like to leave 4/6" of green growth above the level of the compost as I fill my bins.

A good feed of high postash fertiliser about week 8 is usually a good idea. Don't let them dry out and once the haulms are over the top of the container do not rely on rain. The greenery is one of the best umbrella's around.

Colin

[kentishgal]

It was my first time growing potatoes and I just covered the whole thing with compost before it had even grown to a couple of inches (whoops!). Seemed to work out ok though as my main crop is now at the top of the bag..

[Sarico]

When growing in containers some advocate total covering though I have never seen why unless as stated above for frost protection.

I always like to leave 4/6" of green growth above the level of the compost as I fill my bins.

A good feed of high postash fertiliser about week 8 is usually a good idea. Don't let them dry out and once the haulms are over the top of the container do not rely on rain. The greenery is one of the best umbrella's around.

Colin

Hi Colin I did as you say but last month was so rainin that the compost was so wet that I didn't water them ... Them due to the rain I fed with FBB once a week after week 6. This morning one of my potato was tall more then 2 feet and I decided to have a peek underneath for the potatoes and the first 3" I couldn't see any potatoes. What I did wrong? Or they will grow fast at the end?

[rustylady]

Sarico, what variety are they? I don't think you've done anything wrong - just maybe they've not been growing long enough.

[Sarico]

The variety that i talk about is sharp express and I plant them on20th march. I have some red duke of York but still small. The bag said that are ready in60 days maybe do to the weather in April may will be ready later. Anyway I will wait for the flower to grow and then I will check again.

[scarletrunner]

The variety that i talk about is sharp express and I plant them on20th march. I have some red duke of York but still small. The bag said that are ready in60 days maybe do to the weather in April may will be ready later. Anyway I will wait for the flower to grow and then I will check again.

Have a look about the second or third week in June,60 days is much to early for a decent crop.

[Two_Sheds]

I fed with FBB once a week

Wow, that's a lot. The packet says once every 6 weeks doesn't it? (mine does)

[Pa Snips]

Mine are earthed up with a mix of roughly 70% dried leaves (shredded) that fell from the trees last Autumn and 30% compost. They haven't all grown at the same rate so some are earthed up to a few inches below the haulms whilst others in the same bag are completely covered.

[Sarico]

Wow, that's a lot. The packet says once every 6 weeks doesn't it? (mine does)

I'm not sure but Im always wrong lol . I just put like 2tbsp per pot ( it sound not a lot to me but I can be wrong again). I will check the box but I think when I was looking for one fertiliser I read a lot of packet and maybe was something else. You learn on mistake and I learn a lot

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sarico,

Don't think you have done anything wrong.

With regard to the watering you did exactly the right thing with April being so wet. However in a large container (dustbin) the top of the compost does not always give the full story. I have in the past emptied a bin with nice moist compost on top, just over half way down it was as dry as Hades.

As 2Sheds says I also think your could relax your feeding regime a little but it will have done no harm.

Sharpes Express are one of the older first earlies and usually considered later than more modern varieties. So I would think about 10 to 12 weeks before harvest. 60 days seems very optimistic even in the best of circumstances, which it ain't this year.

Colin

[Sarico]

Sarico,

Don't think you have done anything wrong.

With regard to the watering you did exactly the right thing with April being so wet. However in a large container (dustbin) the top of the compost does not always give the full story. I have in the past emptied a bin with nice moist compost on top, just over half way down it was as dry as Hades.

As 2Sheds says I also think your could relax your feeding regime a little but it will have done no harm.

Sharpes Express are one of the older first earlies and usually considered later than more modern varieties. So I would think about 10 to 12 weeks before harvest. 60 days seems very optimistic even in the best of circumstances, which it ain't this year.

Colin

thanks colin for your answers... being new i thought to believe what the bag said...
10 to 12 weeks mean in mid june i will check them... thanks to everyone