Potatoes in dustins - How much water?

[semiot]

How often and how much should I water them? I have no idea. The bins are quite tall (80cm). Please help :-)

Thanks a lot.

[Potstubsdustbins]

When growing spuds in containers most failures are down to a lack of water and feeding.

Watering depends on two things the weather and the stage of growth of the plant.

Once the haulms are up above the dustbin and the plants are actively growing (see pic) rain will do very little good, the haulm will act as an umbrella and the plants will be sucking the moisture out of the compost at an alarming rate. At the moment I am giving my bins a gallon every other day, should summer ever arrive I will change to a gallon every day.

As to feeding I use miracle grow (high nitrogen) whilst the haulms are growing and change to tomorite (high potash) whilst the tubers are swelling.

Make sure your bins have good drainage or you will find your spuds will rot and don't be fooled by the compost being moist on the surface it could be very dry down where the spuds are growing.

One sure sign of underwatering is that when you do water it runs out the drainage holes very quickly.

Colin.

[bearded bloke]

For no scientific reason I give mine about 1/2 gallon a day,with a feed once a week
If you check back in a while potstubsanddustbins (Colin) may well have some proper input on the subject

[bearded bloke]

See he was typing while I was & gave a far better answer

EDIT: In fact his post were the inspiration behind this lot ..............



Front right ......... Maris Peer
Front left ........... Rooster
Rear right & left .. King Edward

If the top is anything to go by there will be spuds in the cellar this year

[semiot]

Thanks everybody!

[Potstubsdustbins]

See he was typing while I was & gave a far better answer

EDIT: In fact his post were the inspiration behind this lot ..............

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30527[/ATTACH]

Front right ......... Maris Peer
Front left ........... Rooster
Rear right & left .. King Edward

If the top is anything to go by there will be spuds in the cellar this year

By BB they are looking really good, like you say if all that haulm goes back into spuds should be a good crop.

Colin

[bearded bloke]

By BB they are looking really good, like you say if all that haulm goes back into spuds should be a good crop.

Colin

Cheers bud,will let you know weights when they get turned out

[solway cropper]

I know conditions vary across the country but I'm in danger of losing my entire crop as they are currently standing in water and when I tipped out a couple of bags the other day the compost was like slurry!

[Potstubsdustbins]

SC I don't know how bad your situation is but one tip I picked up some time ago was to roll up a sheet of newspaper and stick it half way in wet compost. It will act like a wick and the top half will dry in any breeze.

Sorry to hear of your plight and the forecast ain't good either.

Colin