Huge potato foliage (in bags)

[Protea]

the potatoes i planted in bags have grown enourmous foliage! much, much bigger than i've seen 'in the ground' although being raised up in a bag it is a bit deceptive.

I'm a bit concerned that i'm getting all this top growth at the expense of tubers - its not time to harvest yet - still a few weeks to go.

Any thoughts? The variety is Kestrel, and they were large grade tubers for exhibition if that helps.

[Alice]

I got huge shaws on some of my potatoes last year Protea. I had been feeding them with Phostrogen so don't know if that had anything to do with it. It certainly didn't affect the crop. Most of the Charlotte produced about 4 lbs a bucket, and 1 rooster in a bucket produced a whopping 6 lbs. The top growth on that was enormous. Good luck with your potatoes.

[Protea]

I got huge shaws on some of my potatoes last year Protea. I had been feeding them with Phostrogen so don't know if that had anything to do with it. It certainly didn't affect the crop. Most of the Charlotte produced about 4 lbs a bucket, and 1 rooster in a bucket produced a whopping 6 lbs. The top growth on that was enormous. Good luck with your potatoes.

Thanks Alice - thats put my mind at rest a little i guess its a wait and see situation!

[TonyF]

I've got spuds growing in old containers (water butts cut in half) and this year there is a mass of foliage.

I start the sopil/compost half way up the container and sort of earth up as they get higher - seems to work fine for me.

[bubblewrap]

I've got spuds growing in old containers (water butts cut in half) and this year there is a mass of foliage.

I start the sopil/compost half way up the container and sort of earth up as they get higher - seems to work fine for me.

I have spuds growing in 25 litre drums they are earthed up to the top of the drums & the foliage is 2 feet high & still growing.

[veggieginger]

As I clicked on this post Mr VG walked in the room and said "I didn't realise potato plants grew so tall" !! We have some in the garden and some in bags and both are growing well I grew up with my Dad growing everything so have some experience with veg growing, however it has been years since I have actually had the space to do it properly, hubby is a complete novice but has completely caught the gardening bug (if he can eat what he grows that is!)

We dug up an experimental supermarket potato today that we planted in Feb/March (we needed the ground for something else) we were really pleased to find approx 10 small tatties which we enjoyed for lunch.