potatoes

[Salina]

my potato seedlings are growing away but a few days ago I put another load of soil on top of them and covered them up and now they are growing through this aswell. will this encourage them to grow more potatoes? I was thinking of gradually filling the tub up to the top and maybe then there would be more earth for them to fill up with spuds lol.

also, I am running out of bagged soil so would rotted grass cuttings be alright? it seems spuds grow in anything so yeah lol. just to put on top of them like, they are actually growing in good bag soil.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Salina,

Yes just keep topping up the soil till you reach the top of the bucket/pot. I have never used grass but have heard of the no dig metthod in which you cover with straw.

The potatoes form above the original seed potato so you cover the shoots to stop the new potatoes going green.

I am sure someone else will be able to give better advise, Mandy

[Dig-in-Dudley]

I've never heard about putting anything other than soil/compost in containers so I would be interested in seeing what the experienced grapeviners have got to say. I suppose as long as they're kept in dark then you're not going to go far wrong (I know if they get exposed to sunlight and go green you shouldn't eat the potatoe because it's poisnous) so I suppose compost would be the best choice.
Just a thought; whatever medium you're using would need to be in contact with the spuds & roots to be able to take up moisture/nutrients etc., wouldn't it???

[Salina]

I just mixed some rotted grass cutting with a bit of soil and water and spread it over the top so fingers crossed I'll get a good few spuds hehe.
I've heard if you cover them with a black rubbish bag you get more potatoes or something like that? is it true?

[Flummery]

The potatoes form on little roots and if you cover the main stem, roots can form all along it. So as well as keeping spuds out of the light, you are also allowing for more to be formed as more stem is covered with soil. Black plastic doesn't allow for more spuds (as you won't get extra roots formed because there's no extra soil to grow in) but it would stop you wasting spuds which go green and have to be ditched. That reads back as a bit involved but I hope it makes sense!

[Salina]

ew hate green spuds such a waste lol. I think I will try the black bag idea then to prevent the green ones, thanks!

[HeyWayne]

Could you also spread fresh grass clippings to act as a mulch to keep weeds down?

[Salina]

wow, they have grow through the "rotted grass clippings mixed with soil and water mixture" I spread over them yesterday already lol.
must fill all my other pots of spuds up the same hehe.