potatoes in bags?

[minkie]

Would love some help with my potatoes I have growing in bags. When the leaves start showing through can you cover them completely with soil or just the stem, mine are growing at different rates so that's why I am asking the question.

[Kristen]

I think for spuds growing in bags it is best to add soil / compost as the stems grow, keeping the majority of the leaf above the newly added compost. The leaves enable the plant to carry on producing energy - whereas if you cover them completely they lose that ability and have to grow new leaves, through the layer of compost, until they get to the light.

Outdoors I completely cover the plants when earthing-up - both to keep any frost off them, but also because it is way too laborious, individually, to earth them up so only the stems are covered and the leaves are kept free.

[Bigmallly]

I personally wouldn't molicoddle them, just cover the whole lot in compost. They'll be through again before you know it.

[Bill HH]

I dont cover mine too quickly, let them have a bit of sun, I usualy wait until there is perhaps 5 inches of leaf then add 3 inches or so of compost.If some are small let them grow to 5 inches and their neigbours can get a bit bigger its not an exact science.Some people just fill the entire bag and they still seem to get spuds.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The only time I would cover completely is if there is a frost forecast. Nature hasn't put those leaves above ground for no reason.

Potty

[Veggielot]

I usually cover mine so the leaves are just poking through so I can keep an eye One their growth. If there is a prospect of a severe frost I would consider covering completely. However as they are all down at my allotment they sometime have to look after themselves.

[Bigmallly]

The only time I would cover completely is if there is a frost forecast. Nature hasn't put those leaves above ground for no reason.

Potty

How would that work if the bags were filled up to the top at the time of planting?

[solway cropper]

I suspect the plants would be absolutely knackered forcing their shoots up through the soil in a desperate search for some daylight! The seed tuber has a good store of energy but it does have its limits. It would be interesting to compare yields from plants completely covered and those allowed a bit of light.

[Bigmallly]

I have never earthed my spuds up, I just pull out a 6" - 8" plug with a long handled bulb planter, put the spud in, cover & let it get on with it. I had this crop from half a dozen shop bought spuds. I'm so glad they got knackered.

[Kristen]

How would that work if the bags were filled up to the top at the time of planting?

The spuds will push up to the surface and then grow. But there would be no space to earth up in the event of frost. With a large gap at the top of the bag they will grow, find light, and leaf up. They will still grow to the top of the bag, in time (and indeed a couple of feet higher) but it would still be possible to cover them if necessary.

I keep my Potato Bags in the greenhouse until I need the space for planting out Toms etc. by which time it is frost free outside. If we get a late frost forecast they go back into the greenhouse for the night and sit on the path cheek-by-jowl with everything else!

I suspect the plants would be absolutely knackered forcing their shoots up through the soil in a desperate search for some daylight! The seed tuber has a good store of energy but it does have its limits.

Although that is how farmers plant them - the earthing up of the soil is shaped by the machine that plants the seed potatoes

[alldigging]

I might have trouble getting that on my plot..

[Kristen]

I might have trouble getting that on my plot..

Would save a bit of time though - apart from turning around at the end of each row

[Potstubsdustbins]

#7 BM I don't advocate filling the bag at planting time. The way I find best for me is to plant in about 6 to 8 inches of compost and then gradually fill the container until I have about a 3 inch gap between the compost and the rim. I find this gives me a higher yield and it makes watering so much easier as I can just drop a 2 gallon bucket of water in the top of the container.

Nice harvest you had there by the way.

Potty

[Richard Eldritch]

I've often covered them entirely, they just push on through.

[Bigmallly]

I suppose it's a case of if it works for you then you tend to stick to that method.