Potatoes

[Spunky]

Do you think this would work? I've got loads of morrisons pots lying around and next year should be my first year having a go at growing potatoes in the ground
To save a bit of earthing up I was thinking start one potato regardless if there earlies main crop etc in a morrisons pot then when they've got 12" top growth dig a trench about a foot deep and transfer the whole contents of the pot into the ground and earth up with what I've dug out plus extra if needed
What do you think? The only thing I could think of is it'll be harder digging the actual potatoes up

[arpoet]

Just leave em in the buckets, I do and it works fine for me. I would think that transferring the from pot to soil could break the tops.

[Spunky]

Problem is arpoet I haven't got the space for that many pots I'm just trying to make it a bit easier and more productive

[skeggijon]

Potato haulms can be quite fragile, so I think transferring them would risk damage and with that, the risk of disease.

[Scarlet]

I think they are too fragile to move, if you haven't hot enough space just leave them in the Buckets. One per bucket. You'll get a fab crop.

[Bigmallly]

Bypass the buckets & plant the spuds 12" deep.

[arpoet]

I start mine off in the greenhouse and when conditions are right I spot the buckets where ever I get a gap. Cut a cabbage and place a tattie bucket... I have them growing on the decking, next to a fence, on the stepping stones in the lawn... lots a places that are unproductive.

[Spunky]

Bypass the buckets & plant the spuds 12" deep.

Wil they be alright planted 12" and covered or should I earth them up gradually?

[Alicante]

Wil they be alright planted 12" and covered or should I earth them up gradually?

I do this every year and have never had any problems. You just have to remember that if a frost is forecast they might need some extra earthing up if there is a lot of top growth. Just cover all of the top growth either with soil or something like newspaper or fleece.

[Bigmallly]

What Alicante said..............................I always plant them deep then leave them to it.............I can't be phaffed with earthing up.

[Snow]

A magazine I read last year did this, used an empty pot tray and had a seed spud per slot and when a few inches tall transplanted them to the ground. Although the tops are fragile, it seems that if the container is really small then the roots quickly fill it, little tubers and all, so that they are easy to remove from the tray - just a tap and the whole thing comes out cleanly.

I suppose it's possible I'll give one a go this year just to see if it works.