Container spuds.

[Kirk]

I use large plastic pots 20" to 24" across (something like that).
I use a mix of compost and manure, either 2/3 compost 1/3 manure or a simple 50/50 mix.
Plant either 2 or 3 of them about 2/3 of the way down.

I have generally grown Pink Fir Apple and/or Anya and been happy with the results. Did try a red skinned one which was pretty good - just cannot recall the name.

Do seem to have better luck with potato's in pots then in the ground and have normally had 3 large pots planted up each year.

[Snow]

I grew some last year and will be growing more this year. As many as I can. I find shop potatoes are often rubbish as well as expensive. I buy decent compost as cheaply as I can (always happy to be pointed to where there is a good deal btw) and I am then putting the spent compost on my patch which is improving the structure as its a little to clayey.
I had wonderful success growing Vivaldi last year and I used a potato fertiliser that time (still plenty left) was reduced from £6 to a quid mid summer. Saw some similar in B&M I think it was not long ago as well, was £2. It makes a huge difference in yield and quality. I grow in bags for potatoes I got at Wilkod but also a large pot I got off Freecycle and so on.

[Bigmallly]

Due to the Vole problem I had last year, all my spuds will be grown in 8 builders bags. They are already filled & waiting to be planted up. Gonna concentrate on Osprey as they looked after me last year. I've already got 2 builders bags under cover which were planted up with Apache in November. They are showing through so fingers crossed I may have some Easter Tatties.

[Spunky]

Never really thought about recycling it deano I like kirks idea just add manure to it, I might try it this year I've been looking at pots and poly pots but I've just found 20 rubble sacks for a fiver so I might get some holes in them and have a go

[anthonyjb]

I have. Just purchased from marshalls a kit containing 5 spuds and3bags

Instructions. Quote

(A). Half fill bag with compost plant tubers 4in deep
(B). As plants grow add more compost. To fill the bag


Thompson & Morgan say

(A) fill bag to about third full and plant 3 tubers

Add another layer (a third) and plant 2 tubers

Then fill the bag almost to the top

Which method is the best

Many thanks
Anthonyjb
(A)

[Bigmallly]

Personally I would go with the T&M method.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Me to BM me to.

As to reviving your compost be careful to use well rotted manure otherwise its to harsh. I riddle mine and then add a 7-7-7 fertilizer such as grow more or BFB then some pelleted potato fertiliser, this gets me through to week 6 when I start my feeding regime.

[Penellype]

I put about 2 inches of compost in the bottom of the bags then put the seed potatoes on top and fill the bag with compost straight away. I find this easier than trying to add compost around the growing plants. Potatoes produce tubers from the stems, not from roots as you might think, so there won't be any potatoes below the level of the seed potato. This method maximizes the amount of stem below the surface, and therefore hopefully the yield of potatoes.

[Kristen]

Does the cost of filling the pots with compost ever put people off? I'm in two minds weather to fork out for 30 litre pots or just chuck them in the ground either way they'd be at the allotment

Yes, I think its expensive. I recycle the compost into other things - such as Carrots.

I only grow 1st Early spuds, for "New Potatoes", as they are expensive in the shops. The later crops I grow in the ground. I also plant the outdoor crops "late-ish", relying on container grown for early spuds, which saves me having to try to keep any late frosts off the plants in April / May.

Which method is the best

I wouldn't put 5 seed potatoes in a bag, I think that's too many. 3 would be my limit, and 4 in a large container.

Potatoes produce tubers from the stems, not from roots as you might think, so there won't be any potatoes below the level of the seed potato. This method maximizes the amount of stem below the surface, and therefore hopefully the yield of potatoes.

Dunno about others? but I don't find that Earlies make much effort to grow tubers up the stem (compared to Mains), and as such I think that filing the bag may be better as the growing stems have the longest time under ground to make tuber-growing-roots.

[Bill HH]

I loathe and detest bags for spuds, it looks like you have put rubbish out for the dustman, they are hard to move and they fall over when the foilage gets high so need staking etc. I use heavy duty containers with handles and they last years (Also for tomatoes). I can start them in the green house and move them out when i need the space for the tomatoes. They are also silly cheap in my opinion.

For some wierd reason the 50 litre ones are cheaper than the 45 litr ones.

http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/...Pots-PRDR-HDC/

[spiritPan]

Thanks for the link, il be investing in some of these, last year it looked like the garden was full of rubbish until the foliage grew high

[Kristen]

For some wierd reason the 50 litre ones are cheaper than the 45 litr ones.

Just out of curiosity I checked their trade prices which is the other way round, so would be worth buying Retail!! ...

45L = £4.30 Retail £4.48
50L = £4.55 Retail £4.28 (Trade site says out of stock though ...)

Trade-site volume discount don't start until 150-off ... and then is only 38p off

[Kirk]

I do tend to just use whatever is available and inexpensive for the compost then get whatever manure is on offer.

As they tend to be in offers of 3 bags it is 3 biggish bags of compost and 3 smaller bags of manure.

Once the potato's have been harvested the old stuff is planted with carrots or similar that does not require the organic material potato's do or added to the general bed. This second idea means that after a few years the bed needs another level of height added.

Will build a second veg bed this year about 4 mtr by 1.2 mtr with about 200cm edges so that will be getting any remains added to it over the next few years.

Worth looking at big tubs that are not necessarily gardening ones. I pick up 2 excellent storage tubs, dark green, twin handles, 24" diameter and 20" high. Simply ideal for potato's and they were reduced as circular storage tubs were not really the thing people want, £2 each as I recall.

No rules, about 50/50 or 60/40 compost:manure, potato's about 2/3 or 3/4 deep. Water. Not looking to win prizes, just me so I want a small supply of potato's to boil and eat. In pots with the mix it mean I can easily feel abound for half a dozen at a time, or pull up one plant and use whatever is dangling off it.

[bobbin]

Ooh thank you all for a very enlightening set of answers and suggestions.

I used the grow bags from the 99p shop and was surprised what a very dark rich compost they provided.
Grew them in the rolled down bags outside in the garden. Watered fairly consistently but could maybe have been more generous. no manure just compost. My allotment neighbour puts his bags of
spuds in a shallow trench which I also considered.
I confess I don't know what the varieties were as some one had left a pot of chitted spuds on our "help yourself" spot. Dontcha just luuurve freebies.?!!!
I live in West Sussex. And planted them about End of April I think. Maybe bigger bags would be better but I like the sound of plastic pots too.
I like Snadgers comment " I spose the question boils down too.." As I'm a Geordie I take that as a bit of Northern wit! (Ok Gateshead..someone had to be born there)
Anymore info would be very welcome. I'm getting keener on this method by the minute as made the ,mistake of using a precious raised bed for them last year.

[NatalieCooke]

FREE* Potato growing kit + veg seed - worth £24.00 - BBC Gardeners' World Magazine offers - Thompson & MorganNot sure if this will help anyone

All you need to do is pay the shipping £5.65.