Container spuds.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Like your style Bill, like your style.

We are probably the only 2 gallon people on here. LOL

[Bill HH]

I'm going to try my spuds in pots this year, for the first time.

Managed to get 30 30ltr pots, off eBay fer 30 quid...Not a bad deal.. Though I won't be planting up that many, the rest'll get used for bringing on shrubs.

It was watching a vid on YT that persuaded me to give it a try..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HfIHK7vUYU

Have to say, his harvest isn't too shabby considering...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMrkIecqQL8

Probably only be doing 1st and 2nd earlies this year, just to see how it goes..

They make brilliant tomato pots too. Those are the sort i use, very strong and will last you years. I plant three spuds in a 45 lt container. and one or two tomato plants. Having more compost per plant evens out the watering problems.

[Penellype]

Hmm, that video of his harvest has got me thinking. I was going to buy more bags as I think containers will be better at my friend's house to keep the rats off a bit, but the pots look much more rat proof than the bags! I like the idea of burying the pots slightly. One side of the veg plot has trees alongside it and is full of roots and couch grass. Potatoes in pots seems like an excellent use of it and hopefully I'll get a decent crop. 10lb per pot would be grand

[Potstubsdustbins]

^^^^^^^^^Should get that without to much of a problem.

[libbyloulou]

That is funny because i have found that those in shade did significantly worse than those in full sunshine. perhaps in your case its more water related and your full sunshine ones dried out too quickly?

See where your coming from bill, maybe a better explanation is i meant keeping the containers out of the sun, not the foilage. cheers.

[heirloomsquash]

Why not dustbins?

because dustbins usually have drainage issues ,are too narrow at the top and have temperature issues.

Also most dust bins our not designed to be outside full time.
Pots are usually designed to lasts long term outside.

[Potstubsdustbins]

because dustbins usually have drainage issues ,are too narrow at the top and have temperature issues.

Also most dust bins our not designed to be outside full time.
Pots are usually designed to lasts long term outside.

Strange, I have been growing spuds in dustbins for over 20 years and have never had to replace a bin. So there would seem to be no problem as to longevity, in fact I thought it was usual practice to keep a smelly dustbin outdoors, that's why I chose them.

I use 12 dustbins and have never had a problem with drainage either, maybe that's because I have drilled holes in the bottom to allow excess water out, well it did seem common sense at the time.

Temperature issues I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Do you mean too cold, if so you are growing spuds at the wrong time of year. Since warmth encourages growth you cannot mean to hot can you?

As to, too narrow at the top I think you will find they are wider than most pots, specialist potato containers or bags.

[Snow]

If the temperature of the soil reaches 27C then tubers stop forming. Vegetable Gardening Basics - Watch Your Garden Grow - University of Illinois Extension
I doubt it would happen in the UK as water and shade alone would be enough to cool the soil I'd have thought.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I would have thought you were right, certainly I have never had a problem in fact I make sure I have black bins so they warm a little quicker.