Potato grow bags, can I plant earlier?

[Lamboluke]

I have a greenhouse which is unheated and I was wondering if planting seed potatoes in grow bags in the greenhouse means I can plant them out sooner than if it was directly into the ground.

Also I have some very thin garden fleece, I'm guessing to protect the potatoes from any potential frost it's a case of wrapping it around and over the potatoe bags?

Thank you.

[Valleyman]

Certainly worth a try in my opinion. Could get a couple of weeks head start if you're lucky.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The short answer is yes.

Mine will go in pots end of Feb, remember don't water until you see green growth or you may rot the seed and cover with fleece to protect the green growth if a frost is forecast.

[Lamboluke]

Does the reference to watering include the initial planting stage? I.e do I still water in and then wait until growth is seen before carrying on?

[Guykp57]

Plant in damp compost.

[solway cropper]

The first of my greenhouse spuds go in end of February. I water them in at planting time and then, like Potty, don't give any more water till the green shoots are well up. In a good year you can have your first new potatoes by the end of April.

[Penellype]

I'm trying this with some Rocket potatoes - I've planted them in bags and large pots in the greenhouse and garage, and wrapped the pots/bags in bubble wrap secured with string. I've covered them with fleece and I'm hoping to get potatoes in May.

That's the plan, anyway!

[TrysHard]

I have planted spuds end of Feb in a garage then moved out once the shoots come through kept the bags against the house for some frost protection and had spuds in May. I think they were Sharpes.

They were OK a bit smaller than in the ground spuds but worth it for the early crop.

[Kristen]

My Rocket seed potatoes (should have been planted already <sigh!>) are chitting in the warmth of the Kitchen, and have got a decent wiggle on.

The compost for them is in the boiler room getting nice and warm ...

... when "planted" they will be in the boiler room until they break cover and are fully earthed up, probably a month, so that their compost won't start to cool down until probably mid March, when they go out into the conservatory (heated to min 10C this time of year for the various seedlings coming on), and then out to greenhouse when they get too big! probably early April ... by which time the greenhouse should be warm enough. They can come back in (but its a nuisance and something always gets dropped / snapped when I have to in-and-out every evening-and-morning )

[Stan79]

Yep - i've got a bag with three on the go already. They're in the warmth and comfort of my utility room! As they start to grow i'll top up the soil/compost mix and then move them into the potting shed, then outdoors! Nothing like early spuds!!!

[ioan]

Hi
I have containers for my spuds in the greenhouse, size I would say 35ltr .
at the moment they are half full of damp compost and I want to put my spuds in now.
how many spuds per pot do you recommend, and how deep do I plant them.
also should I wait for growth before giving them good soaking.
kind regards
ioan

[Lamboluke]

This not from experience but from what I've read and the standard potatoe sacks I think take up to 3.
Not sure what 35litre equates to compared to a potatoe sack

[arpoet]

I planted a dozen well chitted tubers in black flower in my greenhouse only yesterday. They are under the bench. I also put 4 in a bath outside covered with carpet. They are all saved tatties so even if they dont all survive i have not lost much.
Now if you have bought expensive, seeds like this then i would think twice about doing it.
Seed Potatoes - Smaller Garden Collection - Suttons Seeds and Plants

[Penellype]

Hi
I have containers for my spuds in the greenhouse, size I would say 35ltr .
at the moment they are half full of damp compost and I want to put my spuds in now.
how many spuds per pot do you recommend, and how deep do I plant them.
also should I wait for growth before giving them good soaking.
kind regards
ioan

I'm growing mine in 30l pots, which seem to take a little less compost when full than a full potato bag, so I would think 35l is comparable to a potato bag. 2 or 3 to a pot - I have stuffed 4 in in the past, but I don't think you get any more potatoes by cramming more in. I put mine near the bottom of the bags/pots, on about 2-3 inches of compost. The potatoes will only form above the seed potato so don't plant them too near the surface. Once the shoots reach the surface you need to put more compost in until the pots are nearly full to encourage more potatoes to form. Wait until they are showing greenery before watering.

[Stan79]

Hi
I have containers for my spuds in the greenhouse, size I would say 35ltr .
at the moment they are half full of damp compost and I want to put my spuds in now.
how many spuds per pot do you recommend, and how deep do I plant them.
also should I wait for growth before giving them good soaking.
kind regards
ioan

Dig out some of your compost... you only need a couple of inches in the bottom to bed the 3 seed spuds down in. Then cover with a small amount of compost and as they grow, top up the compost to keep them covered until you've nearly filled the bag.