Earthing up potatoes in containers

[lettuceleaf]

I did envisage a problem earthing up potatoes grown in a container and, sure enough....
The pot is brimming with leaves. I have endeavoured to top it up with compost and chicken pellets but there is barely room.

During my efforts I have broken some of the leaves. Here comes the silly question (sorry) what will happen now to the potato on the end of that plant, will it stop growing and just rot ?

Any advice on the way forward, please? They are Charlottes which, come to think of it, is currently quite appropriate - but I digress...

[WendyC]

When you say there isn't room to add more compost is that because it is already full to neaer the top or it is difficult because the leaves are in the way? As long as you haven't broken all the leaves off they should be fine.

[lettuceleaf]

The container is about 3/4 full, so room for more compost if only the leaves weren't in the way. It's the flourishing leaves that are blocking the way to adding more compost. When I try to push the leaves to one side the stalks, which are about 10cm high, are tending to break. I wondered what harm I was doing to the potato by breaking some of the stalks and is there any way I can prevent it. If I put compost over the whole lot and cover the leaves entirely, the container will be full up.

[rustylady]

I would be tempted to leave them alone, not top up any more and leave them to do their own thing

[maverick451]

I dont earth up anymore.

I just plant 2 seed potatoes per pot, I put 1 seed potato about 14" deep in the pot and the other one 4-6" higher (I read that putting the potatoes on different levels gave a better yield)

I brim the containers with soil as a plant.

Not had any of the deep ones not come up.

[Penellype]

This is why I don't earth up, or if I do I do it before the stems get too long.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I have just been topping up my dustbins today. I use a small fireside shovel, move the haulm gently away from the side of the bin and slide the compost down the outside. Then give the bin a good shake which as the same affect as tamping down a plant pot on the potting bench.

Don't forget do not fill the container to the top it makes watering hard work. As a guide I leave a 4" space at the top of my bins this will allow me to pour in a 2 gallon bucket when the weather is very hot.

[rhyswales]

Im confused If they're only 10cm high dont top up until they are bigger to do so? I top up so litterally only the top of the stem/leaves is above the soil level.

If their's tall shoots and some that only just come above the soil level, I just cover the smaller ones completely.

Potato stems should be pretty thick and hard to snap, all of mine are really high are fully topped up and not one snapped off from the 50-60 mph winds this week.

[lettuceleaf]

Interesting replies, thanks all.
I'm going to leave them alone and see what happens.
The reason for all the foliage could be that I put too many seed potatoes in the container.
Last year I planted in the ground and had some really large potatoes as a result, but every single one was riddled with wire worm. That's why I've gone for a container this year.

Maverick; what sort of yield do you expect from two seed potatoes?

One final question. How often should I water the container, ie is it essential to keep the soil moist all the time?

[cilla]

I have read and seen on YouTube that container potatoes do not need to be earthed up. I am experimenting with ground, black bag and container. I am just earthing up the potatoes planted in the ground. Looking forward to seeing which gives the best yield.

[lettuceleaf]

I have read and seen on YouTube that container potatoes do not need to be earthed up. I am experimenting with ground, black bag and container. I am just earthing up the potatoes planted in the ground. Looking forward to seeing which gives the best yield.

Hello Cilla, let us know which one turns out the best. Potatoes are so easy, aren't they.
I've got a growbag with shop bought potatoes in as an experiment. The leaves are poking out the top and I've just put more compost on top. I'll leaf (sorry) leave that one alone to do its own thing now.

I had spare potatoes last year so put them into a small area of the garden and they were fine but in my vegetable patch the wireworm got the lot.

How often will you water your spud container - is it OK to let it dry out occasionally ?

[cilla]

I don't know if I am watering right but I put my finger in the soil and if it is moist I leave it. At the moment I have not watered for sometime as it has rained occasionally. Maybe will water tomorrow the potatoes as it is suppose to be warm today. I have chalk with some clay soil so it retains the water more but have to be careful it does not dry out as it then cracks.
However I have watered my lettuces, spinach, strawberries, herbs, carrots and beetroots (which is not doing much) this morning. Everything really except my potatoes.

[Potstubsdustbins]

With regards to watering.

With containers the plants use the water nearest the roots first, it is quite usual to find the top couple of inches quite moist whilst down below where the water needs to be it's bone dry.

I find the best way is to ensure I have good drainage and flood the container especially in dry weather. Once the haulms are over the top of the container do not rely on rain, the foliage itself is one of natures finest umbrella's.

Spuds are over 80% water therefore lack of water equals poor/no yield.

As to yield from four main crop seed per bin I expect somewhere between 20 to 24 pounds dependant on the year.

[rhyswales]

For watering I usually soak the plants, some potato bags have a little opening near the bottom, if yours has anything like that open up and have a look. I find that the top of the soil is usually wet but the bottom is dry.

[sparrow100]

I soak mine religiously, but my yields are nowhere near as good as Pots'. I get about 3.5kg for 3 seed spuds for my earlies which are in a 40L bag.