Growing potatoes in pots

[fon]

Do you fill compost a little (few inches above the potatoes) and keep topping it up as they grow,

or..

Just fill the whole pot up with compost leaving the potatoes near the bottom?

Iv seen videos of both methods?

These will be in a unheated greenhouse until things warm up, then outside,

Thanks in advance,

Fon

[johnjohn]

I've seen both methods too, I think on balance a layer of compost 6 or 7" deep then add spuds covering with compost as you go is the most conventional method. I know T&M did a trial and believe it's uneccesary, fill with compost and stick the seed potatoes directly in. This is how I grow potatoes in the ground so that's what I would do, I only earth up or more commonly cover with grass clippings if there is a frost risk. Obviously in pots you could fleece or bubble wrap or something similar.

Just thought to add, when I sow directly into the ground it's to a depth of about 4" or so, again this is what I would do in a pot.

[Bren In Pots]

I grow mine in 12in deep recycling boxes are filled with a mix of soil, leafmould and dalek compost then spuds planted like JJ says at about 6 to 7 inch deep. I do the same with any extra ones in flower buckets.

[Kirk]

I tend to put about 1/4 to 1/3 of the pot with compost+manure then in goes the potato's then I just fill to the top.
Tried adding to the level as the potato's grew but it seemed to make little (no) difference.
For the compost I mix either 50/50 compost and manure, or 2/3 compost and 1/3 manure. Depends on what I have around or available.

[Dalrimple]

if your putting em in an unheated greenhouse i'd fill them to the top (more frost protection) atb Dal

[Penellype]

I put about 6 inches of compost with bfb mixed in, push the potatoes into that, then top up with compost. I find that much easier than trying to get compost into the buckets past growing foliage later on.