Potatoes in bins problem

[richardbajor]

Last couple of years I've been growing potatoes in bins and done OK (although nowhere near as good as some people report on the forums and mostly smaller sizes than your typical supermarket purchase). These were planted using shop bought sprouting potatoes.

This year I thought I would just see what would happen if I left the tiny potatoes left over from the previous year in the bins throughout the winter. I was pleasantly surprised when they came up in the same way as the previous years at about the right time and it seemed to have worked. But having harvested my first bin there was really only ONE potato worth the effort and a handful of smaller ones.

Had the plants not come up at all I would have held my hands up and said bad idea, but seeing as the plants did grow as normal I'd like some advice why the crop might have failed. I was doing the topping up process of adding soil as the plants grew and while the base soil was last years I did add some tomato feed and the topping up (perhaps 2/3rds of the total soil used) was done with new (bottom of the price range) compost.

Any ideas?

[Penellype]

The problem could well be that you started off with very tiny potatoes. While these will grow, they may well not have enough energy to produce a decent crop.

[richardbajor]

The problem could well be that you started off with very tiny potatoes. While these will grow, they may well not have enough energy to produce a decent crop.

Thanks for that- it makes sense.

I think I read that as long as they are sprouting you are more or less OK to bung anything in the bin? So as alternative to leaving last years in, Ii it OK just take a shop bought potato and leave until it is sprouting and then plant around April?

I suppose I'm being cheapskate but part of the pride for me of growing your own is a sort of independence and value for money rather than just getting everything you need from a garden centre. So the bragging comes if you can say at the end of it all that is was cheaper than a supermarket and no hassle

[roitelet]

Hi welcome to the vine. This is going to make you sick!!

I saved some of last years Charlotte potatoes about the size of a small hens egg for use as seed. Grew 8 plants in flower buckets in home made compost. 50/50 soil and compost by volume and half the quantity of sharp sand. That's because my soil is heavy. Added a handful or so do general purpose fertilizer to a barrow load of the mix.

Each flower bucket produced more than enough for a meal for three people. This is the sick making part, from 16 seed potatoes planted in the ground I got at least 30 kilos of huge spuds and very few marbles!

[Penellype]

Yes, if you have a supermarket potato that is sprouting it will grow if you plant it. Some supermarket potatoes are treated so that they don't sprout, or at least not easily, and those may or may not grow, I haven't tried.

I almost always grow from seed potatoes as these are certified disease free. There is the risk of planting something that is carrying blight or virus diseases if you plant your own or supermarket potatoes, but lots of people do it.

[richardbajor]

Thanks for the replies- I'll just keep practicing!

1kg would be me let along 30

[Potstubsdustbins]

I am like Pen always use new certified seed, have grown from supermarket spuds and was not happy with the result.

Growing in containers of any kind the nutrients in the soil/compost will run out in no more than 6 weeks usually less so you will have to feed them during the growing process. I like to use a high nitrogen fertiliser such as Miracle Grow and change to high potash, tomato feed for the last part when the spuds themselves are growing. That regime and keeping them well watered seems to work for me I get about 24lb of main crop per bin.

Also you don't say what they are harvest time can vary between 12 and 22 weeks for different varieties.

[richardbajor]

Thanks for the replies- I'll just keep practicing!

1kg would be me let along 30

Would DO me- can't get edit function to work!

[richardbajor]

Also you don't say what they are harvest time can vary between 12 and 22 weeks for different varieties.

Good tips- I was told to harvest when the flowers start appearing so I guess plants visible in April and now being harvested.

[roitelet]

Leave them as long a possible they keep on growing even after the flowers. Also keep them damp never let hem dry out.

Charlottes are second earlies and the powers that say that after 90 days they can be lifted for new potatoes and after 110 days they are considered 'ripe' for storage.

[PCGreenthumb]

Hi, I have had similar problem using potato grow sacks, I planted Purple Majesty, Ruby Red and Marks Piper, 5 spuds to a bag. I had a mass of vigorous growth which I covered gradually with compost as per instructions. Went in April I believe, they've flowered and the leaf has died back a bit so dug them today and was massively disappointed, got maybe 24 potatoes and only 6-8 bigger than an egg!!!
Have I dug them up too early?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Possibly, Purple Majesty are a early main crop they will need at least 20 weeks to reach full potential.

I have heard of Red Ruby but mainly in America where it is classed as a mid-season salad spud so about 18 weeks.

If you mean Maris Piper this is a full main crop 22 weeks and over.

These timings are average so on a poor season you would have to leave them longer.

5 seed per bag seems a lot I only use 4 in an 80ltr bin so you would really have to water them. A potato at harvest is over 80% water so if you don't feed and water correctly you will get a poor crop. On a hot day I pour a 2 gallon bucket straight into the bin to ensure the compost is damped all the way to the bottom. Also do not rely on rain, the haulm is natures best umbrella and rain will do very little good.