Potato varieties for containers

[sherlockofsheff]

Hi

So grew a number varieties in 30l pots filled with manure, loam and compost, fertilised with Poundland organic potato fertiliser (costs around a fiver in garden centre). Started them off in greenhouse then moved outside after last frost. Was hoping for great things but been a bit disappointed. Here's how I got on.

Maris bard = quite low yield, boring potato
Arran pilot = pathetic yield, quite nice potato
Sharps express = low yield, horrible potato
Pentland javelin = very low yield, very nice potato
Foremost = best yield (2kg), nice for mash, not for salad
Kestrel = pathetic yield (had tons when I've grown them in the ground before), boring potato
Nicola = very low yield, very nice potato
Charlotte = fairly good yield (1.5kg), very nice potato

I still have PFA to harvest and an eclectic good things given the size of the haulms.

Obviously I will be growing Charlotte again and will try lady Christel and Anya next year but was wondering if anyone could recommend a variety which gives good yields from containers and is a nice salad potato, the waxier the better.

Also on homegrown veg on YouTube, he recycled his soul and uses it year on year. The soil from my containers looks lovely. Was wondering if anyone else did this.

Thanks in advance

Steve

[geepee]

Pfa.....?????

[bramble]

Hi Sherlock, when did you plant your potatoes?
Did you water them well as the weather has been very warm and dry.
How many potatoes per pot.
We're they outdoors or in a greenhouse or poly tunnel.
We're the seed potatoes saved or bought in a garden centre.
Sorry to hear you were disappointed but there are so many things to take into consideration apart from the growing medium.

[geepee]

Using ReCycled Compost is not uncommon, depending on what crop was grown previously.
personally, I Recycle my compost through a 'Dalek' type bin overwinter, but seperate it into previous crop lots.
Next year I mix with FYM and New MP but dont grow the same crop as previous year.
Potatoes are quite Nutrient reliant and will definitely respond to FYM rich soil, but they also require the correct levels of P+K to maximize nutrient efficiency.
Sometimes cheap fertilizers appear attractive but do not always contain/do what it says on the tin...!!
Seed Potato selection and source is important to avoid seed borne disease etc, check sites on Google Re seed suppliers.
As far as Variety .....Rocket has been my preffered variety for first earlies, this year I grew Accord alongside and found them to br 7-10 days earlier and higher yielding.
lady 'C', after 2 years growing, have been disappointing and succumbed to black Leg, (seed borne).
Cassablanca, late for a first early, but are growing on.
Older varieties such as Maaris Piper ,Estima for main crop, in my mind stll take a lot of beating for yield and flavour/useage.
Gp

[Penellype]

Pfa.....?????

Pink Fir Apple?

[Penellype]

Having grown potatoes in 30 litre buckets for several years now I have come to the following conclusions:

1. Starting potatoes off in the greenhouse is fine if you want very early, small new potatoes. If you want to grow them on for bigger potatoes or use the greenhouse for something else, they are better started off where you want to grow them and not moved. I think this is because the plants put roots through the drainage holes at the bottom of the pots, and don't like having these broken off. I have never had a big yield from a pot that has been moved. I find covering them with a polythene cloche which can be removed when the weather warms up works well.

2. Buckets of potatoes need more water than you think, but pouring this on top of the stems risks blackleg. Give them the option to get some water from below by putting the bucket on soil or organic material, or give them a drip tray. You may still need to water from the top, but try to avoid soaking the stems repeatedly. Lack of water leads to smaller yields and dry, floury potatoes.

3. Potatoes will grow well in shade but for maximum yields plenty of sunshine is needed.

Apart from specific varieties such as Rocket and Sarpo Mira, which are known for huge crops, I think the above factors are more important than the variety.