Pototoes in Bags

[Dig-in-Dudley]

Hi Folks
I'm brand new to this forum & am looking for some advice. After getting the "grow your own veg" bug last year (started with salads, french beans, carrots, radishes & cherry toms ... yum!) I've branched out this year & decided to grow some potatoes in black sacks. Everything is going really well & they've been earthed up a number of times & this is my problem; when I've harvested my lovely "tasty tatties" what can I do with the soil? Can it be scattered on my garden in amongst my plants or can I keep it & re-use it next year? I'm going to have 6 sacks of tattie soil so I hope you can appreciate my concerns! I got a bit carried away when I read how easy it was to grow them in sacks!

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the Vine.

I riddle out the spud roots and any weeny spuds and put the soil into the compost bin. Not actually had any compost ready yet since I only started growing my own last year too. Guess it is okay though, or, again if you riddle out the roots or at least the little spuds (to stop them sprouting where you don't want them) you could prolly use it as a mulch round fruit bushes.

I am sure the experienced grapes will soon be along to tell us how wrong I am Enjoy your gardening.

[nick the grief]

Spread it on your garden ( but not where you are growing Potatoes or Tomatoes) as they could pick up any pests or disease that is going. Alternativly get some pots/tubs and fill them with it, add a bit of Blood fish & bone (I guess you'll want about a desert spoonfull to a 14" pot/tub) and then you could grow carrots/beans/courgettes in it then use as a mulch next year.

SOrry forgot, Welcome to the Vine Dig in Dudley

[JennieAtkinson]

Welcome to the Vine Dudley!

I grow in bags and pots, but so far have always put the residue in the compost bin. If you do, make sure you get ALL the little potatoes and roots out first as if you spread it on the ground, you can get potatoes coming up everywhere the next year. That's why I prefer to put it into the compost bin first.

[Flummery]

I agree - it makes a brilliant soil conditioner.