Topic: Containers for Potatoes

[posie]

Although I'm growing spuds up the lottie, we eat loads of them, so thought I'd do some in containers at home as well.  I've got 2 dustbins here that the lids have gotten broken on so was going to get rid of them, would they do?  Only problem is they are transparent ones not black ones.  Failing that I also have a few of the big blue Ikea bags, could I use those?

[Vortex]

yes to all but you'll need to line the dustbins with old compost bags to exclude the light. I plant 5 seed potatoes per dustbin.
With the bags roll them down, like rolling a sock. Put 6" of soil/compost in the bottom, 3 seed potatoes, then another 6" of compost. As the halums grow unroll the bag and add more soil/compost.
Remember to water regularly. They need a lot more water than you think!
You can also use old tyres, waste paper bins, blue plastic containers (the sort used for vegetable products).....

[Sparkly]

I am going to try using tyres from our local garage. They have to pay to dispose of them, so they are glad if you offer to take them.

[alfie]

I was planning to plant some seed potatoes in 2 old plastic bins which i have been given.I am not sure if i need to make holes in the bottom for drainage? Also the potatoes will be mains-when should i plant them? I have only just put my 'Rocket' seed spuds in the ground as its been so wet and cold.
                    Any advice gratefully received. :)
             

[Fork]

Potatoes in containers need more care than those in the ground.

They will dry out in the containersd and have to be watered regular.You will need to put drainage holes in the containers though to guard against waterlogging.

[Blista]

Whehay! I'm liking the Ikea bag idea - simply because i live in Coventry - and they've just gone and opened a MASSIVE Ikea store here! Do they charge for them or give them away?

[posie]

Blue ones you have to buy, but I think they are only 30p each so a very inexpensive way of doing things!

[Vortex]

I've not tried tyres. Are you going to use compost, leaf mold, grass clippings, straw or a mixture?

[DeeBee]

How many spuds would you plant in an ikea bag?
Is it tall enough?

Having thoughts on getting some spuds going at home now! :)

[posie]

I would have thought maybe 3, 4 at a push DeeBee.  Only one way to find out!  ;D

[froglets]

We use compost bags - the 75l ones turned inside out.  Friends & family keep them for us.  We do one spud per bag, although you could probably do two, roll them down to plant and then roll up as we earth up.

[Barnowl]

I did 3 - 4 to a 75 l compost bag last year, but they were small seed potatoes Charlottes / Belle de Fontenay and  was after small potatoes anyway. Seemed to work ok.

Some advice: Someone on A4A advised that you should regularly add liquid feed when watering otherwise the potatoes can be a bit tasteless.

[Vortex]

I always mix a couple of handfuls of well rotted manure into the compost when  filling or topping up my bins/buckets.

[froglets]

A couple of handfulls - more like a couple of spadefulls here - compost =expensive - stable manure=freeeeeeee!

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

when you feed, best to use a high potash tomato one I think. I used a general purpose fertiliser and got masses and masses of foliage