Topic: Potato Barrel

[DarkSkies]

Due to a lack of space on my new allotment (as I haven't managed to remove all the couch grass yet), I am thinking of popping a potato barrel on my sun drenched patio. Has anyone had any experience of growing potato's in barrels/pots rather than in the ground?  Seems simple enough, if a tad costly, and should avoid the wireworm problems that would be present in my first year of growing.

Also congratulations on the site, exellently done.  :)

[rdak]

have never used one, always been put off by the price. Cheap alternative is an old compost bag. Roll the sides down and plant the potato near the bottom, then when it grows, earth up whilst rolling up the sides of the bag. Sure someone here posted that info before..?

[DarkSkies]

have never used one, always been put off by the price. Cheap alternative is an old compost bag. Roll the sides down and plant the potato near the bottom, then when it grows, earth up whilst rolling up the sides of the bag. Sure someone here posted that info before..?

Ahh, I thought about that but the barrel, although £22-95 from T&M, seemed longer lasting and more sightly.  I was hoping to get a good few years out of it.

[The gardener]

You could do a Bob Flowerdew and use car tyres.

Start with two tyres fill first one with compost, lay two or three* evenly spaced seed tubers on top of this , add another tyre and fill this with compost.

As the potatoes grow in height add successive tyres normally up to 4/5 in total filling up with compost as you go.

* subject to diameter.

[budgiebreeder]

As I dont have a lottie now and space is at a premium.I use the large compost bag method.With good success i may add.They dont look all that unsightly on the patio,especially when i know i will be still eating home grown potatoes at this time next year.

[Doris_Pinks]

I use big round childrens toy containers from Focus, to grow a few at home. (aim for the green ones!)
Drill a few holes in the bottom, throw in soil and 3 pots per tub, top up soil as needed, and that has worked well. DP

[john_miller]

  Whatever else you use do not use tyres. They are not approved for food production due to the high toxicity of their composite materials and the tendency of these materials to diffuse into water.
 Last year I used wooden crates that I obtained from a vegetable wholesaler. This might be an alternative for you.

[The gardener]

Interesting that John!

As I said it is the 'Bob Flowerdew' way not mine.

And yes I think I must agree with you although I had never ever given it any thought before.

[john_miller]

 I have no idea who Bob Flowerdew is, except through the Beeb gardening boards. This method, attributed to him then too, came up at this time last year. To me it beggars belief that a gardener, deemed knowledgeable enough to get on national television, can advocate such a dangerous system of growing.
 Setting aside my personal horror at such outright ignorance of the consequences of his advice it is illegal to use anything in a manner for which it was not intended. Others have expressed dismay at some of the laws that they are subject to but some are protective of the public and for very good reasons. I am not dogmatic in general but anything involving what I eat I am scrupulous about.
 Knowing that the trans-fatty acids used in insecticidal soaps are exactly the same as in dishwashing liquid results in me using the latter for aphid control. Only when we have the best available knowledge about something should we challenge or ignore such advice.

[Mrs Ava]

My sister has a tiny garden and wanted to grow spuds so her hubby bought her a potato barrel from Chrimble 2002.  Last year she used it, can't remember the spuds she grew, but she followed the instructions and we were all amazed, and she was chuffed, with the results.  She harvested a couple of carrier bags packed full of good sized tatties, all perfect, no fork marks, no slug damage and no green bits.  She is doing it again this year, this time with Golden Wonder tats.  She is trying some other veggies in pots and tubs also.  I fear she is hooked!  ;D

[DarkSkies]

I have just ordered the barrel but after a number of suggestions here I think I might suppliment with green toy containers.  Compare both .  Spud lishious.  From what I read, you can grow first earilies then plant second earlies late to get an autumn crop, sounds good to me.