Topic: Growing potatoes in a dustbin?

[fitzsie]

I have a plastic dustbin left by the previous owners of our house and wondered if I could use it to grow potatoes this year. If so, how much soil should I start with and how many could I put in at what depth etc. Any tips gratefully received.
If not a good idea any other uses for the bin?

[cornykev]

I did one this year
I put polystyrene and broken bricks in the bottom
1/3 filled with soil and put 2 or 3 seeds in
Then topped up another 6 inches
Don't earth up right to the top or the water will run away.  :D

[OllieC]

I do some very earlies in one most years - swift or rocket. Plenty of drainage holes in the bottom, along with some rocks/crock. I then put about a foot of compost, place 3 spuds on top, cover with compost by a few inches & earth up to a few inches below the top. Old tea bags get used as part of the earthing up & the lid is put on if there's a forecast of less than 5C.

Carrots work really well too - this year we did them instead of spuds & got monsters (in fact we ate a few this week), normally we follow the spuds with them & still get reasonable ones in winter.

[saddad]

I do it too... usually with Micros to bulk up for a real sowing the following year...
Might do a carrot, parsnip, or long beet one just to show off...  :-X