Topic: Homemade potato bucket!

[Jayb]

Here's my mark one, newly made yesterday and modeled on the Agralan/Marshalls ones (thanks Ellen K and TeeGee)
Used -
Morrison flower buckets
Stanley knife

The cut outs are a bit wonky, but I'm not too fussed. I think it should hold about 10 litres of compost, maybe 12 if I'm lucky. It's on the small side but should do for earlies?

[Tee Gee]

Who's a clever girl then?

To me they look as good as the Agralan type.

 I am glad to have been of help....Tg

[galina]

That's really good Jayb!  .............. as TG said   

[Jayb]

Thanks, those flower buckets are quite flimsy and easy to cut, it was really easy to do and took just a few minuets 
Mark one bucket is now filled with compost, a little fertilizer and planted with one, possibly Abbot or Pentland Javelin tuber 
We'll see how well it works over the next 8 weeks, if it doesn't get blighted!

[Tee Gee]

We'll see how well it works over the next 8 weeks

With pictures please so we can compare with Agralan

[Jayb]

Will do   

[goodlife]

I didn't know about these planters.. http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/potato-grow-pot-single-pid8918.html

Gosh they are pricey! Your version look as good and I'm sure it does the job I'm looking forward for your report to see how they perform.
In mean while...I'll sharpen me Stanley, pile up with buckets and get ready for cutting...

[Digeroo]

I suppose the advantage of the bought one is that it is bigger, but yours looks brilliant.  After all you can do a few earlies eat a few small potatoes and then when it gets a bit too big throw it into the ground.

Must find my Stanley knife.

[Silverleaf]

Brilliant!

[Jayb]

Forgot to say I haven't drilled holes for drainage in Mark1. Mainly because I was thinking it was going to be an indoor growing item and with careful watering it might avoid run off. I think I might try a water spike at some point. Mark11 will have drainage to compare.

Also the pots can get so jammed together, it might be worth adding some string/rope to use as a handle, to pull out the cutout one without too much faff?

[pumkinlover]

I didn't know about these planters.. http://www.marshalls-seeds.co.uk/potato-grow-pot-single-pid8918.html

Gosh they are pricey! Your version look as good and I'm sure it does the job I'm looking forward for your report to see how they perform.
In mean while...I'll sharpen me Stanley, pile up with buckets and get ready for cutting...

Yes they seem expensive but you have to take into account that jayb had to buy all the flowers in the buckets, so maybe not so pricey
The house looked lovely though

[tricia]

At my local Morrison's you get 8-10 for a £1 - and they last for years  .

Tricia

[goodlife]

Yes they seem expensive but you have to take into account that jayb had to buy all the flowers in the buckets, so maybe not so pricey
The house looked lovely though

 

[markfield rover]

Ooh , right that has to be preferable to my collapsing black bags , thanks Jayb .

[Digeroo]

Also the pots can get so jammed together, it might be worth adding some string/rope to use as a handle, to pull out the cutout one without too much faff?

Even better then the original/

The Morrisons flower buckets are not very expensive they will give you a stack for £1. 

Are you starting some now, feels like a challenge coming on.

[Jayb]

At my local Morrison's you get 8-10 for a £1 - and they last for years  .

Tricia

Snap mine are from Morrisons 

Also the pots can get so jammed together, it might be worth adding some string/rope to use as a handle, to pull out the cutout one without too much faff?

Even better then the original/

The Morrisons flower buckets are not very expensive they will give you a stack for £1. 

Are you starting some now, feels like a challenge coming on.

Yes I'll be planting three up this afternoon  It will be great if you do some too and anyone else who fancies joining in   

It's been raining this morning     so I've made up another 3 double buckets, I've used up all the ones I had spare, but at 25p for an individual potato bucket I'll pick some more up next time I pass morrisons. 

The latest Mark11 types have holes drilled in the base of the buckets for drainage, and have a length of nylon cord at the top of the insert for a handle.

I'll take a picture later on today.

[Jayb]

Here's the Mark one filled. The tuber I planted had sprouts, but nothing too long.
Edit to add It's not easy to separate the two buckets when filled. It goes a bit floppy and distorts with the weight as you try to lift, if you don't have your hands above the remaining 2 intact sections. The string on the mark11 will mark the spot.

[Jayb]

Modified Mark11
The drainage holes could have done with being a bit bigger.

[Tee Gee]

I have been thinking about another design for these bucket and that is cut three slots rather than two and hopefully this will add some rigidity to the inner bucket without losing the effect.

I am thinking that as the rootball develops it might bulge out of the slots thus making it difficult to extract the inner bucket.

To do this I would measure the circumference of the bucket at the top point of the slots and divide by six.

Example: circumference is 24" divided by six equals four so each slot and each remaining panel will be 4" wide rather than as in the two panel slots, where they would be 6" wide which might be a bit too much.

As I said it is only a thought to try and develop what is already a good idea in the first place.

Over to you Jayb

[Jayb]

The more ideas the better, size shape etc 

A three way cut out was my first thoughts, I went with the two after looking at pictures on the internet, but the quality of bucket might make all the difference. Having the three panels might help, are you doing some TeeGee, I wonder if the cut outs are big enough to easily find the potatoes?