Topic: Homemade potato bucket!

[galina]

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?

If the inner bucket (with holes at the base) was to rest on some gravel, would that lift it sufficiently to make taking out easier?  Would the gravelled area provide a little water reservoir too?  With a drainage hole in the outer bucket just above the level of where the inner bucket sits on the gravel that any surplus water would drain.  Could even thread a thin strip of capillary matting through the holes at the base of the inner bucket into the water reservoir at the base of the outer bucket.  Just thinking along the lines of home-made self watering pots. 

http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/5-self-watering-planters-easy-vegetable-gardening.html

Or is this what you meant by water spike?  Didn't understand that bit, Jayb.   

[Jayb]

Sorry I'm ages coming back to this thread. Nice ideas with the siting of drainage holes and the use of gravel, something to experiment with

Drilling holes in the outer as well as the inner does make them easier to separate, I've been thinking of placing the buckets on a growbag tray and using that as a bit of a reservoir.

Not sure now what I meant by a water spike unless it's the type that is attached to a 2 litre water bottle?

[Jayb]

I've been quite pleased with the homemade potato buckets, I've planted some up with Abbot potatoes, the first shoots are just showing above the compost. I'm planning on making up some more buckets hopefully this weekend.

Some progress piccies from last year, not a huge crop from this bucket, but I'd already picked a few.

[Robert_Brenchley]

What size buckets did you use?

[Jayb]

I've been using Morrison's flower buckets, I would think they hold around 10 liters of compost, possibly 12.

[Robert_Brenchley]

that's the size (roughyly) that I've bene using for TPS plants - I put four in a bucket - but I'm not sure about using them for full-sized plants.

[johhnyco15]

last year i got 5 8ltr potato bags from thompson and morgan a gardeners world freebie had some great charlotte around 1 kilo per bag and all around 2" long planted them up again this year in the greenhouse their just putting the heads out so this week ill fill the bags to the top and let them get on with it

[Hector]

This got me thinking today. I use a soldering iron instead of a drill to put in drainage holes in the ex- flower containers.
*it does give off fumes. So I tilt the pot and sit in garden to do it*  I know this is obvious but don't want to bump anyone off ;) Tilting pot stops fumes going straight up to my face. I use soldering iron as was cracking pots when I drilled...might be my technique

This works great and means I can cut out shapes. I'm going to try one of your potato ones tomorrow.

Not sure if this info is of any use but....Today I was making a slit in middle-bottom of my pots to thread in a "wick" to go into the gravel tray for capillary watering...well, that's the plan. ( I usually sit posts with several soldered holes on a tray with some clay granules.).

[Jayb]

that's the size (roughyly) that I've bene using for TPS plants - I put four in a bucket - but I'm not sure about using them for full-sized plants.

They've worked well for earlies, but yes too small for maincrops. I've sown lots of tps varieties (nothing through yet) some I only want for mini tuber selection so I might plant some up with them Also I seem to have a lot of mini tubers, some might be more suitable for growing in pots than the open ground.

[Tee Gee]

Are you doing some TeeGee, I wonder if the cut outs are big enough to easily find the potatoes?

No I don't think I will be doing any although I have dozens of buckets.

In terms of getting the potatoes out with a smaller gap I don't think you will have much of a problem because as you have found the strips a flexible so will widen slightly as you remove the tubers, plus the fact early tubers are quite often smaller than 2nd earliest and main crop.

If not you can revert back to the Mk 1 for future plantings.

[Jayb]

Thanks Hector, I don't have a soldering iron, but can see the benefit of ease of making holes or free form shapes. Some of the flower buckets have a tendency to split so need care when cutting or drilling. Like your's and Galina's idea of using a wick/capillary matting, very similar to the method I used with some of my tomatoes, aubergines and peppers last year. Works a treat   

[Jayb]

Thanks Tee Gee, agree the flexibility of the inner pot does seem to aid harvesting.

[Hector]

JayB what capillary material did you use...I have some old dishcloth an tee shirts I'm eyeing up.


I got a dirt cheap soldering iron like this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00XMRPMUG?keywords=Soldering%20iron&qid=1457870331&ref_=sr_1_8&s=diy&sr=1-8

[johhnyco15]

I've been using Morrison's flower buckets, I would think they hold around 10 liters of compost, possibly 12.

had a look at your blog well done you