Extra early potatoes

[caroline7758]

I'm thinking of planting a few potatoes in a bucket to get some extra early ones. Two questions- how deep does the bucket need to be? And will they be ok in an unheated greenhouse?

[caroline7758]

[quizzical1]

Hi Caroline,
I suspect that an ordinary bucket just would not be deep enough. The way I have read about for container grown potatoes, suggests at least 2 foot deep, half filled to start with, then compost added as the haulms grow.
Perhaps an old plastic dustbin with suitable drainage holes in would be better?
Or could you obtain some semi rigid(IE reasonably flexible but not limp) plastic sheet to form a tube about 2 foot high by 18 inches in diameter?
N A Kay's have in their catalogue,large black polythene pots they claim are suitable for growing potatoes. They hold either 40 or 50 litres of compost when filled.
Unfortunately the minimum qty is 50 bags to buy. I have not tried them for potatoes, but have successfully grown tomatoes in smaller one in the greenhouse.

www.kaysdiscountgarden.co.uk

[Marymary]

Last year I got some very cheap big plastic pots from Asda & grew early potatoes very well in them, I had them out very early & covered them with fleece till after the frosts.

[caroline7758]

Maybe I could just use an old compost bag? Just checked the Marshall's catalogue & the "Gro-sacks" they are selling are only 18" high & 12" wide.

[jennym]

Reckon an old compost bag would be ok, you'd need to pierce some holes in bottom for drainage but you'd get the depth you want. You'd probably need to limit the number planted to 2 or 3 at the very most. Should be fine in an unheated greenhouse, it's worth a try anyway.

[Toadspawn]

I used builders type buckets bought from Wilkinsons for £0.99 last year. Drainage holes drilled in the bottom, 2-3" compost in base, tuber placed on top and covered with a handful of compost and then more compost added as the plant grew and until the bucket was full. Fertiliser added as necessary and water applied every day.  Buckets kept in GH and it worked well.

[Paulines7]

I also grew some in an unheated greenhouse last year.  I had several containers.  Two were old, plastic, kitchen waste bins and some were builders buckets.  I put them outside in April and harvested in early May.  The potatoes were lovely.   ;D ;D

[CityChick]

I've grown them in large pots (bucket sized), and smaller pots (out of desperation: potatoes left - run out of big pots!)  I got a reduced yield of smaller potatoes in the smaller pots, and I had to water much more (but they still grew and tasted great!).  My brother grew his in an old compost bag in an unheated green house and that was very successful as well.

We did much the same as everyone else: started with about 3 or 4 inches of compost in the bottom, seed potatoes on top, and cover with a layer of compost.  As the shoots come through, cover with compost again until you get to the top of the pot or bag.  (The compost bags work quite well because you can roll them down to start, and unroll them as they fill up, and up and up...).

I'm also going to try some of mine really early in an unheated greenhouse, and covered with fleece too.  If the frost still gets them I'll just plant some more later, but if it works it'll be sooooo worth it!!  You can never have those first new potatoes too early ;)

[cornykev]

That's it then two big flower pots in garden   half fill with compost/soil    two/three spuds in each   cover with fleece   early new spuds    job done.     :P :P :P ;D ;D

[philcooper]

Have a look at the other potato threads there's lots of advice on container growing.

Don't half fill a container 4" is enough, the rest is waste.

Using the search before launching a new thread will reveal much distilled knowledge

Phil

[caroline7758]

Thanks everyone- just need to replace the broken pane in my greenhouse, then I can get them started!

[saddad]

Reminds me we need to replace one pane, the wind broke it and about 1/4 of it fell out...
;D

[cornykev]

That can be a real   pain    when that happens Saddad. ;D ;D ;D