potato fertiliser

[Ricado]

I think my potatoes could do with something extra this year, as the yields are quite low on my sandy soil.

The question is what to use for the best results,  I use blood fish and bone for most things, but am not sure if this is substantial enough for potatoes ?

I was planning on adding the fertiliser at planting time.  Any ideas please ?

[Ricado]

[PAULW]

Ricado
You can get special potato fertiliser that feeds the tubers not the green stuff on the top check out the likes of T&M, Suttons or any of the seeds merchants for more info

[tinker]

 ric ,
   the poor yeilds may also be due to a lack of water in dry times, is your soil rich in organig matter? this will help to hold the water in to your light soil, I muck my spud bed when i dig it in the autumn,  and add a 20.10.10 fert at planting time, also main crop spuds need more nitrogen than earlies,

[PAULW]

TINK
DT Brown's potato fertiliser is 10 10 20

[philcooper]

TINK
DT Brown's potato fertiliser is 10 10 20

And no body!!!

Potatoes are gross feeders and benefit from soil in good condition so, as Tinker suggests, you need as much organic matter as possible and then an organic fertiliser, bf&b is good, seaweed meal is better. A foliar feed or two  of a seaweed based liquid when the top is fully grown does work wonders and goes straight to the plant. Maxicrop is good

Phil

[PAULW]

PHIL
Totally agree the condition of the ground is paramount what I was pointing out to TINK was his formula was the wrong way round nitrogen is not as important as the potassium needed for the root and tuber growth

[philcooper]

Paul,

I hadn't spotted that N rich fertiliser was being suggested - it's ideal if you want to smoother the weeds on the plot with lots of foliage but it's certianly not the best thing for a good yield

Phil

[Froglegs]

I feed mine with comfrey juice. ;D

[jennym]

I'm no expert on potato fertilisers, but remember being taught about nitrogen levels being required because the potato tuber itself isn't a root tuber, it's a stem tuber, therefore reacts well to nitrogen rich fertilisers.  If it's of interest, Defra have  recommendations regarding applications of nutrients for potatoes:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/land-manage/nutrient/fert/rb209/section4.pdf

[saddad]

Muck, the more the merrier...
;D