Growing Potatoes in Containers - photos included

[Georgie]

Go on G have a little firkle.  :P      ;D ;D ;D

Hmmm,you trying to wreck my chances of winning your challenge, Kev?   ;)

I reckon another two weeks!

You said end of May last time Flighty!

G x

[Georgie]

[Flighty]

Sorry G that's for mine! They say ten weeks and you planted yours mid March so this is week eight. xx

[cornykev]

I thought earlies were 14 weeks or is that just in the ground.  ???     ;D ;D ;D

[Flighty]

Kev these are first earlies, second earlies are 13/14 weeks.

[Georgie]

Well, it was harvest time today.  I cut a little door in the sack last weekend but couldn't seem to find anything with my tentative firkle.  However I decided it was now or never as I really need the space they are taking up for summer crops.

First I moved everything else out of the way and laid the sack on its side.



Then I slit the sack from top to bottom with a sharp knife and opened it up.  The compost was damp all the way through.



Moved the compost aside gently and things looked promising.



And this was the full harvest - about four portions.



The large potato top left was beginning to rot and was in no fit state.  Nor were the other four in the next picture which were bascally yellow slime.  Yuck!  I'd be interested to know your thoughts on what happened to them.



Conclusion

I cooked the smallest ones this evening and they tasted good although by no means the best new potatoes I've ever tried. At a cost of about £1 per portion they are by no means cheap to grow although it is nice to know they are completely chemical free. 

Would I grow potoatoes in containers again in my small garden?  No, I doubt it.  It hardly seemed worth the effort or the expense.  But it was fun.  :D

G x

[manicscousers]

are the manky ones the 'mummies' ?

[saddad]

yes....  :)

[Flighty]

Georgie you must be a bit disappointed with that!
I'll be digging some of mine up over the weekend so you'll see how I got on. xx

[Georgie]

are the manky ones the 'mummies' ?

Sorry I'm new to this.  Is this normal then?  I thought it was a virus/pest?

G x

[thifasmom]

yes the manky ones were the seed potatoes. this is very similar to what i have experienced every year with earlies but this the first year i'm growing maincrops and second earlies so it will be interesting to see if i will get better crops from them when i harvest later in the season.

[Georgie]

Well Flighty, I'm pleased I got something but yes, disappointed with the yield.  I hope you do better.   ;D

Thanks for the info re the 'mummies', Thifasmom, and it's interesting to hear that you have had similar poor yields with first earlies.  Do let us know how you get on with your second earlies.   :)

G x

[Hosta]

That is a shame Georgie, no wonder you are disapointed.

I will leave mine another week I think.

[mpdjulie]

I love the idea of growing in bags/sacks.  We have some earlies and maincrops spread over four 4 x 8ft beds at the mo but I would love some more.  Is it too late to plant more spuds and if not what variety should I go for?  As for what would I grow them in I think black thick rubble sacks?

[phoenix_co2]

ok, can you tell by lookingat your plant wether its time to have a little firkle, mine are flowering now, do i wait until all the flowers are dead???

[laurieuk]

I have had some fun this year trying just one potato in a container, I have shown the stages on my blog spot and due to weather damage with the very strong wind damaging the foliage I emptied out today .You can see the results on my blog spot.

I am also doing carrots and parsnips in containers

[Flighty]

Phoenix yes I'd wait until they've flowered.

Laurie what variety are they?

[Hosta]

Had a look at mine and they are just starting to flower - even the first earlies, which we werent sure if they would or not.  So think I will leave them till the flowers die - is that correct ?  So wont be tipping them out or having a firkle till then.  Ooo, the waiting is killing me !!  LOL  It better be worth it !!

[manicscousers]

ok, can you tell by lookingat your plant wether its time to have a little firkle, mine are flowering now, do i wait until all the flowers are dead???

our swift didn't flower, what type are your spuds, phoenix, earlies, seconds?

[Flighty]

Hosta I'd leave the first earlies another week then!

[mummybunny]

hi all i came back from hols today to find my 4 bags of swift covered in greenfly and looking in a very sorry state so thought i may as well see what i had to save   :-\  I also have some in the ground  ::). I was happy to find 9lb of lovely spuds  ;D.

Question is what do i do with all the spent compost and the stems (if that's what you call them?) can i compost or would them not be a good idea seeing as the greenfly was such a problem!!

so surprised how the garden has changed over the last two weeks while Ive been away i have a day of weeding and tidying up to do tomorrow then down the lottie the weekend hopefully to see how things are going on there.

Also i forgot to plant some Maris pipper i was given before i went away down the lottie is it too late?

Thanks Lucy