Hello everyone again and happy new year, Just a question about growing spuds in large recycling bins, do they grow just aswell? i find they take up too much space on my small garden lottie so i was hoping to stick some on the patio to save space, does this work just as well? thanks in advance for any replies.
I'm sorry, just popped in before going back to work, but I know there are threads on here about container growing potatoes and photos of how to do it too. J Sanders did a thread I think last year, wish I had time to do a linkl for you, perhaps when I get back...
I did some in large flower buckets last year and they were excellent, going to do some more this year. Â I was told that you should only do first earlies in pots but I'm sure someone can prove me wrong...............(I grew Duke of York last year if that's any help).
The thread you want is "Bucket potatoes" in Growing Under Glass:
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,7781.0.html
moonbells
Here is a summary I posted a while again, hope it helps.
Jerry
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,7174.0.html
Gunnerbee,
The advice in the threads is very good - and it works very well!
Phil
Thank you for finding the threads while I was at work! Gunnerbee, I grew potatoes this way last year and they were wonderful, I shall certainly be doing it again. Glad you now have all the info.
Hi all, I'm new on here but I just thought I'd share my experience. Last year I decided I'd plant some potatoes in my garden. I have heavy clay that I can't be bothered to dig so everything goes in pots. I bought a couple of my favourite potatoes (King Edward) from the supermarket and chitted. I found two smallish kitchen bins and drilled holes in the bottom then filled with compost from growbags. I then just put the spuds in the top slightly under the surface and left them to it. When shhots came through I put some straw over the suface of the compost to stop the light getting at the spuds. I kept them watered all summer and a couple of weeks after they flowered I dug them up. They were small and yummy.
It is probably clear to you that I had no idea what I was doing as I didn't do any of the earthing up and I dug up a maincrop potato before the haulms had died back. I had looked in books but they only gave info on how to grow in the ground so I only sort of read it and improvised. young King edwards are lovely cooked just like jersey new potatoes ( boiled then covered in butter and chives).
I will be growing more this year but will try to get a few big ones aswell now I know how it should be done.
Stuffed,
I'm glad you had success last year. All spuds will produce small, yummy tubers but first and second earlies are bred specifically to produce a relatively large number of small tubers quickly. maincrop varieties, like KE tend to produce fewer tubers which will grow to a larger size, eventually.
If you can get hold of Lady Christl or Red Duke of York, I would try those.
They will be ready before the tops die back, you can carefully scratch the surface material away to see if they are big enough before harvesting - if they aren't just put the compost back.
Even earlies benefit from feeding - try a seaweed based product like Maxicrop - not cheap but it helps produce the quantity without sacrificing the quality ie taste
Phil
Thanks for the advice
Quote from: philcooper on January 12, 2006, 11:05:12
They will be ready before the tops die back, you can carefully scratch the surface material away to see if they are big enough before harvesting - if they aren't just put the compost back.
Thanks, I didn't know this, and I'd have been waiting in the early summer for my earlies tops to die off ::) duh
What is the minimum depth for growing earlies in tubs? Is a normal bucket deep enough as I've got loads.