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General => News => Topic started by: Squash64 on August 30, 2011, 16:59:09

Title: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: Squash64 on August 30, 2011, 16:59:09
My neighbour won this competition to see who could grow the heaviest yield from a single potato.   He got 14lb 8oz.

[attachment=1]

I came last with a measly 1 pound!
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: manicscousers on August 30, 2011, 17:49:18
Excellent result, I can't be bothered looking after them, apart from early in the season, wonder what he fed them with  ;D
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: cornykev on August 30, 2011, 18:18:39
I've never had anywhere near as many as that, although the one I had in my back garden did quite well this year, but I didn't bother weighing them though, I still have some maincrop in about 6 tubs over the lottie.  ;D
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: lottie lou on August 30, 2011, 18:26:03
Brilliant result - can you ask him how he did it?
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: Squash64 on September 02, 2011, 08:10:49
He grew them in a metal dustbin with an old tyre on top to give extra height.  I think they were planted in his own compost and then just watered. 

Last year I won the competition with 14lb 4oz.  This year, I grew it in exactly the same way, with the same sort of compost and same watering and only got 1lb!

I noticed that another plotholder grew his in leaf-mould and he had two tubs with 11lb in each.
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: galina on September 02, 2011, 08:56:30
Impressive!  He must have watered them diligently.  Nice looking lot of potatoes.
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: Digeroo on September 02, 2011, 10:08:49
Impressive indeed.   Can you remember to post a thread about it next year please.
I have a good source of some nice leaf mould so would like to give it a whirl.
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: Spudbash on September 05, 2011, 18:09:45
When I grow spuds in florists' buckets, using homemade compost that includes leafmould, the more leafmould I use, the lower the yield. My leafmould is from oak leaves.

It's a funny business. Last year, someone won our gardening club competition for a potato plant in a bag, watering with Tomorite. I tried it this year and got masses of top growth and hardly any tubers.  ::)

So from now on, I'll probably stick to homemade compost (two parts soil to one of leafmould and one of garden compost,  plus chicken poo pellets), plus a regular feed of seaweed liquid.

The other vital ingredient, of course, is time... ;D
Title: Re: Spud in a tub competition
Post by: gavinjconway on September 17, 2011, 01:25:26
I did a whole lot of pots of various sizes on my roof for the first time this year. Got really good results.. Also used a wheelie bin but unfortunately was a bit dry in the lower regions but still got 5kg from 1 spud... next year hope to double it!!

(http://www.copy-cats.info/7spudstub.jpg)

(http://www.copy-cats.info/8wbincrop.jpg)