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since there is so much interest in growing potatoes on this forum
I thought i would post this link to help those who what grow them get best production for there money.
http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/7-ways-plant-potatoes

my one potato plant at moment is out in hot bed


ps i am sure there plenty of other methods  still to be tested.

Interesting that the raised bed potatoes were planted so close together and yet were high-yielding. I space mine further apart.

guess you need to plant closer in future

Probably not since I plant in "hilled rows". But I might do a wee experiment with a few and compare the results!  ;)

hilling is a proven method even better if seed potato is big and started early.

I tried the straw mulch method last year, along with the more traditional hilled rows.

I found the straw worked well - the tubers were smaller but suffered less wire worm and slug damage.

The best thing was the ease of harvesting - it took about an hour to gather the spuds, and the soil underneath the straw was perfectly conditioned for a quick crop of brassicas.  I composted the straw so that'll help next year when I improve the soil.

I've heard a lot about people growing spuds in 4 stacked tires, making harvesting easier as you just remove a tire at a time.  I think I'm going to try that this year along with other methods, especially as I need to get four new tires on my car tomorrow!!

We've tried growing in bags, right up to "builders bag" cubic metre size.  TThe comment on the website about the plants getting too hot is unfortunately true.  The potatoes that we got were of high quality, but meagre quantities.

I 'used a no dig method with leaf mould and compost.  Very pleased with the results, low levels of scab.  I got good crop.

Did a composite method as well where they were grown in hills and earthed and and then the whole thing was mulched with straw to keep the moisture in.