Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I really want to grow a decent crop of potatoes. I have read various topics on many forums including on this one. I just still don't understand how to grow them. The shop near me has seed potatoes instock, but what do I do when/if I buy them. Also a few question; Can anybody explain it easily? Is it ok to just grow them in a large tub or bucket? How long does it take from planting to harvesting? Thanks, Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Hi Martin! Put about 10 cm of compost into a large pot, then plant a couple of seed potatoes on top and a bit more compost. When the leaves start poking through, put more compost in the pot. You want to exclude the light for the first few weeks as this turns the growing spuds green. When you fill the pots after a while, just let the leaves poke through. Some people 'chit' the seed potatoes, where you leave then somewhere frost free for a couple of weeks for the small shoots to grow, then plant. I have mine chitting in the shed at the mo, but only because i bought them early and didn't want them to rot in the bag. I've had lots of success with spuds by just planting them, without the chitting. They take a good few months to grow, but worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 Thanks Christian, I thought you may be able to help! It seems really simple when you put it like that. I saw an advert for a potato growing thing in GYO Magazine, and it cost £23.00! Now that I have an idea of what to do, it makes me think why would somebody pay so much for something that appears so easy! Thanks again, Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Martin, my dad grew potatoes in those orange buckets you get for 99p in B&Q last year - two seed potatoes per bucket, and he had a pretty good crop. Looked pretty simple, so I'm planning to try myself this year. Does anyone know if mid-April is too late to start them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 I love those Orange buckets! They are so stylish! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 My dad has rows and rows of them outside his house filled with tatties. Not sure the neighbours approve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 I might get 6 buckets next time I'm in B&Q! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Go for it Martin I've just ordered some seed potatoes from the Organic Gardener catalogue. I know I am a bit late. I had the cook's choice selection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 Thanks Debs! Do they need planting now? How can I get a decent crop throughout the whole year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 My neighbour grows them in old compost bags or very strong black bags. He starts off with them rolled down and as the potatoes are earthed up, the bag gets rolled up too. He swears by it as you can stand the bags in poor soil, or even a patio and still get a reasonable crop. I'm going to try this. My seed potatoes are chitting as we speak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Martin - even better idea is and this will save you a few bob on buckets. Get 2 bags of organic compost from the Garden centre and also a couple of black bin bags Put the same 1/3 amount of compost in both black bin bags and leave 1/3 in the compost bag. Plant 4 potato tubers (Seed pototes) in each bag and then make a couple of holes in the bags to help drainage. Leave them for a few weeks and as they grow gradually fell up the bags with compost from the 2nd compost bag. Once they have flowered the are ready to crop - simply slice open the bags There you have a crop of spuds - dead easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 ooops sorry eglutine - great minds think alike!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Martin, when you harvest them leave them on the soil for a good few hours for the sun to dry the skins slightly. They should keep for a few months in a 'heavy' paper sack in the shed. I'm going to use the pellet sacks turned inside out as they are nice strong bags! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N&J Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Debs - i don't think you are late - i have not planted mine yet - it has rained that much at the lately so the ground is still quite cold! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 ooops sorry eglutine - great minds think alike!! Glad we are on the same wavelength! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Oh good Our garden is like a swamp at the moment, but we are ordering some of those Linkabords for next week so we can have raised beds I think we will put the potatoes in some sort of container though as they do take up a bit of room don't they? I think we will spend most of the weekend in our new greenhouse as we have lots of planting to do Weather forecast for us looks really good for the next 5 days at least, dry with lots of sunny intervals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 There was a really good article about growing pots in this way in LAST months Good Food Magazine,if anyone still has it laying around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 You are not too late for planting your first earlies March is the time, wait until after the last frost then plant them out ...........If you want pots. all year round you will have to plant first earlies then maybe a main crop later on, good luck everyone i am going to use the compost bag option, i have my first earlies chitting at the moment and intend to plant them this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 The compost bag idea is a good one, but the buckets are very appealing. I shall have to have a think. How much do the seed potatoes cost? Thanks, Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I, stupidly, paid £6 for 1.5 kilos! Most garden centres do them now much cheaper. Plus you can buy a few of each variety. My local garden centre sells them for £1.30 a kilo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 Why did you pay so much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Because i'm backward sometimes I always get them from the organic gardening catlaogue as i have never seen them in the shops before. We moved to a new area in May last year and my local family run garden centre does EVERYTHING. They are fab. Will prob get some seedlings from them as I don't have a green house and the window sills are already full. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 7, 2007 Author Share Posted March 7, 2007 Do they do plug plants. Next month in Kitchen Garden you can get 20 lettuce plug plants for only £2.99 P&P! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 Pretty sure they do most veg as seedlings. I have loads planted up on the window sill, but they keep growing towards to light and i'm not here enough to keep turning them. OH keeps forgetting . I need a green house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 8, 2007 Author Share Posted March 8, 2007 It sounds like it Christian! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
