Installing Indoor Cat Tree

[Laura007]

righty ho then, can someone please give me a bit of advise on growing spuds.

 

i'd really like to have a go at growing them but i will be growing them in a large tub, so i would really like to know whats the best variety and when to plant them.

 

thank you for your help.

[Lesley]

Hi Laura

You won't be planting them until Easter so you've got plenty of time to have a look at what is available and what qualities you want from a potato.

 

both Marshalls and Thompson and Morgan (websites listed in topic 'overwintering veg') have potatoes and list the varieties that they have.

 

We buy ours in February.

[Trish]

I got some free tubers of Anya this year, which is a salad spud and it did great in old compost bags. We got loads from just 5 tubers

[Cate in NZ]

I generally grow my potatoes in old tyres . We have about 5 towers 3-4 tyres high at the back of the greenhouse. Each spring I fill them with fresh compost & a few tubers, and they grow really well

[Mel (& Paul)]

A la Bob Flowerdew I presume (I LOVE his name!!)

We have bought some really cheap compost bins (£5 each) and intend growing new potatoes next year!

[Lesley]

Most people can get compost bins from their local council - £5 each. It's worth enquiring.

[Mel (& Paul)]

Most certainly!

Not only will we have a rainbow of eglus but we will have a parade of compost bins (just have to remember which have taters in and which has chicken poo.......)

[Lesley]

.....or both!

[Mel (& Paul)]

mmmmmmmm......

[Jenny]

righty ho then, can someone please give me a bit of advise on growing spuds.

 

i'd really like to have a go at growing them but i will be growing them in a large tub, so i would really like to know whats the best variety and when to plant them.

 

thank you for your help.

 

Spuds are easy to grow and very good for breaking up new ground. If you are interested in getting organic seed potatoes have a look at the Organic Garden Catalogue (www.OrganicCatalogue.com) It works in partnership with the Organic gardening centre at Ryton Gardens in Coventry - well worth a visit - they have a potato day sometime in february but I don't know the date yet

[Guest]

I've never grown spuds in a bin or any sort of holder before but it sounds a good idea. What do you do - do you layer compost and tubers or what?

I'd like to have a go because although potatoes are supposed to break up new ground, our spuds have struggled this year on a new bit of garden that is solid clay, so any helpful hints would be much appreciated.

[soufflé]

Sorry, that was me with the potato question - I forgot to sign in

[Mel (& Paul)]

I am sure that someone with more knowledge than me will be along soon, but as I understand it (next year will be our first as tater growers) you put the taters in and layer up the soil. Not much use I know - but I think its a great way to grow potatoes - especially if your ground is not good (or like us you dont have many places for a veggie patch!)

[soufflé]

Thanks for that, I'll have to give it a go next Spring.

[Mel (& Paul)]

You and me both - we'll have to compare!!

[Guest]

Ive grew pots in pots for the first time a couple of years ago - the children love digging around for them... I was told that you dont soil up the earliest potatoes (well only to make sure they are covered, not to encourage further potatoes)... and this seems to be true - I would recommend you try the earlys first as they are ready early (surprise, surprise!) and they are so tender - ours only took 10mins to steam!

 

The earlys are also good in the garden because they are ready before the bugs get a chance to eat them. Make sure you save the labels - I didnt so I cant recommend the ones I tried...

 

Before I had a veg patch - I would dig a hole in the flower beds and throw a seed potato in! - it works If the soil is very hard just dig around abit for the width and depth of the spade. I had to have very easy veg as I worked full time and had pre-school children.

 

These were the first veggies I did - I recommend you experiment... its great fun.

 

Dawn

[Murdo]

One thing about buying to grow (as opposed to throwing the old ones from the kitchen in the soil which is not recommended due to the risk of introducing disease) is that most places only do them in suh huge quantities. The bags from the big garden centres seem to be aimed at country gentlemen with a couple of spare acres to put them in.

 

It's worth checking some of the smaller specialist places - a high street garden centre near us sells them loose, and has a fantastic variety. I presume there must be other places doing this too. I was able to buy 8 tubers of each type I wanted to put in our clay last year.

[Laura007]

it sounds like its quite easy to do and very satiafying to get your own spuds.

 

i shall be looking round for taters to grow. thanks everyone!

[Laura007]

righty ho then, can someone please give me a bit of advise on growing spuds.

 

i'd really like to have a go at growing them but i will be growing them in a large tub, so i would really like to know whats the best variety and when to plant them.

 

thank you for your help.

 

Spuds are easy to grow and very good for breaking up new ground. If you are interested in getting organic seed potatoes have a look at the Organic Garden Catalogue (www.OrganicCatalogue.com) It works in partnership with the Organic gardening centre at Ryton Gardens in Coventry - well worth a visit - they have a potato day sometime in february but I don't know the date yet

 

a potato day WOW!!!!!!!

 

i think a trip is going to take place!

[Lesley]

Potato Day is usually the first weekend in February. HDRA Members on Saturday and the public on Sunday.

Well worth a visit - there are so many varieties and the restaurant has themed food for the weekend.

 

The HDRA now have a new name for their website, it is www.gardenorganic.org.uk

 

There are Organic Gardens in Kent and Essex as well.

[Cate in NZ]

I can thoroughly recommend the organic gardens in Yalding, Kent, lovely to potter around and get ideas. It's not very big, but it's still possible to pass a lovely afternoon there just wandering and looking. They also have chickens in one of their theme gardens and a rather nice cafe To my amazement it never seems to get very busy, so it doesn't feel crowded or rushed.

Don't know if they do a potato day- going to check that out now.

[Laura007]

spuds are in!

 

myself and paul are having a little competiton to see who can grow the best spuds.

biggest

yield weight

yeild amount

 

and im going to win!!

[Lesley]

Well done Laura - ours will have to wait until we've moved.

[Martin B]

Can somebody give me a brief step-by-step so I can try growin pots myself? What will I need?

---Martin---

[Laura007]

some big pots, seed potatoes, compost and thats about it really.