Can i grow potatoes in manure

Posts

• BobTheGardener Posts: 11,385

  July 2019

  Too rich used on its own and I suspect you'd get masses of top-growth and few potatoes form.  I'd mix it with garden soil or multi-purpose compost first, about 25% FYM to 75% soil or MPC.  Is this for late-planting varieties to provide 'new' potatoes for Christmas, or are you thinking forward to about Easter next year, which is the usual planting time?
  

  A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  

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• gareth.chappell Posts: 3

  July 2019

  Thanks for the reply. 
  
  Don't laugh at my setup, i'm new to growing my own things. This is my first year. I have had to do it in grow bags as we don't have earth anywhere in the garden, its all concrete. 
  I Have already planted these, without checking first. And you are right, Top growth has gone wild in about 5 weeks. 
  I Guess my question is, the potatoes that i will get from this, will they be edible? Or will the smell and taste of Manure?
  
  
  

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• BobTheGardener Posts: 11,385

  July 2019

  Lots of folk are in your position and many members here grow potatoes in containers. They will taste absolutely fine and probably extra nice but will taste of potato and not anything else.   I would remove those flowers so all of the energy from the leaves goes into the tubers rather than flowers, fruit and seed.  Keep up the watering and you're good to go!  Do you know which variety they are?  If unsure, best to leave them until the tops go yellow and die back, that way you will maximise the crop.
  

  A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  

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• Ceres Posts: 2,698

  July 2019

  Gardening is all about experimentation and that is what you have been doing. Enjoy the spuds.
  

  
  

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• gareth.chappell Posts: 3

  July 2019

  Thanks guys 
  
  And thanks for the tip about removing the flowers. 
  They are Maris Piper's 

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