If you want decent potatoes you have to give them space and soil or compost. I would only try one in an old compost bag. If you can't grow them in the ground, use a decent 60cm pot instead but frankly, I'd spend my time, energy and money on plants that give a better return - heritage tomato, strawberries, chillies. Potatoes from the shops are easy to find and cheap whereas nothing beats the flavour of a freshly picked home grown tomato or strawberry or a particular variety of chilli that shops don't stock.
If you want decent potatoes you have to give them space and soil or compost. I would only try one in an old compost bag. If you can't grow them in the ground, use a decent 60cm pot instead but frankly, I'd spend my time, energy and money on plants that give a better return - heritage tomato, strawberries, chillies. Potatoes from the shops are easy to find and cheap whereas nothing beats the flavour of a freshly picked home grown tomato or strawberry or a particular variety of chilli that shops don't stock.
No way lol. Been eating new potatoes for the past month, out of the ground onto the plate in 20 minutes. Nothing in the shops compares.
Now into the second earlies, nearly as good and we will have main crop as roasties on Christmas day with freshly harvested parsnips and brussels.
Really never have been all that convinced by growing tatties in bags and containers, but out on the plot, add horse poop in September ahead of planting the next spring, easy as and the taste is awesome.
We eat very few potatoes anyway. OH persuaded me to plant a load 2 years ago. I have just pulled a volunteer plant in what is now the dahlia patch and there are enough for one meal. Much prefer sweet potatoes or more veggies.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
We eat very few potatoes anyway. OH persuaded me to plant a load 2 years ago. I have just pulled a volunteer plant in what is now the dahlia patch and there are enough for one meal. Much prefer sweet potatoes or more veggies.
Fair enough, in a given week, particularly in the winter months, we usually buy a bag of spuds, carrots, onions, then specific veg for particular meals. So I always make a point of putting in a lot of the main staples, then consider the more interesting stuff.
I like growing spuds because though they take up space, they are one of the first things where the ground clears for a follow on crop. Usually for us that is turnips after first earlies, leeks started out in a nursery bed are transplanted once the second earlies are taken up.
If the space was only used for spuds, would wonder myself if they were really worth it.
It is appearing to be a disappointing year for early potatoes. Thats five on here that are disappointed with their crop, all in bags I think, but not all of us have room for them in beds. I planted pentland javelin and its a poor crop this year. In the past have had good crops from these potato bags, so I wonder if the seed potatoes are to blame?
It is appearing to be a disappointing year for early potatoes. Thats five on here that are disappointed with their crop, all in bags I think, but not all of us have room for them in beds. I planted pentland javelin and its a poor crop this year. In the past have had good crops from these potato bags, so I wonder if the seed potatoes are to blame?
Perhaps the very hot weather in April and May? I remember I was watering the potatoes out in the plot practically every night. Had a good crop of Swift first earlies.
Do any of you feed your potato plants? Where i bought my seed potatoes there was potato fertiliser for sale too... I didn't bother as i thought it was a bit of a gimmick, I've always had reasonable crops just growing in soil and keeping them well- watered, but mine are a bit disappointing so far. I'm now wondering if i should have fed them.
In a basic 3 year crop rotation scheme the bed which will grow potatoes is manured in autumn for the worms to work the goodness thru the soil over winter. If you didn't do this, or apply a good mulch of garden compost or similar before planting, then your soil may be low in nutrients.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Wasn't it a pretty bad year for potatoes last year? Maybe that affected the quality of the seed potatoes. I haven't managed to get any decent ones in the supermarket for months. Volunteers all over the place seem to be doing ok . Grubbed about in a container the other day and found a nice looking red one near the top so I've covered it up again.
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Obelixx said:
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Now into the second earlies, nearly as good and we will have main crop as roasties on Christmas day with freshly harvested parsnips and brussels.
Really never have been all that convinced by growing tatties in bags and containers, but out on the plot, add horse poop in September ahead of planting the next spring, easy as and the taste is awesome.
I like growing spuds because though they take up space, they are one of the first things where the ground clears for a follow on crop. Usually for us that is turnips after first earlies, leeks started out in a nursery bed are transplanted once the second earlies are taken up.
If the space was only used for spuds, would wonder myself if they were really worth it.
Where i bought my seed potatoes there was potato fertiliser for sale too... I didn't bother as i thought it was a bit of a gimmick, I've always had reasonable crops just growing in soil and keeping them well- watered, but mine are a bit disappointing so far. I'm now wondering if i should have fed them.
Volunteers all over the place seem to be doing ok . Grubbed about in a container the other day and found a nice looking red one near the top so I've covered it up again.