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.
Agree on a plot, though I think the question might be do people feed spuds in containers and bags? I don't know as I don't grow in containers or bags! I do what you do.
In a bag or tub I'd use good quality soil based compost and add pelleted manure.
I've given up growing spuds but, inevitably, there are plants growing from teeny spuds I missed when harvesting the last lot 2 years ago. That's despite clearing that bed again this spring, bunging on loads of manure and re-planting old and adding new dahlias. Took me a while to realise the ones growing in wonky rows were not because I missed transplanting some of the dahlia tubers and they were actually spuds growing. Had some for dinner last night.
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)."
I’ve just investigated my first attempt to grow potatoes in a big pot - i.e. I’ve harvested the lot.
Only got 3lb 4oz which - for about 5 plants - I guess probably means I pulled them out too soon.
Apart from that, however, what is the guidance on putting [a] The used compost... and [b] the finished potato plants ... onto the compost heap?
(I seem to remember something about not composting potato peelings.)
I don't see why the compost couldn't be re-used, or put in the compost bin, or added to the soil in the garden. But others may disagree. I've always composted my spent potato plants: there's not much left of them by the time I dig the potatoes. The only reason I know against composting potato peelings is because the eyes might start into growth, but so what, just turn the growth back in.
Thanks for the feedback on this - I've also just had some more input from a neighbour who is an experienced potato grower who agrees the spent compost can still be used safely. But she did advise not to compost the tops of the plants themselves as apparently this risks carrying over to later years any blight the plants may have picked up.
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.
Agree on a plot, though I think the question might be do people feed spuds in containers and bags? I don't know as I don't grow in containers or bags! I do what you do.
Yes, I feed mine once a month with seaweed. I grow my pots in bags because it's so much easier to harvest incrementally, plus I can move the bags through the year as the weather changes, sun moves etc.
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I've given up growing spuds but, inevitably, there are plants growing from teeny spuds I missed when harvesting the last lot 2 years ago. That's despite clearing that bed again this spring, bunging on loads of manure and re-planting old and adding new dahlias. Took me a while to realise the ones growing in wonky rows were not because I missed transplanting some of the dahlia tubers and they were actually spuds growing. Had some for dinner last night.
Only got 3lb 4oz which - for about 5 plants - I guess probably means I pulled them out too soon.
Apart from that, however, what is the guidance on putting [a] The used compost... and [b] the finished potato plants ... onto the compost heap?
(I seem to remember something about not composting potato peelings.)