Did you earth up your potatoes as they grew last year? If not that would
explain why you didn't get much of a crop but I expect that you will
have topped up your containers as shoots appeared. Inadequate watering
is a common failing as others have said and harvesting too soon doesn't
help either. I wait until the top growth has begun to die back before
trying to harvest them.
No, I don't think that I earth up the potatoes, just covered the shoots/leaves with a few inches of soil as they appeared. I've just looked at a couple of videos on the subject and am a bit confused by the difference between topping up and earthing up as they seem pretty much the same.
Could someone explain the difference please?
Last year we also had one of the coldest and wettest summers on memory so that didn't help much.
At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines. Clay soil.
Earthing up is what you do with potatoes in the ground - drawing the soil up from either side of the row to make a ridge where the potatoes are growing. Starting with the container half full and gradually topping it up is the same thing for container growing.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I’ve also grown potatoes in large containers and earthed as it grew but last year after it died down I forgot to harvest it. When I did empty it last month I got a small bowl of tiny ones only. I’m going to try again, but this time it’s just got the soil to nearly the top and straw over that so it doesn’t dry out. When it does grow I’ll only tip it with grass clippings. Another experiment.
Thanks everyone, I've a bit more of an idea now. Just started anothe tub of maris pipers. Went to b&m yesterday and got six packers of various seeds for £9. Been planting all morning but just come in as the wind is bitterly cold here. Veg. part of the garden is sheltered from the worse of the wind but is a bit too shady - can't have everything though!
At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines. Clay soil.
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No, I don't think that I earth up the potatoes, just covered the shoots/leaves with a few inches of soil as they appeared. I've just looked at a couple of videos on the subject and am a bit confused by the difference between topping up and earthing up as they seem pretty much the same.
Could someone explain the difference please?
Last year we also had one of the coldest and wettest summers on memory so that didn't help much.