Forum home Fruit & veg
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

compost enrichment for spuds

peteSpeteS Posts: 966

I intend to grow some potatoes in a large pot or growing bag using John Innes No2. I've never grown spuds at all before and have read they are greedy feeders. Will I need to add further enrichment to the compost in the form of manure or garden compost, or will the John Innes be rich enough. Thank you.

Posts

  • BLTBLT Posts: 525

    I grow my potatoes in pots too or large tomato bags with grow bag compost in them. I generally do not add additional feed etc.. I wait until the foliage is about a foot high then earthing up to encourage a better yeild.. They are thirsty.... I will earth up a secod time until the tub or container is full..

    I find I get a good clean crop and practically bo soil pests or disease..I have been doing this every year..

    You cannot beat the taste of home grown...  I grow maincrop types, currently Kimg Edward type and Maris Piper.. This year I am experimenting with sowing save chitted tubers instead of certifued seed potatoes and as a control I have plante dcertified seed potatoes in the ground as they are good to clean up a patch of ground..Its a bit of a gamble... but so am I .

    I have seen a box of so called Potatoe fertilizer in  the Pound shops, might be worth a go... You have to experiment now and then..

    Good luck..

    Last edited: 23 May 2016 22:23:31

  • tigerburnietigerburnie Posts: 131

    I am using grow bags, cut in half then stood on their ends for the first time this year, I did add some "potato fertilizer" too, they seem to be growing ok. I am watering to keep the compost moist(don't forget to punch a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage) and will maybe add fertilizer if the leaves look like they are changing colour and are deficient in nutrients later.

  • cornellycornelly Posts: 970

    I mixed JI no 2 with garden soil and garden compost, in a large pot, potatoes are growing well, covered with garden soil as the haulm grew, flower buds forming.

Sign In or Register to comment.