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Potatoes in dustins - How much water?

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  • Potatoes in dustins - How much water?

    How often and how much should I water them? I have no idea. The bins are quite tall (80cm). Please help :-)

    Thanks a lot.
    Last edited by semiot; 02-07-2012, 07:33 PM.

  • #2
    When growing spuds in containers most failures are down to a lack of water and feeding.

    Watering depends on two things the weather and the stage of growth of the plant.

    Once the haulms are up above the dustbin and the plants are actively growing (see pic) rain will do very little good, the haulm will act as an umbrella and the plants will be sucking the moisture out of the compost at an alarming rate. At the moment I am giving my bins a gallon every other day, should summer ever arrive I will change to a gallon every day.

    As to feeding I use miracle grow (high nitrogen) whilst the haulms are growing and change to tomorite (high potash) whilst the tubers are swelling.

    Make sure your bins have good drainage or you will find your spuds will rot and don't be fooled by the compost being moist on the surface it could be very dry down where the spuds are growing.

    One sure sign of underwatering is that when you do water it runs out the drainage holes very quickly.

    Colin.
    Attached Files
    Potty by name Potty by nature.

    By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


    We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

    Aesop 620BC-560BC

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    • #3
      For no scientific reason I give mine about 1/2 gallon a day,with a feed once a week
      If you check back in a while potstubsanddustbins (Colin) may well have some proper input on the subject
      He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

      Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

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      • #4
        See he was typing while I was & gave a far better answer

        EDIT: In fact his post were the inspiration behind this lot ..............



        Front right ......... Maris Peer
        Front left ........... Rooster
        Rear right & left .. King Edward

        If the top is anything to go by there will be spuds in the cellar this year
        Attached Files
        Last edited by bearded bloke; 02-07-2012, 08:04 PM.
        He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

        Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

        Comment


        • #5
          Thanks everybody!

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by bearded bloke View Post
            See he was typing while I was & gave a far better answer

            EDIT: In fact his post were the inspiration behind this lot ..............

            [ATTACH=CONFIG]30527[/ATTACH]

            Front right ......... Maris Peer
            Front left ........... Rooster
            Rear right & left .. King Edward

            If the top is anything to go by there will be spuds in the cellar this year
            By BB they are looking really good, like you say if all that haulm goes back into spuds should be a good crop.

            Colin
            Potty by name Potty by nature.

            By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


            We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

            Aesop 620BC-560BC

            sigpic

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Potstubsdustbins View Post
              By BB they are looking really good, like you say if all that haulm goes back into spuds should be a good crop.

              Colin
              Cheers bud,will let you know weights when they get turned out
              He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame

              Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity

              Comment


              • #8
                I know conditions vary across the country but I'm in danger of losing my entire crop as they are currently standing in water and when I tipped out a couple of bags the other day the compost was like slurry!

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                • #9
                  SC I don't know how bad your situation is but one tip I picked up some time ago was to roll up a sheet of newspaper and stick it half way in wet compost. It will act like a wick and the top half will dry in any breeze.

                  Sorry to hear of your plight and the forecast ain't good either.

                  Colin
                  Potty by name Potty by nature.

                  By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


                  We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

                  Aesop 620BC-560BC

                  sigpic

                  Comment

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