Minimum container depth for potatoes?

[lucym]

I'm planning to grow potatoes in a couple of standard black plastic dustbins that we happen to have hanging around the place unused. Now I could fill them to the brim with compost, but that seems a bit OTT tbh, so I was thinking that I could put an upturned 12" tub and some stones, polystyrene bits etc in the bottom to take up some space. But what depth of compost should I allow for?

Thanks!

Lucy

[shirlthegirl43]

From my reading elsewhere I think if you are doing that deep a container you can plant at two levels - not sure how you harvest them though. Sure there will be someone along who can help you more shortly. Good luck and look forward to reading how it is done.

I am sticking to my Morrison's flower buckets again this year as I just had to tip the bucket out and harvest a meal worth of spuds. Meant we tried a few different varieties too.

[Berr]

Hello Lucym,
Can't claim expertise. However, I grew most of my earlies last year in the kind of bins you describe. It was very successful in terms of crop. I filled the bottom with stones to a depth of about 9". I blinded this with about 6" of soil. Then I put in a layer of well-rotted manure- about 6"- and planted my sets on top. You could put 2 or 3 inches of good topsoil on top of the dung if you wish. Working down from the top- which, on reflection, is probably the way I should have described it I had about 9" of space at the top (left after planting completed) This to allow for earthing-up as the shaws grew. Then about 4" of good soil. Then the sets. Then 6" dung. Then 6" soil. Then the stones, polystyrene, or whatever.There might well be flaws in this method but it worked for me. See what the real experts say.

Good luck. (what cvs. are you growing?)

Berr.

[lucym]

Thanks burr, that's really useful - we've got four Arran Pilots, I was thinking two in each bin. Was wondering if I could arrange for any companion planting with them, but can't think how it would work with the earthing up.

[Berr]

I'd put all four in one bin and get 4 of another cv. for the other bin. I don't think earthing-up is REALLY essential. So, maybe you could do quick salads before the potato foliage fills the things. You might be able to get one crop of salad leaves, and THEN start earthing up, I suppose. Your salads may well be a bit stretched, however, if they're 9" down there. But I've never tried this.

Berr.