Potato growing as easy as I was told?

[Kaiya]

Is there not something better to use the wheelie bin for? Leaf mould countainer (probably need lots of holes) for example? Then you could just use the bag method for the spuds.

I have nothing to base this on, but I get the feeling that a tall thin container is worse than a low wide container of equal volume (or several low containers adding up to the same volume). Random numbers to show what I mean - if you would put 5 seed potatoes in a 50l MCP bag, that doesn't mean you'd put 50 seed potatoes in a 500l wheelie bin. The cross-sectional area is probably only 2-4 times that of the bag. And I think I heard that the bulk of potatoes are made near the seed potato, not up the haulm, so having 1m of haulm doesn't mean you'll get twice the potatoes as you would from a 50cm high bag. As I say - this is based on gut feeling...

So I think you'd be better off growing potatoes in compost bags, and use the bin for something more suited to a bin. You could even use it to store the compost in while earthing up. Empty the bags into the bin, plant the potatoes at the bottom of the bags, top up as required. It's a tried and tested method, good for first time potatoing. Unless there is some reason you want to use the bin specifically!

[sowitgrowit]

... if you would put 5 seed potatoes in a 50l MCP bag ...

Just wanted to pick up on this (sorry if this is derailing the thread a little!) - How close would you put these 5 seed potatoes to get 5 into a 50l bag? Wouldn't they be almost on top of each other once they start to grow?

I have courier's bags which when filled with compost will be about a 10-12" across and was going to just use 1 bag = 1 seed spud.

Of course, I only have five (!) seed potatoes as I'm just testing the water this year, so I'm not bothered too much about squashing as many as possible into a bag.

[Kaiya]

To be honest I'd probably put 2-3 potatoes in a 50l bag My maths isn't very good so I picked random numbers that I could deal with. I have had 5 potatoes in one of those green potato bags in the past (which I think are about 50l? or at least are a similar diameter to a 50l bag) since that's what those kits give you, and it worked ok. Small potatoes, but it was just a bag on the patio.

This year I have two green potato bags and an allotment. I'm putting two King Edwards (main crop) in one bag and 2 Anya (second earlies) in the other, and the rest (15 more Anya, 2 more KE, 4 Valor main crop) are going into the allotment. The bags are my potatoes to be mollycoddled to make sure I get at least some crop as potatoes have never liked me very much.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I use 4 seeds per 75ltr dustbin Picasso main crop yield from one bin can be seen below

Colin

[Two_Sheds]

and these are my Mr Little's grown in a Morrison bucket

[Sarico]

and these are my Mr Little's grown in a Morrison bucket

How do you grow yours in Morrison flower bucket. I have now 32 buckets and I want to put some potato. Any tip two sheds?

[Two_Sheds]

Just fill a bucket half full with compost. Pop in the seed potato, cover with compost. Keep covering as it grows until the bucket is filled

[Sarico]

thanks two sheds... so if a get a bag with 5 potatoes seed i will plant each one in one bucket. right? then what about cheat them?is worth doing now or is too later? thanks

[Jason Cartwright]

I've dicided to knock the idea of using a wheelie bin on the head for now. A mate at work gave me a 37L (H 30cm x D 40cm) Natural Jute Veg growing bag and 8pcs of Red Duke of york 1st earlies so i'm going to have a go with them then try a main crop after they've been harvested. If i do ok with them then i'll look at a bigger project.

Thanks for all advice

J

[Two_Sheds]

what about cheat them?is worth doing now or is too later?

Chitting? It's up to you, you don't have to.

I have potatoes growing in the cold gh, they've been in there since August. I cut the foliage all off when we had that week of frost, and it's now coming up again.
You could plant your buckets up now somewhere frost-free

[di]

thanks two sheds... so if a get a bag with 5 potatoes seed i will plant each one in one bucket. right? then what about cheat them?is worth doing now or is too later? thanks

You truly have brightened up my morning.

[Tripmeup]

thanks two sheds... so if a get a bag with 5 potatoes seed i will plant each one in one bucket. right? then what about cheat them?is worth doing now or is too later? thanks

Hi Sarico,

You'll never cheat Nature (I know you meant chitting )

[rustylady]

I've dicided to knock the idea of using a wheelie bin on the head for now. A mate at work gave me a 37L (H 30cm x D 40cm) Natural Jute Veg growing bag and 8pcs of Red Duke of york 1st earlies so i'm going to have a go with them then try a main crop after they've been harvested. If i do ok with them then i'll look at a bigger project.

Thanks for all advice

J

Jason, you won't be able to follow your earlies with main crop potatoes. It will be too late to plant maincrop by the time you harvest your earlies.

[Kaiya]

Unless you're going for Christmas spuds and can keep them indoors?

[Sarico]

sorry guys but when you CHIT your potatoes you are CHEAT nature because you are growing in advance.
all of you give me a lot of good advice for my new garden experience, i give you back smile ( because i can't give anything that i will harvest. i don't know first if will be any good and second i don't think all of you are my neighbours) i realized thais not CHEAT but CHIT when this morning i bought a bag of seed potato that said " for better result CHIT the potato"