Grow potatoes in the ground or in pots ?

**Small pumpkin** · 08-02-2020, 08:39 AM

I’ve done both. Now I stick with potato grow bags. 1. None get left in the ground because I’ve missed them. 2. (Most important) less slug damage.

**Penellype** · 08-02-2020, 09:17 AM

Pots for me, although you may well get a lower yield. Whenever I have grown potatoes in the ground I have found most of the bigger ones are damaged by slugs or rats (at the stables), whereas there is much less damage in pots. If you use large buckets (30 litres) and bury the bottom part in the soil and make sure you keep them watered you can get a decent crop. The plants root through the bottom holes in the bucket into the soil. Just don't move the buckets until you want to harvest them or you will break the roots and get a smaller crop.

**Scarlet** · 08-02-2020, 09:59 AM

Ground for me - I don't water much and pots dry out quickly so the harvest is always much smaller. They are more time consuming. When in the ground I plant really deep and then just mulch with cut grass. I don't seem to get that much slug damage - rats go for my Courgettes first. I'm not a fan on growing anything much in pots because the watering is a pain. So pots for greenhouse stuff only - chillies/lettuce/spring onions.

**Bonjour** · 08-02-2020, 10:13 AM

I generally grow them in the ground, but before I had my allotment I grew some in old compost bags using soil at the horses' field. I got a decent crop of Pentland Javelin that way(2 to a bag), but the Desiree didn't crop heavily (1 to a bag).

I find all types crop heavier in the ground, which more than makes up for the extra losses to slugs, etc.

Having said that, I am trying for some extra early ones in pots in a cold greenhouse, using some semi-forgotten Accord from last year that I found sprouting in the shed.

**Thelma Sanders** · 08-02-2020, 10:18 AM

I'm doing all mine in pots, with the bottoms buried, this year - they'll be on the small bed nearest to the tap, so easy enough to give them a good watering.
Burying the bottoms so the roots can escape into the soil really does seem to improve the yield, as does starting them with a good dose of fertiliser

**Snadger** · 08-02-2020, 11:04 AM

Watering is the big issue for pot grown tatties.

Having said that I may try planting some earlies in pots in the greenhouse with a view to shifting them out when I need the space for other things.

Frost and cold conditions are a killer for spuds, though I have noticed some spuds that were left outside on the surface from last years crops haven't succumbed yet. I might bung these in the pots.

**greenishfing** · 08-02-2020, 12:04 PM

Soil for me. I find the crop from pots and bags is disappointing (maybe partly due to my neglect). I just let them get on with it in the ground.

**Mamzie** · 08-02-2020, 05:32 PM

I only grow early and second early, as don't feel we have enough space for a main crop. We use loads, but the price on small new potatoes means I feel justified in growing them, I can buy a 20/25kg sack of main for �5-8 from late summer throughout the year on the market. I grow in large potato bags rather than pots, but often use the large bags for life and ikea blue bags.

This year I am gonna try and keep records and even record results... First time happening in 3 decades of on and off veg gardening lol x

**annie8** · 08-02-2020, 05:46 PM

Ground for me. Much less work and felt like I had to add loads of compost when I was using bags so less value for money. Also they are such an easy crop that'll give me a return even if I put them in an area that not much else will grow in. Got mine chatting and ready to go.

**SarrissUK** · 08-02-2020, 06:22 PM

Ground for me too - I don't have time to go up to the allotment often enough to water pots, so definitely ground for me. I too will be growing salad potatoes this year, but nothing much else.

**Thelma Sanders** · 08-02-2020, 07:33 PM

Originally posted by annie8 View Post

. Got mine chatting and ready to go.

What do they talk about? - just interested

**nickdub** · 08-02-2020, 07:37 PM

Originally posted by Thelma Sanders View Post

What do they talk about? - just interested

How things were better in the past, if they are anything like me and my mates :-)

**annie8** · 08-02-2020, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by nickdub View Post

How things were better in the past, if they are anything like me and my mates :-)

Whoops! Guess tonight they'll be saying its bloody cold in this greenhouse.

**Geordie** · 08-02-2020, 07:55 PM

I plant first earlies in big tubs as I can get them started in the greenhouse before moving outside later, just helps gain a few weeks on the growing season. Second earlies / salads go outside about mid April once soil warms up a bit. Don�t bother with main crop as at least 50% are lifted with slug or wire worm damage.

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Grow potatoes in the ground or in pots ?

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