Container potatoes - hype or not?

[MKG]

The observation continues - the second lot of earlies has been exposed. These were in a much bigger bin than the last lot, so they had lots of width in which to grow. The bin is three feet high, the seeds were put in on 4 inches of compost, and the plants were earthed up all the way to the top (and then grew another two feet or so of height). Once again, they were Swift variety so I didn't expect tons of spuds. From 4 seeds, I have 5 lbs of new potatoes - and every single one of them was in the bottom foot of compost. I measured it just to be sure. I carefully examined the haulm, and there was no "budding" whatsoever more than one foot above the base of the stem.

I can't say anything conclusive yet, because the results for second earlies and maincrop won't be in for a while. However, I think I'm pretty safe in confirming that for Swift (certainly) and probably earlies in general, anything over that first foot of compost IS a waste of time. I'm beginning to wonder if, in fact, it's actually counter-productive forcing the plants to put on height instead of concentrating their energy on tuber production. Maybe that will be OK with the extra time allowed for maincrops - we'll see.

Mike

[Durgan]

This is my third year growing potatoes in containers. I've had them in all manner of things of all manner of shapes and sizes. But I've never achieved anything like the yields often claimed for this method (well, there's a surprise! ). In fact, although I've had halms growing healthily four feet above the seed potato which started them off, I have found (invariably) that I get nothing whatsoever from over one foot above the seed. So, as far as I can see, earthing up above that one-foot point is a waste of compost and effort.

I don't think I'm doing anything too wrong - the plants are watered and fed regularly. And I do get a reasonable yield from the productive foot. But I think that from now, that's as far as I'll be prepared to go.

So - am I wrong? Is the "chase your potato up the bag" method just so much hot air? What's your experience?

Mike

I too have doubted the claims of 200 pounds of potatoes grown in a confined area , so undertook an experiment this year. Results are shown below. One always sees the start, but never the finish, and the few finishes shown are obviously staged.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZELNG 21 August 2009 How a Potato Plant Grows
Potato growing test box was opened today. The pictures literally speak for themselves. Clearly there is no advantage in carrying out excessive hilling when growing potatoes. The purpose of hlling is to insure the tubers are covered. For comparison one Pontiac Red was dug in the same row, which was almost identical to the test box potato in appearance.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?PotatoS Summary: Potato Test Box

[MKG]

Ah - I'm glad you bumped this thread up, Durgan, because I'd forgotten all about it.

All of my container-grown potatoes have now been lifted, and I can't say I was surprised at the results. Second earlies were just the same as first earlies - a reasonably productive foot and nothing else. The maincrops were just a little different. They WERE showing signs of "budding" along the stems (not all the way to the top, but certainly above the lower foot). However, not a single bud had developed into a potato more than 2 or 3 millimetres in size. Some of those maincrops were lifted only recently, so I fail completely to see how the micro-spuds would ever have time to develop into anything worth harvesting.

Maybe, just maybe, if maincrops were grown in containers in a closely-controlled environment with artificially-extended daylight hours and heating, something might happen. But I have no intention of doing that for the sake of a couple of extra potatoes.

All in all then - containers are handy if you don't expect giant yields. But don't waste your compost on building up and up, and most of all don't believe the hype.

Mike

[Green Aura]

Ours didn't do too badly, the maincrops hardly had any tiny spuds, only the earlies and seconds. We do however have your extended daylight Mike, and plenty of water this year

Having said that, as spuds aren't a huge part of our diet, our expectations may be much lower. We've got enough stored to last us into the New Year.

[MKG]

You know, Scotland never crossed my mind when I wrote that

I'll amend it, then. Unless you live next door to Santa Claus, containers probably aren't worth it if you want a big crop.

How's that?

Mike

[Peggy Sue]

Mike how did yours do compared to crop in the ground- normal growing?
We haven't done container spuds this year but our spuds were very low yield, notably the maincrops seem to have worked their way to the surface (despite rowing up) so half the crop were green and I got only about one bucket from teh entire last row, very disappointing

Just wondering if the containers were OK ish but ground crops rubbish then containers do show 'improved yield' even in a rubbish year?

Just a thought

[MuddyWitch]

That's interesting, PeggySue. Ours seemed to migrate up to the surface too, despite several 'earthings-up' With the wet Summer, maybe they just didn't want to drown!? Our harvest was dreadfull compared to all our previous years, using the same method, in the same soil.

MW

[Green Aura]

We only grow in containers but two of my neighbours have commented their spuds are not as good as last year - size and yield.

[Odsox]

Very strange.
I only grow mine in the garden and have done every year since Adam was a boy, and this year has been very good it terms of yield and size.
Only problem is there was a bit more slug damage, but they left enough for us to eat until the earlies take over next year.

[Peggy Sue]

OK so we now know Odsox lives in the garden of eden!

[Odsox]

OK so we now know Odsox lives in the garden of eden!

I did, until I got slung out with that damned serpent.

[Green Aura]

if you got slung out with the serpent, and you knew Adam...... that must make you Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Odsox]

if you got slung out with the serpent, and you knew Adam...... that must make you Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What about Cain, Abel, Seth & Odsox ?
Haven't you read Genesis ?

[MKG]

Mike how did yours do compared to crop in the ground- normal growing?
We haven't done container spuds this year but our spuds were very low yield, notably the maincrops seem to have worked their way to the surface (despite rowing up) so half the crop were green and I got only about one bucket from teh entire last row, very disappointing

Just wondering if the containers were OK ish but ground crops rubbish then containers do show 'improved yield' even in a rubbish year?

Just a thought

Didn't grow too many in the open ground (because I was using containers ), but the tops of those that I did looked much less healthy than the container-grown ones. In comparison, they were stunted and more yellowy, and I was really smug about my great decision. However, they cropped twice as heavily, if not more. Then again, as has been pointed out, there was damage to some from the ground (none from the containers) and they were certainly much dirtier (yes, I know, I know) - the container ones were cleaned by a gentle sweep of the hand.

I'm not saying containers aren't worth the bother - just amend your expectations and don't waste too much effort on pointless earthing-up after a foot or so.

[Millymollymandy]

Oh good I'm not alone, just as I said on the other thread mine all rise up to the surface as well which is why I'm not bothering with the earthing up any more!