Container spuds (again!)

[MKG]

This year I decided to do it a little differently. I used the same bags I've been using for the past two years. I put a measly two seed spuds per bag on top of 4" of compost and then covered them with another 4" of compost. All of the remaining earthing up was done with one-year-old wood shreddings, so that accounted for another foot or so of depth. No feeding was done, but they were plentifully watered. In fact, the only extra effort was removing the odd frog which had jumped in from the ledge above.

Result - the top growth wasn't as thick and high as normal, but I got the best container harvest I've ever had of absolutely clean and pest-free potatoes. We got as much per plant as we'd had from spuds planted in one of the raised beds.

There you go, then - mistreat your container spuds and they'll love you to bits.

Mike

[oldjerry]

Wich variety Mike?

[MKG]

I knew someone would ask

I kept the card, but OH put it somewhere safe!!!!!!!!!!

However, if my memory serves correctly, they were Majestic. They go a tad powdery if they're overboiled/steamed, but they have a good, earthy taste.

Mike

[Mrs Moustoir]

I've potted up a few Charlottes and am hoping for new spuds at Christmas. These were just some that sprouted in the veg rack. I've planted them in large pots (2 spuds per pot) and have been earthing them up with compost for a couple of weeks. They seem to be growing well - but I'm afraid I've pampered them a bit more than you did Mike!!

I intend to move them into the greenhouse before the frost arrives. My only worry is that most of my tomatoes have blight now and I'm hoping that the little spud plants escape this! Fingers crossed!

[becky3086]

I tried this once when I read an article about growing potatoes in tires. It didn't work here but I think it was because it was too hot in the tires. This year I read a post about making rounds out of wire and growing potatoes in them with layers of hay and compost. I am hoping to try this one next spring and finally get some potatoes of my own.

[Bramble]

I grew potatoes in large plant pots this year, I put two seed postatoes in each pot and had about 8 pots in total. I used the soil from old grow bags from last years tomatoes to fill the containers and for a bit of earthing up.
Got enough for a good few family meals prob equiv to a sack of potatoes so I was happy with that, not bad from a few pots.
:)

[dave45]

Desiree spuds in bags with general purpose compost... nearly all have got scab. Looks cosmetic only as the insides seem ok. Is this due to erratic watering? There was a HUGE amount of foliage but a poor crop. I'm guessing that the foliage could have diverted the rain and I only watered in dry spells... and there weren't many of those !

[Millymollymandy]

Most probably - we always have scab here and my Desirees have it pretty badly but that's cos it is very hard to water them enough (in the ground).

[Odsox]

Scab is usually caused by lack of organic material in the soil, but if you used compost then that shouldn't be the cause.
MMM, next year try covering your spuds with grass mowings before you replace the soil when you plant them and see if it improves the scab problem, as that used to be the "cure".

[Millymollymandy]

I thought scab was caused by dryness which is what I have read. I had scab free spuds the year I set up a seep hose in amongst them! I might try the grass clippings as well though so thanks. I thought this year would be better as I didn't earth them up so they would stay moister but because it was so dry back in the early spring onwards it didn't help any. There is always tons of organic matter in the soil at planting time.