growing potatoes in bags/bins Q

livefornewt

Hi i planted some a few months ago and i have topped up the compost once but totally for got to do it some more shall i just fill it up now? as ive forgot to do it as they grow, or is there no need? or they got ruined by me not filling up gradually?

huggermugger

Evryone's got a different view on this. Monty says plant them & earth them up at monthly intervals. Alan says keep earthing them up as you go along. Others say only earth them up once. You can't do any harm by earthing them up again & it may possibly help to produce more potatoes, tho on the other hand it may be too late and have no effect at all.

Megansmum

i'd say top em up! The more darkness you give under the leaves the more they will set out more potatoes. Only stop when you get to the top of the bag! Then the leaves will grow loads and eventually you will get flowers. When the flowers have gone and the leaves start to die off - get your hands dirty and have a good rummage at all your lovely potatoes!! Yum yum! Mine are in rubble sacks and i'm at the top of the bags and just have flowers now....it's the waiting that kills me....it's like waiting for christmas! :j

livefornewt

Hi thanks i just filled them up and hopefully they will still grow

Megansmum

livefornewt wrote: »

Hi thanks i just filled them up and hopefully they will still grow

I covered mine completely each time a few leaves were poking through the soil. They just kept on reaching for the sun and shooting up more and more! These are them now with the soil at the top of the bags!

http://s613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Megansmum_album/?action=view&current=2009_06160006.jpg&newest=1

http://s613.photobucket.com/albums/tt212/Megansmum_album/?action=view&current=2009_06160007.jpg&newest=1


Yours will grow !! Good luck!

Slim4Summer

wow Megans mum you are going to get loads from that!
I must put more in my bags - but it seems like a hell of a lot of soil/compost to use doesnt it! Anyne know what it can be used for next year?

kiwifruit_2

Megansmum....they look great....ive got mine growning in old tyres 3 high

Megansmum

kiwifruit wrote: »

Megansmum....they look great....ive got mine growning in old tyres 3 high

I am SOOOO jealous!! I wanted to do them in tyres but couldn't get hold of any. :sad: My brother says he can get me 20 from work so i will be doing that with next years potato and carrot crops! Do you have any photos of them growing in the tyres? I'd love to show the oh that i'm not mad for wanting to do it!!:D

Megansmum

Slim4Summer wrote: »

wow Megans mum you are going to get loads from that!
I must put more in my bags - but it seems like a hell of a lot of soil/compost to use doesnt it! Anyne know what it can be used for next year?

I think that as long as you don't use it again for potato's next year ( or preferably for 4 years) then you are ok, or on anything else that can get blight?? I'm not positive but i'm sure someone else will know on here. It's my first year growing owt and this site has been a godsend for me!:D

Just found a site that says the year after potato's use it for beans, then the next year use it for brassicas then the next year onions and roots. That way any disease from one year will be well dead by the time you plant the same thing in it again!

kiwifruit_2

Megansmum wrote: »

I am SOOOO jealous!! I wanted to do them in tyres but couldn't get hold of any. :sad: My brother says he can get me 20 from work so i will be doing that with next years potato and carrot crops! Do you have any photos of them growing in the tyres? I'd love to show the oh that i'm not mad for wanting to do it!!:D

I went down to the local well known tyre place and asked for some - they did look at me strangely but when i explained they were for growing spuds in, they were more than willing to give them too me ....

I will take some photos tomorrow and put them on here so you can have a look

Megansmum

For curiosity i have left my potatoes that are at the allotment to grow with me only earthing them up once a month. You have seen how the ones that have been topped up as soon as the leaves showed have done, so i will compare yields when the allotment ones are ready (they were planted later).

At the minute with the success of the rubble bags and daily topping up - the allotment ones will have a job to convert me !! I'll let you know which worked best for me!