growing potatoes in bags?

Lotus-eater

I would grow them in the ground, makes much more sense. They'll be quite happy in clay soil.

busiscoming2

While we are on the subject of spuds, I have mine chitting at the moment. When I plant them out how long is it approximately before I have to start earthing
up? As I am away for a week soon I wondered whether to plant them now or when I come back.

Thanks

tanith

They should be fine for a week whether you plant them or not... I let mine grow a few leaves above the ground before earthing up thats about a weeks worth of growth at a guess.

A._Badger

busiscoming2 wrote: »

While we are on the subject of spuds, I have mine chitting at the moment. When I plant them out how long is it approximately before I have to start earthing
up? As I am away for a week soon I wondered whether to plant them now or when I come back.

Thanks

To be honest, I'd be more worried about a snap frost than missing a few days earthing-up.

sweetnest

thanks for all the tips here, i have decided to plant them in the ground, have spent part of the day digging down deeper in the clay soil, also have added manure from b&q and bonemeal, hopefully all will be ok. Thanks again

A._Badger

sweetnest wrote: »

thanks for all the tips here, i have decided to plant them in the ground, have spent part of the day digging down deeper in the clay soil, also have added manure from b&q and bonemeal, hopefully all will be ok. Thanks again

Bonemeal won't do any harm but it's the wrong fertiliser. Bonemeal is a slow acting source of (mostly) phosphate. Potatoes need Nitrogen and Potassium, too.

You'd be far better off using blood, fish and bone or Growmore. If you haven't planted yet, incorporate some in the soil before planting. If you've planted already, top-dress with it. Personally, I use about four ounces a square yard, twice during the season.

Hope that's some help.

sweetnest

sorry, my mistake, i did indeed add blood fish and bone, in a box, from b&q, so i did well then? thank goodness

[Deleted User]

I got 2 x 40l potato bags in my 99p shop today by the way - To grow some of my £1 T&M tubers in and got some fertilizer as well - Yipeee!!!

Am well excited about growing my own spuds now!

mrbadexample

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I would grow them in the ground, makes much more sense. They'll be quite happy in clay soil.

And would they not help to improve the clay soil too, by breaking it up?

I'm going for some in the ground this year. I've got a bit more room since I've dug another bed, and I might even dig up a wee bit more yet. Who needs a lawn anyway?

Lotus-eater

mrbadexample wrote: »

And would they not help to improve the clay soil too, by breaking it up?

I often wondered how this worked and what magical properties potatoes had to break up heavy ground and make it into this lovely soft tilth that other people seemed to have.

Because it never seemed to work for me!

Then a few years ago I heard Bob Flowerdew saying that he thought the breaking up of the heavy ground was down to the gardeners cultivations, from the rigmarole of planting and harvesting the spuds, rather than anything else.
So I think I agree with that.