Potatoes - where to start? (Merged Thread)

Sporticus

Hi

I'm another newbie into the realms of veggie gardening this year (not much of a clue really but hoping my enthusiasm will keep going!). Anyway - I'm planning on growing my spuds in old tyres. The seed spuds are in my bedroom windowsill chitting at the moment, my questions are:

1. how big do the chits have to be before planting out?
2. is it ok to use compost? - I don't have enough soil to dig up to use in the tower

TIA

Sporticus

Pitlanepiglet

This is all very exciting! I now have 14 sprouting courgette plants in the dining room - not quite sure what to do next with them!

Two buckets are sprouting, I think it's one potato bucket and the onions/garlic bucket - I knew not labelling them was going to be interesting!!

I'm going to add more soil to the spuds this weekend as recommended!

divadee

am i to late to get some seed potatoes for this year? if so what can i do?

newbie gardener and really trying to get into it!!!

M0neysav3r

Hello

I too am new to 'grow your own' spuds however after helping my dad plant his potatoes at his allotment recently it has inspired me to plant a few of my own at home. I have a metal dustbin which I plan to use putting gravel in the bottom and then half filling with earth and planting the potatoes (earlies) about 4" down - Is this ok?

Also I have to drill the holes in the bin for drainage but should that be underneath or in the sides at the bottom?

Divadee - I was told planting them in containers is an ideal starting place - Best of luck

Thanks

zoescrims

Can someone please tell me how many potato seeds i should grow in a Grobag? i believe its the rooster variety(only one in shop) and whether i should put the bag outside? I'm a complete novice,sorry by the way they have 'chitted' Thank you! Zoe

zoescrims

zoescrims wrote: »

Can someone please tell me how many potato seeds i should grow in a Grobag? i believe its the rooster variety(only one in shop) and whether i should put the bag outside? I'm a complete novice,sorry by the way they have 'chitted' Thank you! Zoe

Can anyone help? was hoping to do this today. Thanks.

M0neysav3r

Hi Zoescrims

I'm afraid being a novice myself I cannot offer you any advice but have you tried looking here ? http://www.rhs.org.uk/Advice/profiles0506/potatoespots.asp

Or here?
http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_november_1a_potato.asp

I thought Potatoes had to be 12" apart and 6" down? Are you going to just put lots of earth on top of the grow bag?

Best of Luck

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

If its a big grow bag... stand it up in end and tip all the compost to the bottom, cut a few slits in the side of the bags -about 2" from the bottom for drainage, roll the bag down until its a couple of inches higher than the compost... about 3 roosters should be fine...
stick them in "shoots pointing up" and cover with about 2" of compost....and warter. Then as the shoots appear you add more compost and roll the bag back up ...when the shoots are about 6" add compost so there is about 2" sticking out and then when they grow to 6" again -do the same.. you do it about 3 times and then leave to grow fully

You can actually take some of the compost out of the bag to start with as, the more times you add extra compst to cover the shoots the more potatoes you should get;)

hope the ramblings help

zoescrims

Thank you you two!! I've planted three seeds,the ramblings did help!I'll check out the webpages for more info .Lets hope i get some spuds.

ally67_2

my partner loves fresh garden peas can you grow them in grow bags as were not aloud to dig out garden as were tempary housing