growing potatoes in an empty compost bag? (Merged Thread)

madhouseof4

I grew spuds for the first time last year in pots and bags on my patio. I just made sure there were lots of drainage holes, didn't use any newspaper or anything in the bottom, apart from a few stones to make sure the drainage holes didn't get blocked. I then put about 4 inches of regular compost, 3 seed potatoes per large tub or 2 per bag and earthed up (recovered the leaves with soil) as they appeared until I got to the top of the tub. With bags, I found it easier to roll the top down and unroll a bit more every time you earth up. Unfortunately, with the poor weather last year, our crops were blight infected, but we dug them up before it got to the tubers and had enough spuds to fill a 50kg bag even with the very early harvest of our maincrop. This took us from July through to November without having to buy any at all. This year I plan on keeping a few back for Christmas too.

crystalsinger

I asked the same question at my local family run garden centre last weekend and they recommended John innes no2 or no3.
I bought some black deep pots from morrisons @ 8 for £1. I had to put in my own drainage holes, and I have kept to one potato per pot but at that price I will be having pots all over the place! Am going to use some for my tomato plants as well and I gues being nice and deep, carrots and parsnips would work well too

citygirl

hi.

can i carry on this thread by asking a few questions?

if i'm using a bag/tub/tyre container and use shop bought compost. will i need the "potato fertiliser" i've seen for sale?

do i need to "feed" them? if so, how and what with?

and, is it possible to re-use the soil afterwards? can i plant onions in it? is that how it works? potatoes/onions/potatoes/onions

sorry, but i TOO am a total novice

alanobrien

citygirl wrote: »

hi.

can i carry on this thread by asking a few questions?

if i'm using a bag/tub/tyre container and use shop bought compost. will i need the "potato fertiliser" i've seen for sale?

do i need to "feed" them? if so, how and what with?

and, is it possible to re-use the soil afterwards? can i plant onions in it? is that how it works? potatoes/onions/potatoes/onions

sorry, but i TOO am a total novice

I just throw them in a bin with compost, sometimes our own sometimes shop bought. Never used a fertilizer and they do just fine.

arkonite_babe

We have an existing thread all about growing potatoes in tubs and bags, so I'll add your query to it

a11waysindebt

What an interesting thread.I will try these this year.

Thanks to all involved.

gladysrocker

Could I chit my first earlies in an unheated greenhouse, or would it be too cold for them? Any help much appreciated.

Biggles

gladysrocker wrote: »

Could I chit my first earlies in an unheated greenhouse, or would it be too cold for them? Any help much appreciated.

At this time of year, it should be no problem. I may be further south than you, but mine are almost ready for putting in the soil.

cabbagegrower

I have a question about chitted potatoes - mine have chitted and have shoots about 3inches long - should I be planting them out now? It still seems a bit cold but I'm not sure that I should let the shoots get too long!

I have some first earlies and some maincrop....

any help greatly appreciated

t

Biggles

Yes, plant out now (unless you're in the far North or Scotland, in which case you may have started chitting too early).

Make sure they are planted deep enough so that the shoots are covered by soil, that way they'll be protected for the first couple of weeks while they establish themelves.