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

arkonite_babe

Have a look at previous potatoes threads here on Greenfingers for help and information


There's already an older thread about this, so I'll merge the two together.

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BLUis

chalkswindon wrote: »

I was watching Janie at home the other night and grew spuds in just a bag of compost and cut the top off and made some splits lower down to put the starter spuds into the bag ?

Is it really that easy ?

I have just had an email from Aldi - their rubble bags are 8 for £1.39. Im sure these would do for growing a few spuds in!!

mum_of_4

BLUis wrote: »

I have just had an email from Aldi - their rubble bags are 8 for £1.39. Im sure these would do for growing a few spuds in!!

Yep they are great for growing spuds and you can't go wrong for that price. Friend of mine even grew strawberrys in a couple of them she cut holes in the sides and it looked brillant when the plants were fruiting.

Sue-UU

......and whatever you grow in them, they still are very reasonably priced for garden rubbish to be collected in (if you don't have room/make your own compost) ready for taking to tip for them to compost.

umami

Very useful thread this one.
Question - I have 3 big potatoes sprouting shoots -can I plant them?
Thnaks in advance.

gt568

chun wrote: »

Very useful thread this one.
Question - I have 3 big potatoes sprouting shoots -can I plant them?
Thnaks in advance.

I would only plant them if they are certified disease free seed potatoes. You shouldn't plant "food" or supermarket potatoes as they can introduce disease to the land, are more vulnerable to blight and crop poorly.

Lotus-eater

I know that is said, but I don't think its a problem growing supermarket potatoes for one year (not saving some for seed I mean) and as long as you rotate the crops the following few years, you should be ok.
I don't think its worth someone buying a bag of seed potatoes just to try growing 2 or 3 potatoes. Next year, if you like growing them, try to get hold of some proper seed potatoes.

gt568

Lotus-eater wrote: »

I know that is said, but I don't think its a problem growing supermarket potatoes for one year (not saving some for seed I mean) and as long as you rotate the crops the following few years, you should be ok.
I don't think its worth someone buying a bag of seed potatoes just to try growing 2 or 3 potatoes. Next year, if you like growing them, try to get hold of some proper seed potatoes.

If you are happy with a poor crop. Also remember that disease can be spread to other peoples land as well.

Lotus-eater

gt568 wrote: »

If you are happy with a poor crop. Also remember that disease can be spread to other peoples land as well.

You may well be correct, all I can say is that I've never heard or seen any evidence to back this up. I have heard of and seen quite a few potato plants grown from supermarket potatoes.

gt568

Lotus-eater wrote: »

You may well be correct, all I can say is that I've never heard or seen any evidence to back this up. I have heard of and seen quite a few potato plants grown from supermarket potatoes.

each to there own of course, but if you introduced blight to the allotment by using supermarket spuds (which are more vulnerable), then I'm sure the other allotmenteers who'd be less than chuffed