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

sb44

How big do the roots need to be if you re going to plant some shop bought potatoes that have sprouted?

They won't be planted in the ground but either in pots or grow bags stood on their ends.

These are a few of the ones I had sitting in one of those green food saving bags in the veg rack! :eek:

When can I plant these?

Ta!

Biggles

These haven't been chitted, they have just sprouted and are not suitable for planting. A potato that has chitted will have sturdy, green shoots, maybe a couple of inches long.

These white shoots should be rubbed off (it won't do the potato any harm) and the potatoes placed in the light for another two or three weeks, when they will chit properly.

sb44

Biggles wrote: »

These haven't been chitted, they have just sprouted and are not suitable for planting. A potato that has chitted will have sturdy, green shoots, maybe a couple of inches long.

These white shoots should be rubbed off (it won't do the potato any harm) and the potatoes placed in the light for another two or three weeks, when they will chit properly.

Thanks very much for the info, I thought this is what chitting was, haven't grown any spuds before so not well up on them. :rolleyes:

Shall rub these roots off and stick them on the windowsill.

cheekyweegit

sb44 wrote: »

Thanks very much for the info, I thought this is what chitting was, haven't grown any spuds before so not well up on them. :rolleyes:

Shall rub these roots off and stick them on the windowsill.

If it's any consolation your picture is what I also thought chitting was. Woops.

coolpran

cheekyweegit wrote: »

If it's any consolation your picture is what I also thought chitting was. Woops.

me too.. and here i thought i knew something about potato growing :eek:

sb44

Great, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that then.

:rolleyes:

COOLTRIKERCHICK

i must admit i have plonked potatoes that look like that into tubs and i have had loads of potatoes from them

i would say give it ago... even if its an experiment for you...lol...

i would put them into a large planter or an old compost bag with a bit of compost in the botton, put the spuds in and cover with a bit more compost, then when you see them growing through just keep on topping the compost up until the bag is full,

if you have got a shed or somewhere where the frost cant get at them... pu them in there for a few weeks, and then put them outside..

sb44

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

i must admit i have plonked potatoes that look like that into tubs and i have had loads of potatoes from them

i would say give it ago... even if its an experiment for you...lol...

i would put them into a large planter or an old compost bag with a bit of compost in the botton, put the spuds in and cover with a bit more compost, then when you see them growing through just keep on topping the compost up until the bag is full,

if you have got a shed or somewhere where the frost cant get at them... pu them in there for a few weeks, and then put them outside..

I know I will have to put the larger spuds in something which is going to be pretty deep but can I put new potatoes in those big black buckets that Morrisons use to keep their flowers in?

aberj6

I grew some in the black pots last year with one per pot and this year have managed to get from freecycle an old style black plastic bin to try out

jabba4

A few years ago I forgot my seed potatoes were at the back of the kitchen cupboard, and that's how they ended up. I still planted them, and had a really good crop.

I do it properly now days.