Growing potatoes, advice please

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Growing potatoes, advice please

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snowball
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 6246
Location: swindon

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 8:18 am Post subject: Growing potatoes, advice please
Hi, We don't have much space but we fancied growing more of our own veg this year. I vaguely remember using a dustbin with holes in to grow potatoes a few years back. Problem is, I can't remember how we did it. Any suggestions as to variety to use etc. and how to do it would be much appreciated.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42228
Location: North Devon

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 8:50 am Post subject:
I think you plant them quite low down in the container, and keep earthing them up as they grow. There was a thread about this on A N other forum which jema could have a look for, I think it was talking about using old tyres as containers.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 9:21 am Post subject:

Fairly sure the tyre tower is a favourite of Bob's (as he's known to his friens

) and there's probably been a few different versions of it in Kitchen Garden magazine.

Definitely the earthing up option.

We've grown them semi-successfully in ex-compost bags and black builders' buckets with holes drilled in and any other container we can get hold of. There is an advantage in that you can move them to sheltered spots and even the greenhouse while it's still relatively empty.

I have a bad memory so Treacodactyl should be able to elaborate, but what I recall is some did quite well and some were rubbish, but it's still worth while for an early, convenient crop esp if you have little garden space (when we lived in a flat with a tiny patio we grew some supermarket ones...just enough for one meal but I think it got me hooked

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 11:26 am Post subject:

I've grown potatoes in pots (so it must be easy!) As long as you've got drainage holes in the bottom, then you just shove in some compost, add potatoes (only a couple though), and every time they show a few inches of green shoots, you just shove more compost in on top of them (I always feel a bit mean doing this!). I just used a large pot, but I'm sure a dustbin would do - just remember that you'll probably have to turn it upsidedowm to get the crop out, so don't fill it too full!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 12:07 pm Post subject:

I suppose you could emulate a potato barrel, if you have or can get an old dustbin or some other container of similar size, by cutting off the base, so that when it comes to harvesting you just wiggle the outside off and all the compost and crop falls on the floor...bit of sweeping up to do after though!

I think that's meant to be the appeal of the tyre tower, you can lift it off bit by bit. I've always been slightly concerned by the idea of the petrol.oil and other nasties that tyres pick up but I'm sure I've read it's not so bad as you would think...

DarrenG

Joined: 26 Dec 2004
Posts: 110
Location: Lincolnshire Fens

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 12:24 pm Post subject:
wombles right but forgot to add that each time you put more compost on you also add a couple more pots 1st

snowball
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 6246
Location: swindon

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 7:19 pm Post subject:
Thanks everyone. I'll let you know how it turns out.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Sun Jan 16, 05 7:57 pm Post subject:
I got loads out of pots last year - this year I'm expanding them to a half oak barrel

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