[seanandde]

Could anyone who has grown/is growing Red Duke of York please tell me the flower colour?

Thank you

[arugula]

This is a very useful website:

http://varieties.potato.org.uk/display_description.php?variety_name=Red%20Duke%20Of%20York

[seanandde]

Aha, thanks so much, what a helpful site.  Was beginning to suspect a customer before me had had some fun mixing up seed potatoes.  Strangely enough, the flower colour description (from the site link you kindly provided) says red/violet flowers but the actual photo matches the flowers on mine exactly.  I was expecting something *really* red/violet, never having grown spuds previously.

[arugula]

They're quite a pale colour, aren't they? Not necessarily what you might expect from a "red" potato.

[seanandde]

In truth, I didn't know what to expect regardless of potato colour

I'm not sure it's been terribly successful.  We just tried four or five in a large dustbin and have been earthing up with bought compost.  The bin has lots of fair sized drainage holes, even around the sides - that's enabled me to poke my finger into the soil to check how dry it is much further down... it's badly compacted even though well watered (maybe I overwatered?).  Have a feeling this is going to turn out to be the most expensive, not very ornamental plant with dreary, small flowers ever grown in a dustbin.. and few or no potatoes

[mumofstig]

I hope you've been adding some feed as well as extra compost 

[DD.]

I'm also wondering about the light issue if they are at the bottom of a big dustbin.

[seanandde]

I've been feeding them with purpose made potato fertilizer every 10 days or so.  No more space at the top of the bin as it's full of compost now and the foliage stands about two and a half feet above.

Never grown potatoes before so I'm not sure what you mean about light?

[DD.]

If they're above the bin, fine, but if they were lurking at the bottom, they wouldn't see much.

How deep is the bin? You must have some very long haulms there.

I'm just wondering if they've been over-fed and are making foiliage, rather than tubers.

[seanandde]

It's a regular sized plastic dustbin - I guess 30-36" high or thereabouts.

Wasn't really sure what to do for the best on feeding.  It's a cheap multi-purpose compost and I know the nutrients don't last long in it.  But yes, I have a feeing we'll just have loads of unlovely foliage and no spuds.  Was tempted to have a root round in the compost from the top but I suppose there's not much to be gained from doing so at this point. 

First year having a bash at any veg and we have loads of stuff everywhere in containers but it's worked out very expensive and time consuming with watering, etc.  Next year I can see some of the garden given over to veg.

[shokkyy]

Yes, I think that's the main downside to growing spuds in containers. I like it because you get luvly clean new spuds but it does take an awful lot of compost. And yes, I do make plenty of garden compost, but it's nowhere near good enough for me to want to plant anything in it.

[Grubbypaws]

I didnt realise I had to feed them as well  . What is the best to use? Do I need to get special potato fertilizer or will tomato food do? How often do I do it? My compost is so brilliant I thought that would be enough and they are growing so well.