Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: penance on February 26, 2007, 15:52

Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: penance on February 26, 2007, 15:52
Has anyone had success with maincrop spuds in containers?
I have some red king edwards for this year but as i have a smallish garden plot i dont want to use up a bed for so long with just one crop.
I have an old dustbin that i was thinking i could use, just bang some holes in the bottom.
Only problem is, most sites i look at say maincrops dont do so well in containers?
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: WG. on February 26, 2007, 15:56
I don't see why not.  I've grown Kerr's Pink in one tonne builders bags and they did alright.  Five tubers to a bag.   I'd suggest one tuber only in your dustbin and pay attention to watering since the heavier foliage will take a lot of moisture out.
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: penance on February 26, 2007, 16:39
Shame, i used the last builders bag i had for weed control.
I have around 10 tubers to plant, 10 dustbins would take up an awful lot of room.
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: muntjac on February 26, 2007, 16:58
plant 5 in the middle layer and then 5 more in the top third layer, werks for my cobbles of the beach my gd says are taters for nandad
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: WG. on February 26, 2007, 18:11
Quote from: "penance"
I have around 10 tubers to plant, 10 dustbins would take up an awful lot of room.
Its the amount you harvest that matters!   :D
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: WG. on February 26, 2007, 18:47
Quote from: "muntjac"
plant 5 in the middle layer and then 5 more in the top

10 maincrop spuds in a dustbin? Surely not, mj?
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: muntjac on February 26, 2007, 19:49
if they are going to do nothing id use em up .i did it with some cobbles my granddaughter  brought home from the beach last year . planted the cobbles with her  . when she was inbed i swapped em for spuds .got 11 lbs in all lol
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: shaun on February 26, 2007, 20:26
i planted some earlies in buckets last week 3 sets in each bucket and guess what they are just popping there heads up,they were well chitted though
1st time ive done it so dont know what they will be like
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: cornykev on February 26, 2007, 20:51
Likewise Shaun 3x3 buckets/pots just see some of them edging thru. :)
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: penance on February 27, 2007, 13:53
OK, so it seems like its worth a try.
looks like i may have some spare seed spuds. I may try a bit of both and compare yield, thats if i have a spare bed at the time.
Any thought on pumpkins in containers?
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: WG. on February 27, 2007, 13:57
Quote from: "penance"
... some spare seed spuds. I may try a bit of both and compare yield
Two dustbins: put one King Edward in one dustbin, put three or more in the other.  Treat identically and compare yields.

You probably know this but fill the dustbins gradually as the plants grow.  This encourages them to put out roots which will bear tatties.
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: penance on February 27, 2007, 14:27
Good idea, i'll track down another bin and give it a try.
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: GrannieAnnie on February 27, 2007, 16:05
If you've got the room penance, I did some earlies last year in 12" pots, one tuber per pot.  The yields weren't high, but even if you only get say 6 potatoes from each one, its 6 times as many as you started with!

Don't waste them tubers mate!
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: frazzy on February 27, 2007, 16:11
a friend gave me a stack of old tires i heard there great for growing spuds in but i was worried about the rubber leaching chemicles into the soil is that possible ?
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: muntjac on February 27, 2007, 16:14
line em with bin liners if ya worried  :wink:
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: frazzy on February 27, 2007, 16:19
good idea i wil do that  :lol:
Title: Maincrop spuds in container??
Post by: penance on February 27, 2007, 17:01
Quote from: "grannieannie"
If you've got the room penance, I did some earlies last year in 12" pots, one tuber per pot.  The yields weren't high, but even if you only get say 6 potatoes from each one, its 6 times as many as you started with!

Don't waste them tubers mate!


Most of my toms will be in 12" pots, so not that much room left. I'm thinking the spuds can be stuffed out of sight in a corner as they arent to pretty, toms i dont mind looking at.

I think munty's idea seems best so far, kinda like a spudy trial year:)