growing potatoes in potato bags

LILLILEAF · « **on:** January 23, 2020, 19:49 »

Growing spuds in bags is some thing I have not done, so I bought some good quality bags they will hold 45L of compost, my question is how many seed potatoes can you grow in 1 bag.
2nd question is it worth paying extra for good compost if yes which one to go for.
The variety I shall put in bags are arron pilot and charlotte.Lillileaf

TonyB. · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2020, 19:56 »

I tried bags - results were poor. Nothing like the ads. 3 in large bags about 12 out !!!!!!!!!

Mr Dog · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2020, 20:08 »

Quote from: LILLILEAF on January 23, 2020, 19:49

Growing spuds in bags is some thing I have not done, so I bought some good quality bags they will hold 45L of compost, my question is how many seed potatoes can you grow in 1 bag.
2nd question is it worth paying extra for good compost if yes which one to go for.
The variety I shall put in bags are arron pilot and charlotte.Lillileaf

I experimented with different varieties last year. 30L pots gave just over 1200g/tuber for Charlotte, 2 tubers per pot. Full results in the last few posts of my 2019 Diary https://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=129371.0

Plot 1 Problems · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2020, 20:29 »

My friend grows his in bags every year. He uses a normal multipurpose compost and plants them out with a decent helping of chicken manure pellets. He feeds them every week with comfrey tea and he gets a decent harvest every year apart from last summer when he was working abroad for a few weeks during the heatwave!

Mr Dog · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2020, 20:34 »

Quote from: Plot 1 Problems on January 23, 2020, 20:29

My friend grows his in bags every year. He uses a normal multipurpose compost and plants them out with a decent helping of chicken manure pellets. He feeds them every week with comfrey tea and he gets a decent harvest every year apart from last summer when he was working abroad for a few weeks during the heatwave!

Yes, one thing to point out with growing spuds in pots/bags is the need to ensure an adequate watering regime - they take/need far more watering than you might expect!

Yorkie · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2020, 21:10 »

You definitely don't want to put too many seed tubers in that bag. Perhaps one or two? Remember that you will have to water and feed them more than you would if they were in the ground.

Mr Dog · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2020, 21:54 »

Quote from: Yorkie on January 23, 2020, 21:10

You definitely don't want to put too many seed tubers in that bag. Perhaps one or two? Remember that you will have to water and feed them more than you would if they were in the ground.

I've seen a requirement of 10-15L compost/tuber quoted in quite a few growing guides, so that would mean 3-4 for a 45l container (I've found 2 can work well in a 30L pot - variety also plays a major role in how successful things are). However, from (limited) experience I'd also say that the cross sectional area of the container is also important. If the 45l bag has a x-section significantly smaller than around 100 sq in (ca700 sq cm) I'd go 2 tubers, otherwise 3.

Plot 1 Problems · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2020, 22:07 »

I do a small number of first earlies in containers made from a water barrel chopped into 3 tubs to give a rough idea of size. They're filled with soil amended with compost. I put 2 or 3 seed potatoes in them and get a few good few potato salads out of them. Maincrops I guess I'd put 1 or 2 seed spuds in each.

mumofstig · « **Reply #8 on:** January 24, 2020, 07:24 »

3 seed potatoes, but you really will have to feed and water them really well, like Allotment Diary man on youtube he gets good results every year - harvesting is shown later each year and weighed on video.

Here he starts 2 per 30L pots but some years he uses the 45l pots and puts 3 in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG8Xp_1rSlk
Good luck with yours.

Grubbypaws · « **Reply #9 on:** January 24, 2020, 09:32 »

I grow all my potatoes in 45L/ 50L bags; 3 per bag unless they are scrawny. I place them on 8" compost and put specialised potato food in with them. I then fill the bags to 4" from the top. They dont need good quality compost; I use home made stuff (and when I lift the potatoes I am left with even better compost!) I put some slug pellets on the surface and mulch so that the weeds don't grow and the birds cant get the pellets. As others have said they need watering well once they have foliage and I then feed them every 10 days with a low nitrogen liquid feed. It must be low nitrogen or you will just get loads of foliage and no potatoes.

I am still eating my mains from last year and haven't been without potatoes since my first earlies were lifted

Kleftiwallah · « **Reply #10 on:** January 24, 2020, 13:34 »

Just to add... I grow spuds in bags and start off with 4-5" of J.I.no3 in the base, three seed spuds (usually of some weird variety). Wait for a decent sprout then earth up and carry on earthing up with G/P compost and poo pellets. I agree with the extra watering regeme.

Cheers, Tony.

Grubbypaws · « **Reply #11 on:** January 24, 2020, 13:42 »

Quote from: Kleftiwallah on January 24, 2020, 13:34

Just to add... I grow spuds in bags and start off with 4-5" of J.I.no3 in the base, three seed spuds (usually of some weird variety). Wait for a decent sprout then earth up and carry on earthing up with G/P compost and poo pellets. I agree with the extra watering regeme.

I used to earth up but am often away so I experimented with just filling the bags up straight away and amazingly it worked perfectly. I have continued using this method since. Not only does it save time but the foliage doesnt usually appear above ground until after the last frost so you are not worrying every time you go away and leave them

TonyB. · « **Reply #12 on:** January 24, 2020, 15:02 »

Sounds like I did not water them enough. Thanks for the tip. Will try some again this year.

Tenhens · « **Reply #13 on:** January 24, 2020, 19:18 »

I have been using bags for the last couple of years , getting the watering right is a challenge which can be an issue if you don't have a good water supply. I only put two seeds in each bag.
One benefit I found was on harvesting I would empty the bag into a wheelbarrow and have a good furrage , removing the risk of forking your harvest as well as leaving no strays.

There is a good post from Lettice ( posted in 2016 ) -" Main crop in ground or bags? it is now bags for me" which you may find useful. As mentioned , youtube as well.

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