[chickpeacurry]

Got a quarter of a sack of Desiree and orla potatoes.  I have a small space to put them in.  When you plant them in the bags it is recommended to put in five potatoes.   What are the pros and cons of putting them in closer.

[compostqueen]

I've done some at closer spacings in big boxes filled with compost. You get smaller spuds is all.  I don't mind that

The more space they have to grow, the bigger your spuds will be. Desiree will make big spuds.  If they are smaller they still taste as good. You have to grow in the space you have available

I don't know the other potato variety you mention so can't comment on that one

I suppose if you only have a small space available you should grow a small variety spud, such as Ratte. Charlotte is good for tubs as well. We all have our particular faves

Happy growing!

[gobs]

The orla are also biggish.

Every potato is oral, as far as I know.

[compostqueen]

Orla!  Now I know what you mean 

Them's good uns. I like those.  I think they're a fave of the organic growers.  I tried some mashed ones at the potato day 

[JayG]

'Oral' potatoes are often talked about, but seldom grown these days unfortunately. 

[solway cropper]

I've always felt that the people who sell those potato growing bags and kits are over optimistic about the number of tubers you can put in them. You can get away with 3 or 4 first earlies because you want them small but I wouldn't put more than a couple of maincrop in a bag. Surely the point of maincrop potatoes is to get them to bulk up to keep through winter.

[A Reyt Tayty]

Same here SC. Two maincrop to a planter, and I somtimes think thats too many.

[3759allen]

i've always been under the impression that if you reduce the spacings that you will get the same yield (roughly) regardless of how many seeds you put in. so IMO if you put more than one seed every 18 inch's (for rows) your just wasting money on seeds and won't get an increase in crop for your investment.

personally i think i would plant as recommended and see if you can swap your extra seeds for something of more use.