[Snoop]

I've got beds that measure 2.5 m by 1.5 m. Someone is about to give me 50 seed potatoes bought in France and some purple seed potatoes that he's chitted at home. He's coming a long way, so I don't want to look ungrateful, but I already have a load of tatties in.

So, rather than planting them in traditional earthed-up rows, I was wondering whether there was any reason why I couldn't grow them in an earthed up bed. I reckon I'd be able to plant three rows but earth them all up as one big, very raised bed. Or as if it were a giant outdoor tub with no sides. I hope I'm explaining this OK. I won't be able to get them all in in one bed, but maybe two.

Does anyone foresee any problems with this? I think I'd be able to get more in, but more importantly it would be much easier for me to water them. I'm hoping that it might make better use of the water too by not planting in rows. Additional info: there is no blight in the area; the seed potatoes are certified; and I can get loose soil for additional earthing up from elsewhere on the plot later on, just not right now.

I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work, but I'm no expert at anything, let alone potatoes. So any and all advice would be very welcome.

[hogchops]

would you have any problems with the earth sliding when you water them?
thats the only prob i can think of, good luck with it.

[mumofstig]

have a google on Irish Lazy Beds, I think this is what you intend .....and it always worked for them  ................(till blight arrived )

[Salmo]

The conditions for potato growing in Spain will differ from those in the UK. I suspect that they grow and bulk up a lot quicker and unless you keep them constantly watered they will give up early.

I think that if you plant more than about 20 potatoes in that space you will be overcrowded and may end up with small potatoes.

My advice would be to say thank you very nicely, plant the 20 you can and either give the others away or discard them. Your freinds will never know

[Snoop]

Thanks for all the advice. Will have a look at Irish lazy beds (never heard of them before). I do water every day, sometimes more. Last year, I gave each row of maybe ten potatoes 7 litres or so of water a day. I water by hand with a watering can, so am looking at ways to cut down on all the effort involved, as well as to minimise water use.

[hoporus]

Hi there   i have only learned from my father I have grown potatoes in buckets and giant plantpots ,dustbins and wheelie bins after putting in drainage holes

[agapanthus]

Try planting  them under black weed membrane (not forgetting to cut a hole to each potato) instead of covering with soil. I've grown potatoes for many years in beds using this method with great results.

[Snoop]

Try planting  them under black weed membrane (not forgetting to cut a hole to each potato) instead of covering with soil. I've grown potatoes for many years in beds using this method with great results.

Sorry Agapanthus, I'm a right ignoramus when it comes to potatoes. Interestingly, the same friend gave me some biodegradable film (1 x 4 metres), so maybe I could try the system you describe. I presume the seed potatoes need some kind of soil covering. Could you describe your method in detail?

Thanks.

[agapanthus]

Try planting  them under black weed membrane (not forgetting to cut a hole to each potato) instead of covering with soil. I've grown potatoes for many years in beds using this method with great results.

Sorry Agapanthus, I'm a right ignoramus when it comes to potatoes. Interestingly, the same friend gave me some biodegradable film (1 x 4 metres), so maybe I could try the system you describe. I presume the seed potatoes need some kind of soil covering. Could you describe your method in detail?

Thanks.

If the bio-degradable film is very dark then it should be ok.
The soil is first and prepped with manure and used compost or compost from the bin. I then lay the membrane over the top and then tuck it in around the sides ( so the wind does'nt blow it away). I cut crosses into the membrane.....for a 4' wide bed I would have 3 rows across and then about a foot between them going down the row. This next bit can be a pain, but persevere. Using a trowel I dig out a 6 inch deep hole, pop the potato in and cover it with the soil that was removed. It can be a bit time consuming, but well worth the trouble.
I planted all mine on 21st March .....all 208 of them....and they are now coming through!

[DavidT]

Try planting  them under black weed membrane (not forgetting to cut a hole to each potato) instead of covering with soil. I've grown potatoes for many years in beds using this method with great results.

Agapanthus has got it spot on. When growing in deep beds, you don`t earth up because you grow them through weed fibre. Just make sure you plant them as deep as you physically can. You can also space them closer together.

[agapanthus]

Try planting  them under black weed membrane (not forgetting to cut a hole to each potato) instead of covering with soil. I've grown potatoes for many years in beds using this method with great results.

Agapanthus has got it spot on. When growing in deep beds, you don`t earth up because you grow them through weed fibre. Just make sure you plant them as deep as you physically can. You can also space them closer together.

Nice to know I've got something right for a change!

[Trillium]

I plant my tatties in earthed up beds, have done for years. Done so they don't resemble a pointed steeple, they won't slide down no matter what the weather does. After I hill up my leaves more, I gently firm in the soil to the mound and that's where it stays.

[Snoop]

Try planting  them under black weed membrane (not forgetting to cut a hole to each potato) instead of covering with soil. I've grown potatoes for many years in beds using this method with great results.

Agapanthus has got it spot on. When growing in deep beds, you don`t earth up because you grow them through weed fibre. Just make sure you plant them as deep as you physically can. You can also space them closer together.

Fantastic advice. Thanks Agapanthus, David and Trillium. The film is dark but biodegradable - it would be a shame if it biodegraded before the potatoes are ready. The packaging says it is good for 1-6 months depending on conditions. I bet the sun would finish it off quite quickly.

The deep bed method you describe, David, fascinates me. I guess with this you don't mound the earth up in a traditional kind of long pyramid. This would work for me if I've understood it right. Just loosen the soil a lot, dig a deep hole and pop the potato in. My plot is at the bottom of a valley. I have no idea how deep the soil is but the top soil I have managed to see (too long to explain) goes down at least four feet. I hate mounding up the soil, only to see it slide back down again in a downpour (60 litres per square metre in 45 minutes is the worst we've had, but boy can it rain when it decides to).

[compostqueen]

Spuds aren't fussy and  if you make a hole in the ground and chuck the spud in it will grow.  You could protect the leaves from frost by covering them with soil or grass clippings or straw, etc (although that does tend to blow away  )  I do mine through black sheet mulch but only the rock hard varieties as the softer ones (Kerrs Pink) were eaten by shrews which nested under there. You can't win em all    If they're free it's not a disaster if you lose a few

[purplebean]

I have just stuck my 10 maincrop spuds (yes that is all I am growing just want to have some of our own roast spuds on Christmas day) in the end of my raised bed, wish I had thought of the weed control fabric first. Mind you as there are only 10 I might wait until each one is just through and then cut holes in the right place and try to put it on afterwards.

My earlies in tub trugs are all popping through nicely