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Post by Mr Grinch on Feb 23, 2009 9:20:04 GMT
Hi all,
Due to the fact that i LOVE flowers, no part of my garden has been turned over to veg, BUT as an experiment, i will be planting 4 seed potatoes in two compost bags to see whether i will get a good crop.
Couple of questions, has anyone done this and what were your results ?? I will be planting first earlies, Maris something or another. Ive started to chit them but im unsure how to plant them. Is it the chit facing up or down into the compost ? When's the best time to plant ?
Any help help appreciated ?
regards
James
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 23, 2009 12:54:20 GMT
Hi Mr. Grinch, yes it is chit facing up as far as I know. I'll be interested to see what folks say about this as I intend to do the same this year. I tried last year but the potatoes rotted, it got too wet for them. I'm chitting maris piper at the moment and they've sprouted but the potatoes themselves have turned green. Does this mean they are no good?
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Post by Mr Grinch on Feb 23, 2009 16:49:10 GMT
Not sure Lady G, i think they are the ones that i have bought. Mine have started to chit but havnt gone green. I bought two compost bags and will take half the compost out then plant 2 spuds in each. I will pierce holes in the sacks to allow for drainage, then as they grow add more compost which does the same thing to 'earthing up'.
Not sure on when to plany or harvest though ?
Regards
James
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Post by Dr Bill on Feb 23, 2009 19:02:57 GMT
Don't worry about the green. You can't eat green potatoes but you can certainly plant them.
Yes Mr G, they do need drainage otherwise they will just rot. I haven't grown potatoes in bags but my spuds are always in containers because I haven't room for them in the garden itself. i would have thought 2-3 per bag would be enough. Fill the bag about a quarter full and turn the top down. Plant the spuds into the compost. As the shoots grow, unfold the top of the bag and add more compost until the bag is full - this mimics the earthing up process. If they are going outside wsit until the worst of the frosts are over, and be prepared to cover them with newspaper or fleece if a late frost is predicted. They are ready to harvest after flowering when the tops will start to die down. Yum - go for it! The harvest won't be huge but the flavour!
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 23, 2009 19:31:10 GMT
Thanks for the advice Dr. Bill. I was ready for binning them.  I'm going to give them a try ;D |
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Post by carolann on Feb 24, 2009 9:31:10 GMT
As Dr B says make sure there are lots of drainage hole
in the bags, also if you have any mesh put some over
2 house bricks so there is a gap below and put the bags on the mesh that way you have somewhere for the water to drain
off to and the bags are not sitting on the ground.
Good luck guys wait till you taste them. Yum Yum.
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Post by Ladygardener on Feb 25, 2009 19:16:31 GMT
Good tips Carol, thanks |
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 1, 2009 19:24:21 GMT
My spuds are starting to go soft, shall i plant them ASAP ?
G
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 6, 2009 18:45:34 GMT
If it was me I'd probably get them planted MrG but let someone with more experience answer too  If you have a Poundland shop locally I've heard they do pop up garden rubbish bins that are handy for growing tats in |
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 7, 2009 12:54:54 GMT
Planted them 2 days ago in the bags but left them covered in the shed for another couple of weeks i reckon ;D
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 7, 2009 15:05:48 GMT
Good for you Mr. Grinch, must get mine done.
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 11, 2009 11:59:17 GMT
Well my spuds are in. ;D I've planted 3 which chitted into multipurpurpos mixed with garden soil from the new veg bed. I've taken your advice Dr. Bill and Carol and have lots of drainage holes in the bag and also have it sitting on some polystyrine module thingys to let any excess water drain away. They're beside the wall under the front room window and I can cover it if we get another frost.
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Post by Mr Grinch on Mar 12, 2009 6:40:50 GMT
Ive put mine outside now. Put some extra drainage holes just in case. Gave them a good water but the compost seemed to suck it all up. No water came out the holes.
G
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 14, 2009 12:07:11 GMT
Guys can you answer a stupid question but was I ment to cover the potatoes and chitted bits with soil or not? I covered them with about an inch or two of compost was this right or was I ment to let the chitted bits poke up? |
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Post by carolann on Mar 14, 2009 12:56:03 GMT
No you have done right LG now all you have to do is wait for the green shoots to appear then just cover them with compost and keep doing this till you get to the top of the bag.
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 14, 2009 13:03:12 GMT
Carol thanks a million for putting my mind at rest. When you grow something for the 1st time even something obvious becomes a bit of a dilema. |
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Post by Chuckles on Mar 14, 2009 13:18:28 GMT
Carol thanks a million for putting my mind at rest. When you grow something for the 1st time even something obvious becomes a bit of a dilema. LG, even 2nd 3rd 4th etc times I still question sometimes what I'm doing even with the obvious stuff ;D not sure what my excuse is  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 14, 2009 13:22:09 GMT
OH Chuckles, I do so know what you mean. Year to year I'll easily forget half of what I think I know about growing. 
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 1, 2009 10:23:53 GMT
Happy days, green bits were poking up this morning so I put lots more compost on top and unfurled the bag a bit.Looks like I'm up and running. I'm more than pleased. ;D Thanks for all your tips guys. How are yours Mr. Grinch? I guess we are the only 2 growing them in bags.
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Post by Amo on Apr 4, 2009 19:42:17 GMT
We have ours in bags but they're those not quite sacks potato bags. It's OH's department really. They're all doing fine, first lot are up to the top and the last lot are not showing yet.
Do watch your watering in sacks, they rot easily.
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 4, 2009 19:46:05 GMT
Good to know somebody else is doing them in bags Amo, even if it's Mr. Amo you can give us progress reports. ;D So when they get up to the top of the bag do you just leave them to grow and then hopefully flower Amo? I did put lots of holes in the bag and have them off the ground on polystyrine thingys so they can drain. Fingers are crossed.
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Post by Amo on Apr 4, 2009 19:56:55 GMT
Yes, we leave them to do what comes naturally, or would do if they were in the ground.
You earth up as the haulm will send out little shoots and these are where the potatoes form so the more you earth up, the more potatoes you should get. The last bit is just letting the tubers swell and the flowers form. When they have flowered, the potatoes of first earlies should be ready, usually about 10-12 weeks after planting. If you're gentle you can have a broogle around and just take out enough for a meal at a time.
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 5, 2009 5:49:44 GMT
Thanks for all that info Amo. I do hope mine get to that stage. |
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Post by Mr Grinch on Apr 5, 2009 6:42:42 GMT
Mine are poking there heads above the compost !!!
Time to earth up yet or leave them to grow a bit more ?
G
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Post by Amo on Apr 5, 2009 7:17:01 GMT
We usually leave them until there's 4 - 6 inches then earth up to almost totally cover them.
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 5, 2009 7:28:49 GMT
All info very greatefully recieved Amo. I earthed mine up when there was only about an inch showing.  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 5, 2009 7:29:36 GMT
Mr Grinch, it's good to know yours are still going well. |
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Post by oldmoleskins on Apr 5, 2009 10:24:28 GMT
If you 'earth up' to their chins leaving a bit of green showing (I do, if it's anything to go by - seems more encouraging somehow) for safety do be sure to cover them with a bit of fleece or newspaper overnight if there's a frost forecast and it could get to them...
OM.
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Post by Ladygardener on Apr 5, 2009 11:34:24 GMT
More advice, good to have O.M. thank you I will bear that in mind. |
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Post by Mowhay on Apr 6, 2009 10:02:54 GMT
I planted mine into "potato grow sacks" from Marshall's on the 6th March and put them into the unheated greenhouse. Earthed them up for the first time on Saturday, they were about 4 to 6 inches tall. I prefer to leave the growing tip out of the compost not for any reason apart from I believe they grow better but just my opinion.
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