Potato Growing 2025

I have had a go at growing spuds and tried growing main crop in a container, it is just not worth it, the yield is no good.

So only grow first/second earlies which are tasty. Last year I bought a bag of each from B&Q and I think I got 15 in each bag for about £4.50, this is too many potatoes for my containers. So this year got Maris Piper/Javelin from Home Bargains for 99p for 4, which will do 1 container. I have tow of those Lidl potato planters that is stackable on top of each other, so can take 12 seed potatoes.

Last year I got 1/2 price chicken pellets from Robert Dyers, at end of season sell off.

 

I have Charlottes chitting to plant n buckets. Just 6 tubers, 3 in a bucket. Have just read that potatoes are determinate and indeterminate and that Charlottes fall into the first category. This probably is the reason for my previous failures Not planting for a couple of weeks as the weather is cooling down next week but I don’t think I should wait for too much longer after that to plant. At least I now know to plant on two levels and fill to the top with compost, no earthing up!

 

If the buckets are moveable when filled, you could start planting and keep protected (in a shed or garage etc), moving them outside once they have surfaced and/or when frosts are finished.

 

Will planting earlier and protected usually give a bigger harvest or would it be the same amount just earlier do you know @infradig ?

 

Within the certainty of uncertainties, it could be that the size of tubers depends upon the available supply of nutrient and water, the number of tubers depends upon the time given for their production, each being variable inversely to the other ,all other factors remaining constant !
tic.

 

Hahahahaaa, okaaay got it

 

I will plant mine at the equinox. Last night I split the largest tubers in half, they were up to 150g each which is a bit too big. Should be long enough for them to heal.

 

That's 9.01GMT on the 20th March.

 

That's when "They forecast" the temperatures get into double figures.