Poor potato crop

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Herb, Aug 31, 2010.

  1. Herb

    Herb Gardener

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    I used a grow bag and topped up the earth as the plant grew higher. I dug it up today but was disappointed to find poatos had only sprouted at the very base of the bag and not the entire length of the bag. Did I do something wrong??
     
  2. andrewh

    andrewh Gardener

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    You probably should have filled the bag about half full, put the seed potatos in, then covered with compost and added more as the plants grew. They need good deep soil.

    However, for a lot of people it's been a rubbish year for spuds - not enough sun. So don't worry, and give it another go next year!
     
  3. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    It has been a poor year for spuds, my early ones in containers were very good but the later ones in the soil were very poor, I think because we had very little rain earlier in the season. I've never tried using grow-bags for spuds, I should imagine the soil depth is not enough, did you give them plenty of water?
     
  4. Herb

    Herb Gardener

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    I thought I did but the soil was a little dry deeper down. Would that have an effect?
     
  5. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Yes, they need lots of water and hate getting dried out. I know from growing mine in containers they do soak it up, I had to water every day and even then the soil felt a bit dry at the bottom when I tipped them out.
     
  6. daitheplant

    daitheplant Total Gardener

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    When growing spuds in containers/bags you need 3 or 4 inches of soil/compost in the bottom. Put the seed potato on this and cover with about 6 inches of soil/compost. As the plant grows, keep covering until the top of the container/bag is reached. Water regularly and keep growing until the top growth dies back. Then harvest and enjoy.:gnthb:
     
  7. Alice

    Alice Gardener

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    I would second Dai. That's exactly how to do it.
    I've never had success with anything in growbags. The watering is impossible.
    As a rule of thumb you can expect to get 3 to 4 lbs of potatoes from a bucket.
    In my experience you don't get twice the crop from a bigger container (nothing like !)
    But you do get a much bigger crop in the ground if you can manage it.
    I grow tatties in buckets to get a very early crop - I can shelter the buckets and get potatoes long before I could have them from the ground.

    What kind of potatoes were you growing Herb?
    Potatoes can take anything from 8 weeks to 22 weeks to be ready depending on variety - but I still don't think anything will do well in growbags.
    Come back and tell us more.
    .
     
  8. Herb

    Herb Gardener

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    They were Duke of York, I think.
     
  9. colincwb

    colincwb Apprentice Gardener

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    I'm currently growing red rooster and king edward in blue rubble sack I got from work and there growing well ! I had a wee fumble the other day and there a few in there size of a tennis ball :thumb:
     
  10. andrewh

    andrewh Gardener

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    I planted some in buckets a few weeks ago, hoping for Christmas spuds. First time I've tried it.

    I'll put them under cover when the frosts come, but still can't imagine there will be enough warmth and daylight to produce a crop. But apparently it works, so nothing ventured!
     
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