potatoes

If you grow potatoes in a barrel or bin --how do the ones on the bottom grow if you gradually add more and more compst and fill it top the top ?

 

Because potatoes grow UP not down Ming

 

John is right,there,Ming. If planting in a container, you only need about 2" of soil beneath the seed potato. The potatoes themselves, actually grow from the stem as the plant grows.

 

But I read you put some compost inna bin, then pots, then compost, then pots, liek a casserole in layers all the way to the top. So how to the bottom pots get to the TOP! LOL

 

I am growing potatoes in dustbins, pots & barrels. I fill the container 1/3rd full put the seed spuds in, cover with about 3" ( all I use is compost ) and as they grow "earth up" a couple of times,let them flower and when they die off they should be ready. I have never heard of doing spuds in layers, it just doesn't seem practical. I am not an expert by any means but the family enjoy the end result. Best of luck whatever way you grow.
The hardy laural

 

Never heard that one ming, you add compost/soil as the spuds grow but not more spuds.
Just the first initial seeds at the bottom which grow up through, you then add more soil as they grow, burying the stems.

 

ok that makes a lot more sense ty !

 

Hi, I have just ordered some potato patio bags from marshalls (tall tough plastic kind of bags), but I see on here that people use all sorts of containers. How big / deep to they have to be, and where did you get them all from? I obviously don't want to spend a fortune on containers, so ideas on cheap alternatives would be much appreciated!

 

Rosie, the smallest container I`ve used for growing spuds is a 10 litre pot. So I would say anything that size or above. With a 10 litre pot you just use 1 seed potato.

 

:D :D :D

 

So, do you reckon buckets would do it (the 10 litre ones) with holes drilled in the bottom? B&Q sells them for 99 p I think. If I got 5 and potted up 5 seed potatoes, that would not be bad for starters, would it? Does the same principle apply as with the grow bags, little compost to start with, then topping up as the plant grows up?

 

Whats a 10 litre pot look like David?
Can we have that in English please, sorry mate, British. :D

 

Do you know what a 22pint pot looks like Pete? It looks like a martini glass only 10 times bigger. :D

 

It looks like a 2litre pot only 5 times bigger. :D

 

why don't you yous your old compost bags roll them down to 1/2 there size put compost in add your potatoes in and just keep toping up with compost