planting potatoes

I'm trying potatoes for the first time this year and have purchased a started kit of 3 types of potatoes and 3 large black potato buckets. I've allowed the potatoes to sprout and am now ready to plant but it doesn't mention in the instructions whether I should put drain holes in the bucket? Any ideas - I think there should be drainage but why are there no pre-drilled holes??

 

I would put some drainage holes underneath. I am growing 1 tato in a bucket just for fun in compost and home compost. The new growth is just above the soil but it will live in the greenhouse until mid May.

 

I am growing my potatoes in old compost bags. I have put small holes in for drainage.
Good luck!

 

Definitely - you always need drainage holes when planting anything in a pot!! I just spotted a tip elswhere - if the pot/bucket is flat bottomed, put the holes around the base of the sides not underneath as it allows better drainage! Also saves you having to stand it on those annoying little 'feet'!!

 

yes drainage is a must or you get problems with rotting in a wet summer

 

Yes I bought some normal bins (probably a lot cheaper) and drilled holes underneath and around the sides for good measure.

The earlies I put in - the plants are now coming over the top of the refuse bins.....nice and easy to earth up the plants though as the bin holds all the compost.

I know it sounds obvious (but I didnt realise) but the potato roots will also grow out of the bottom of the drainage holes so if they are standing on concrete like mine were...try and put some earth underneath the bins or put them onto grass/soil

 

thanks to everyone who gave me advice - holes drained in the side and everything went well. I planted them in May and they are now huge and flowers appearing on the second earlies - Charlotte and Maris Peer. The plants have started to wilt over the last couple of days and I don't know if this is normal. I haven't looked to see if there are any potatoes in the buckets yet - should I wait till after flowers have wilted?

 

I am new to gardening too, so I am unsure, but my allotment colleagues have told me to wait until the flowers have wilted before I even think of digging them up. One of my neighbours - his flowers wilted a couple of weeks ago and he still hasn't dug them up. Mine are not quite wilted so I haven't tried. As I have loads planted though, I will be unearthing some at the weekend to see how they are getting on. I will let you know the outcome...

 

Thanks Sally - my flowers are still blooming so I'll try to be patient. I look forward to hearing how you get on.

 

I emptied one of my 'compost bag' potato plants. I had enough potatoes for two people and still loads of nodules starting to bulge so I replanted the plant so those nodules could mature. Some of the potatoes were half baking potato size. The rest were jersey new potato size. They were very tasty. I doubt I will go back to buying potatoes ever again.
Good Luck with yours.