Planting My Potatoes

I am planting pots for the first time - I have read an article - and want to put them in my greenhouse in seed tray - this may seem a really stupid question but the article does not say if you have to put compost/soil in the tray too. Can anyone tell me please

Logi

 

i think you may have read about chitting, in which case no soil, this involves placing spuds in cool light spot so hard nobbly shoots, it takes about six weeks, the idea is to get an earlier , heavier crop. It is not neccasary at all when growing in pots as you can get your earlier crop in the planted pot in the greenhouse. Unlesss you have a heated greenhouse I would hold off untill this weeks forecast cold spell is over!

 

Thanks does this mean when they have the shoots on I can then plant them in the ground?

 

oh sorry if your intending to plant in the ground then you may want to chitt. Yes after six weeks of chitting you can plant. (as i said for container grown spuds chitting is not necassary)

Normal planting time for spuds in the open ground is good friday but lots of people go earlier (i think any earlier than mid march is too early in my part of the world - but others will disagree) So decide when you want to plant and start your chitting six weeks prior.

 

You have been really helpful - will go put them in the green house in seed trays - wait for Easter then put them in the ground

 

Hi, my first year for growing pots or pretty anything. I started my chitting nearly two weeks ago.

Firstly I rubbed of any shoots, then stood them upright in a shallow box with the end with the most eyes at the top. I then placed them in the window of my shed. I'll turn the box 180 degrees each week.

Hope this helps, good luck.

 

I am growing mine in tubs, (first time ever growing any potatoes!) I have read conflicting advice.

• Once the shoots reach 6 inches, add more soil and then carry on adding more soil every time they grow a further 6 inches until I reach the top of the tub.

OR

• The other book I have states this isn't necessary and I can just put the spuds in the bottom of the tub, cover with soil etc to the top and that will work just as well, but without the extra faffing about that method 1 needs.

What method would you recommend?

 

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Hi, depending on where you live; Basingstoke, and the type of soil you are planting into, clay, loam or sandy will determine when you plant.

I have heavy clay soil and I plant my earlies about mid March time.
I also plant two rows of earlies at the beginning of March in a low poly tunnel, and these are much earlier than those planted in the open ground.

The actual tubers are fine in the soil, it is the foilage that is hit if there are any hard frosts around, though the foilage soon recovers and grows on!

It is only by trial and experiment that you will find what works best for you!

Best of luck!

Cheers!

 

Louise my guess is method 1 and 2 would give similar results, so if its ease you method 2 will be fine. A bit of fun though might to try both way and let us know how it goes?