Potato growing question

Yesterday in the garden centre, I noticed they were selling seed potatoes (no idea which variety) at half price. I didn't think much about it at the time but I'm now wondering whether I could utilise the 4 plastic 'builders' buckets my husband unearthed from the back of the garage earlier today.

I know its 'a bit late', and I'm not looking for a bumper crop or anything like that, but surely I'd get something wouldn't I? Would it be worth a try or a complete waste of time and money?

 

Depends on the quality of the spuds. If they are withered or already chitting like mad, I wouldn't waste your time. However, if they are just budded and nice and plump and firm, it would be worth a punt.

Those buckets, are they a decent size? Not the traditional black buckets your get from B&Q - cus they'll be a tad small, not deep enough. And you'd need to make some holes in the bottom for drainage. Sometime you're better off using emptied compost bags or something similar.

I only just put mine in. I got them in the post - special offer from a gardening mag. But I stupidly gathered up the box they were in with some empty ones and put them away in the spare bedroom! When I remembered it took me ages to track them down by which time they had 4" long chits! Still, I popped them in - no point in wasting them.

 

There's an article in Gardener's World this month on growing veg for Christmas. Apparently you can plant potatoes from June until August and they'll be ready for Christmas dinner. Sounds lovely.

 

Thank you for that, I'll go back and have a proper look - I don't remember seeing any chits (other than small 'nubs'), but of course that doesn't mean they're not a bit wizened. As you say, worth a punt.

As for the buckets, I've no idea where (or when) he came by them, but as they're bright yellow I can't understand how he could possibly say he 'hadn't noticed 'them'!

Christmas? How am I expected to hold out until Christmas! :hehe:

 

I grow potatoes in buckets Fidgetsmum.
As long as they are earlies, in good condition and you have 13 frost free weeks left those potatoes will do well.
Here's some of mine.
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PS Fidgetsmum
If you are growing in containers there is no chance of contaminating your ground for future potato production so potatoes from the supermarket would be fine. Just look for a variety you like.

 

Mmmm - I did wonder about that. I seem to recall, many years ago, being told that one could use any bought potato as a seed potato provided (a) it had been produced to the North of where you lived and (b) was grown in a container.

I'll go back and have another look at those in the garden centre, but as I've only 4 buckets I really don't need a 'grow a whole row' sized net.

I may experiment, trying just a couple of supermarket ones and see what happens.

 

I love Marris Piper potatoes and I normally get them from a farm shop by me, would these be suitable to plant in a raised bed.

 

I've regularly grown potatoes from the supermarket Fidgetsmum, and never kept them for 60 days before planting - or anything like it.
The pics I posted above were grown from supermarket spuds and look great to me.

Kakys2, Maris Piper would grow well in your raised bed. They are a maincrop potato and need 22 weeks frost free. Do your own sums and work out if you have 22 frost free weeks left before you decide to plant.
Also I think ground is valuable. I only grow what is rare or expensive in the shops.
Maris Piper are the cheapest potatoes you can buy - heavy croppers with no great flavour - for me.
I would prefer to grow Pink Fir Apple, or something like that, which is expensive in the shops.
Just a suggestion. We all do it our own way.

 

I like Marris, Piper they seem to be the best all rounder and make perfect chips ( I have a soft spot for chips), but I am willing to try something else.

 

I'm growing 3 varieties in pot bags started them about march time all have grown like triffids they are Swift, Charlotte and Vivaldi, The swift is my early but i can't see any flowers or flower buds have tried popping my hand in the compost but can't find anything when you reckon the best time is to bite the bullet.