Planting and growing potatoes in containers or bags

[UnoRaza]

What type of potato fertilizer works well on the US side of the pond?

You get a better harvest if the plants can get through the bag to some soil?

Thanks!

[potatospecialist]

There are holes in the bag that allow the roots to take the nutrients from the soil below. You put 2 inch of peat in the bottom of the bag and then place a potato into the bag and then full the bag with peat and that is it. The potatoes grow in the bag and make harvesting very easy with a perfect skin finish.

[ziggy2sound4u]

@potatospecialist

This is a great idea, for those who live in the city and have little space!

Probably get more(larger) crop, if the potatoes planted were such that enjoyed containers, like Fingerlings or Red Pontiac.

[kokonutbaby1]

Does anyone know where I can buy those poly bags here in USA? I live in Arkansas, Usa and I have never seen those but sure wish I could try this....Thanks!

[elixirsoo]

I have three potato planters growing and I am truly amazed at the speed of growth since I began adding covering compost.

I've just ordered another potato planter kit and seed potatoes to replace my current crop. I will never buy store potatoes again if I can help it.

[potatospecialist]

Glad you are enjoying growing spuds. Wait until you harvest them and get that just harvested taste. Yum yum.

[kokonutbaby1]

well doesn't the rain compact it? I know here we have gotten like 5 days straight of rain. whats the purpose of the 2 trenches underneath the bag?

[potatospecialist]

We put extra fertilizer or manure in the trench to allow the rrots to come out of the holes in the bag and take up nutrients and water from the soil.

[lozzdude]

Hi mate, I'm after some advice about earthing up. I was told to grow potatoes well in a poly bag I should put some compost in the bottom with one or two chitted potatoes, then when greenery appears to put more compost in and keep going until the bag is full. But I was just wondeing how high I should wait for the plant to grow until I start filling the bag, and when I do should I completly cover the plant or just leave some greenery sticking out? Cheers, lozz.

[potatospecialist]

lozzdude you should wait until the first shoot pushes through and then add enough compost to cover the shoots.

It depends on what size containers you are using. You could probably add 3" everytime you see a shoot appear until your container is full. Just don't compact the new compost as you add it to the bag. Leave the compost loose.

[lozzdude]

Thanks for the quick reply. It just seems weird because how will the plant get energy to produce the crop? Also, once It gets to the top of the bag I should just let it grow? I currently have two 70 litre bags out in my coldframe with two/three spuds in each so It could take a while before the bag is full of compost.

Cheers for the advice, lozz.

[potatospecialist]

Lozzdude potatoes are amazing things.

Yes just keep filling it up as they keep growing and once they are at the top you stop filling.

[clara17uk]

hi , how long do they take to come up i put some in a recyling bin , i got some potatoes my mam got from morrisons and they had roots coming out so i chopped them and popped them in ,rather than hoy them away,its been over a week now i coverd them in 2 inches of tomato compost ,is that what i did wrong,compost all looks the same to me great video by the way