My technique is this: I use recycled plastic pots from pelleted chicken manure wherever possible. I fill the pot about one third full with good compost to which I add a handful of chicken manure pellets. I then put a single (chitted) tuber into each pot and cover it with a layer of compost about 4 inches deep. Later on, when the shoots of the plant start to poke through, I progressively add more compost until the pot is full.
Since night-time frost is still highly likely, I protect the pots inside a plastic greenhouse-ey thing officially called a Seedling Greenhouse", made by Kingfisher:-
Unfortunately, the cover of the Seedling Greenhouse is badly damaged. Despite being kept over Winter in the garage, it has gone very brittle and it broke apart in several places when I was stretching it over its frame:
I have been trying to remember how long I have had this thing, but I can't. It is probably about 5 years, so I can't really complain. I think I will try to make it last the rest of this season, and then replace it. It has been really good value for money, because I only paid about £15 for it.
The remaining seed potatoes are still in the garage, continuing to chit.
I will plant the Second Earlies in about two week's time, and then the Maincrop ones at about the end of April.
Seen in close-up, don't those chits look wierd?
Anyone else planted their spuds yet??
No potatoes for me obviously. I used to grow them though and my hardest problem with them was getting the seed potatoes early. No one would ship them here early because they were afraid they might freeze during shipment. And the local place that sells them would get them in around mid April, which is the time I wanted to plant the earliest ones.
ReplyDeleteMine are all in Mark first early, second early, and maincrop I took a chance when the soil conditions for planting were just right this week I use the trench method
ReplyDeleteI've planted up three containers so far, each with one of the three varieties I'm growing this year. The first are already poking through the soil. I've grown Sharpe's Express previously and really enjoyed them. Aldi had some replacement plastic greenhouse covers in recently, I bought one for my four tier greenhouse for £4.99, saves buying the whole thing again, but I don't think they had any that would fit your seedling greenhouse. You could always have a look online and see if you can find one.
ReplyDeletePlanning on planting potatoes for the first time, will hopefully do it this weekend.
ReplyDeletePotato planting is on our to do soon list.
ReplyDeleteCentral NY state, USA. My garden is under three feet of blown over, frozen snow. :(
ReplyDeleteMine have sprouted out of the dirt. I haven't gotten to do an update on them yet though. What size are your containers?
ReplyDeleteBecky, I use containers of various sizes - whatever is available - but usually at least 10" in diameter. Bigger ones are better for the potatoes, but it means I can fit less of them into the space I have available. The containers you posted about recently are bigger than most of mine.
DeleteI have been following your blog for a few months now but commenting for the first time. A big thank you for all the detailed posts about growing veggies. It's easy for even a novice like me to understand. Inspired by your earlier posts about potatoes, I have planted mine in pots( live in Houston). Hope it will work for me . I have also bought a tub trug & compost bins like yours( tried open bins but dries out quickly). Now, I am waiting for some worms to show up.
ReplyDeleteHi Usha; Thanks for introducing yourself. I'm glad you like my blog - it's a pleasure to be able to write stuff that is useful to other gardeners. If you're short of worms, just let me know - I have millions of them to spare!
DeleteI'm in the middle of London and I want to put my potatoes in my front garden which doesn't get much sun. Do you think containers would be better than putting them in the ground?
ReplyDeleteYes, I do. If you plant the potatoes in containers you can move them around as sun conditions dictate. Also you are better able to regulate watering.
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