The Poultry Keeper

ejc-free · Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Posts: 138

Has anyone grown potatoes in containers & how well has this worked? What sort of compost should I be looking at.

I only have a small raised bed for veg - and plan to grow other veg in that - but love home grown potatoes so was wondering about growing them in tubs.... I've heard some people have tried using old tires - how would this work - do you just stack them up?

Thanks for any advice

stephen · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:23 am Post subject:

My parents have done it for a few years very successfully. My parents tend to buy whatever compost is cheap and whatever tubs are spare. The tyre idea is to stack them, and add tyres are needed.

Lisa · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject:

I've grown them in large pots before. And also the bags the compost comes in (poke holes in the bottom for drainage and roll down to begin with).

Might be worth looking for some first or second earlies if you have a choice of what potatoes to grow. Only because they will be ready several weeks quicker than main crop ones. Meaning less watering, plus the containers will be empty earlier and you might be able to get a crop of something else in the space later on Razz

mojo · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:21 pm Post subject:

the secret is to fill and cover each time the leaves show thro just leave two showing each time .....cheapest compost and any old container plus regular and thats the watch word watering....good luck

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 382 Location: Lincolnshire

Like Lisa I've also used big bags to grow them in. Roll the sides of the bag down by about a third then plant your tatty then as it grows gradually unroll the bag adding more compost as you go. This 'earthing up' increases the yield.

I also like the bag method because harvesting is so easy just take a knife to the bag and out spill all your tatties. Laughing

Lisa · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:49 pm Post subject:

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 382 Location: Lincolnshire

Ah...... but Lisa .....not so Rolling Eyes

You see the cut bags are saved turned black side out and used to line my hanging baskets of tumbler tomatoes ......after which I do admit they go in the bin Smile

sue

janhll895 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: WALES (north)

i have just done the tyre method this year, beats all the digging, i done it two tyres high but i presume you can add another when they start to come through and more compost. i always been sucessfull in the ground, and you cant beat home grown. and love the day when you dig them up

NannyP · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject:

I'm trying plastic dustbin method for the first ever time this year.
I have only put in potatoes that were shooting (chitting) in my bag of cooking pots. Used compost bought cheaply in 2 for 3 last year. Hoe they work out okay. Tyre method sounds like one for the future, I wonder what else one can grow using that method?
Confused

fenwoman · Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 7:03 pm Post subject:

janhll895 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: WALES (north)

thanks fenwoman, did you do the 5 tyres high right from the beginning? or add on after. im the same the soil is clay round here.ive not had much success with compost, but i think it is because ive put in too much wood shavings , but ill give it another go i just need to empty my compost bin from last year.

fenwoman · Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:13 pm Post subject:

I start with one tyre, sit it on a slab to deter wire worms. Fill with compost, put 4 or 5 spuds around in it. When they start shooting, and are green, place another tyre on top and more compost. Keep doing that until you are 5 tyres high.
My own chicken compost is also mainly shavings. I don't clean out every week like some do so it is nice and mucky and moist. I don't use a bin either.I made my own out of old pallets and oddments of chicken wire and held together with baler twine. A real recycling effort lol.
It heats up very hot and in a year or two I have the most wonderful dark crumbly compost. You can easily build a 3 bay compost heap which looks neat enough, using this method. So you start one, then next year start another and then the last one. By the time you are filling the last one, the first is ready. I don't cover my compost, or turn it, or use anything on it other than pee. If you have little boys, they oblige in 'watering the heap' with glee and even hold watering competitions Laughing

It certainly activates things nicely.
Even if I need to plant anything here, I dig only as large a hole as I need and plant. I do not dig whole beds over. I know someone who actually uses a post hole borer on his land to plant things.
Last year I grew lettuce, carrots, aubergines, courgettes, peppers, peas,strawberries,onions,beans and much more, in recycled containers ranging from wooden apple crates lined with old bin bags, to buckets which had split or got holes in. I have never bought a container. Most tyre places will let you have as many tyres as you want to take away and they make great containers. Stack 4 high with a black plastic bin liner and it becomes a handy water butt. I plan to make a strawberry tower this year out of car tyres and use the runners my strawberry plants produced last year. I will photograph and show the results here.
Oh an broken wheelbarrows make good planters too. Stratch some chicken wire over the top and it becomes chicken proof too.
As you can see, I have had some experience in no dig gardening and gardening with chickens lol.

janhll895 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: WALES (north)

thanks for the advice, i will try to do also, for the sake of the recycling bit! i too grew courgettes last year in a grow bag, in a little gazebo, boy they are wonderful plants, but realised they do need a lot of room. cant wait to grow again. happy gardening, let you know how i go on later in season.

fenwoman · Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 9:40 pm Post subject:

I actually prefer to grow courgettes and the like on containers because they need a lot of water and it's easier to keep a container well watered. This year I plan on doing some melons on one of the compost heaps. I grow everything outdoors. I hope to get my polytunnel built tomorrow if I get time.

janhll895 · Joined: 12 Apr 2006 Posts: 15 Location: WALES (north)

have you put up a polytunnel up before, cos we have one, well we put the frame up about 6 years ago, but when we realised how strong the winds were round here, cos we are near the sea, we nver actually put the plastic up, but now we have created some shelter, we should be able to get it up. its my son who wants to grow chilli plants on a big scale inside, so when he comes back off holiday we are going to have a go,