Their size plus the convenient carrying handles makes for easy movement to wherever is convenient without too much strain and they need little storage space when not in use as they fold up flat. I have no doubt that other vegetables would be successful too, carrots spring to mind.
The instructions(from Unwins) are simple enough:
At the appropriate planting time, set three tubers on top of a 6-8in/15-20cm layer of good quality compost in each Potato Growing Bag and then cover the tubers with a further 4in/10cm layer of compost and fertiliser.
As the plants grow and shoots emerge above the surface, add more compost to the potato growing bags to cover the shoots and then repeat as needed until the compost is about 2in/5cm below the top of the bag.
Keep the compost moist at all times but don't saturate it as this might cause the tubers to rot.
An application of a high potash fertiliser will increase yields. Avoid fertilisers high in nitrogen as these will delay maturity of the crop.Potatoes need plenty of moisture, particularly round about flowering time which is when the tubers start to form. An occasional heavy watering is better than little and often as this does not get down far enough and encourages shallow rooting.
Planting and harvesting times are as for your normal garden potato crops. I might try this as I’ve never had a much success with any vegetables planted in the garden here in Spain. Maybe I’m just not a vegetable gardener!
The bags illustrated are from Unwins seeds. They are quite expensive at 7.95 GBP each(with seed potatoes) but there are other suppliers of the bags + tubers considerably cheaper, 3.35GBP at Dobies for example. I haven’t seen any locally.
If anyone has had experience of these please or any other container growing info drop me a comment or mail.
Also tried the spuds from the store that grew eyes.,,more experimenting to come.
ReplyDeleteI grew potatoes in plastic containers this year. This was a first for me. The potatoes werent big but very good. I used basic store vegetable garden potting mix. Next year will use bigger pots. To anonymous, ive heard that store potatoes are sprayed with growing retardants. I used starts from the garden center.
ReplyDeleteI have grown potatoes in an old bath tub that was left lying in the garden. But this year I used a poultry food bag, using exactly the method you describe above. They have flowered but have not yet died down, so I haven't harvested them as yet, but so far they are looking very good.
ReplyDeleteI like the hint to add high potash fertiliser: that should help. Most of the potatoes in the bath are smallish, and they tend to form only near the bottom, rather than right through the soil as in your illustration.
I've grown them in a huge bag of potting soil. Just open it on one end and put the eyes in. Poke a few holes in the bag for drainage. Great way to grow taters!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great tips! I shared your post on my blog http://tinyurl.com/jj9doub
ReplyDeleteThe best place to buy growing bags for your planting !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://growingbags.com/
Pound shops in the UK sell bags so cheap and they are 're usable. My dad grows his in ordinary large plastic pots . Easier to harvest as you need them and no digging. He just tips the pot into the wheelbarrow and roots through it.
ReplyDeleteI grow mine in regular black trash bags...n can be re-use
ReplyDeleteHw did ur potatoes turn out.
ReplyDeleteI still prefer an old garbage can with a few holes drilled in the bottom. Same method though
ReplyDeleteSo it is all in the game. In modern days, it is difficult to analyse the gross and subtle exploitations played by different people, the traders in particular.
ReplyDeleteTextile planter
Can you grow a pecan tree or an almond tree the same way you grow up nut
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