Potato???

[itsgrowinglook]

As you know this is my first year of growing and so need lots of help and advice! I have just bought 2 potato bags with seed potatos. What do I do now? I have read little bits about covering up the shoots but I dont know how deep to plant the spuds to begin with I think I need a little more advice as the potatoes and bags haven't come with instructions. Any help would be gratefully received.
Andii

[mags16]

Hi Andii

This is my first year growing potatoes in bags too.

I put a couple of inches of compost in each bag, then I put 3 seed potatoes in evenly spaced with the shoots facing upwards. I then put another 4 inches of compost on top of that. Roll the bag down so that it just and inch or two above soil level. When the plants grow 4 or 5 inches above soil level, roll up the bag a little and put more compost in so that only the shoots at the top of the plant are visible. Continue doing this until you get within an inch of the top of the bag. The plants will grow very quickly. They will flower and after that they will start to die off. When the plant is nearly on it's last legs, that is when you can harvest the spuds. Keep the soil damp throughout especially at the later stages.

I have heard it said that it takes 100 days from planting to harvest. Others here will tell you more about what to expect when planting at this time of the year - I planted mine in late April.

Potatoes are great fun to grow. The plant grows rapidly and harvesting is so rewarding. Maybe it's because I'm Irish, but I got such a kick out of my first harvest.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Andii, that is absolutely first class advice from Mags!

Your potatoes should be ready to harvest in October but if you can keep the potato bag somewhere frost free you will be able to harvest fresh, home grown new potatoes for your Christmas dinner!!

Enjoy!!

[itsgrowinglook]

Thank you Mags and Lesley! I am off to get more compost this afternoon. I can't wait to grow my potatoes. I wish someone would invent a diet that just consisted of potatoes!!!!
Thanks again.
Andii

[mags16]

I've had been trying to cut down on carbs but growing potatoes put an end to that!

[itsgrowinglook]

I have another question on my potatoes. They are growing quite nicely now but some are 4" tall and some are only just poking through the compost. The question being do I cover everything and just leave the tallest shoots showing? Or do I have to cover each shoot individually? Thanks in advance for any/all advice
Andii

[itsgrowinglook]

A photo of my uneven potatoes in connection with the above question

Andii

[mags16]

Have all the seed potatoes sprouted? My spuds grew unevenly too. I earthed up when the smallest one was 4 or 5 inches. And I earthed up to the shoot tip of the smallest plant.

[Bodhisurfer]

potatoes are usually pretty bullet proof -just keep piling that earth on, they'll be fine

[itsgrowinglook]

Hi Mags and Bodhisurfer
I will do my best with the earthing. Glad to know they are almost bullet proof. Thanks for the advice.
Andii

[itsgrowinglook]

Disaster with the spuds The soil was so wet, with all the rain that the spuds were all soggy and mouldy or could that have been caused by the blight from the toms? Anyway no spuds for us But will try again next year and be triumphant, hopefully.

[claire2965]

have grown potatoes in bags too and mine seem to have come up to the top of the bag in some but not in others. i put about 3 inches of compost in the bottom then 3-4 seed potatoes then another 2 inches of compost. i have watered them regularly as we have been having alot of fab sunshine lately so have ben earthing them up when they get a couple of inches above the compost thenwater every evening. when the potatoes are at the top of the bags, how log before i can harvest them.

[itsgrowinglook]

Happy Easter Everyone!

Although I have been quiet. I have been busy. Just look at my potatoes this year, I am one very happy bunny!!!!

[johnmichael]

Originally Posted by mags16

I've had been trying to cut down on carbs but growing potatoes put an end to that!

My wife attends slimming world,and told she can eat as many boiled potatoes as she likes,must be o/k,now she is over 2 and a half stone lighter!

[itsgrowinglook]

Thats the best bit of information I have ever had!!!!!!

[itsgrowinglook]

Hi all
Just to let you know. I harvested my very first potato crop today. Wooow so happy. And they taste delicious.
But for some reason I cant upload a photo.
Andrea x

[johnmichael]

Filling bag with 4 "of compost,planting seed spuds,then filling bag with compost 2"from the top gives the same result.

[rosa15]

You first pre-sproute seed potatoes and simply place them in a shallow tray and put the tray into a warm, sunny spot where sunlight is proper for plant growth. Start spraying them with some water or liquid seaweed. It should be about two weeks before sprouts form. When they are about an inch tall, you can plant them.

[johnmichael]

Chit them in good light but out of warm sun to avoid dehydration.

[Nicola_D]

Excellent result Andii. I harvested our first out of 6 containers of potatoes a couple of weeks ago and was disappointed to find only a handful of small potatoes, I think there were a few factors, firstly they were at the bottom of the garden and so I don't think the got watered as much as those on the patio, secondly I think I got confused over which ones I'd planted first and think I should have left these ones a few weeks longer and thirdly I think they had suffered the worst from frost damage in may. Anyway we still got a meal out of them. Today I have just harvested a second container and omg! They were huge! Some right monsters. Got about 40 potatoes. My little boy and I are going to have jacket potatoes for lunch, they are just in the oven. How's best to store them? We don't have any hessian sacks, currently just got them in the garage in a large bowl wit area towel over them