is it not too late to try to grow potatos in a tub?

[Midnight Tboy]

hey there,

if any of you have read my other two posts, you'll know I'm just starting out and a complete thicko so far when it's coming to gardening.

I'm slowly getting there tho, shame I seem to see a lot of the things I'd like to grow seem to be too late in the year to start on (the garlic for example)

anyways back on topic.

I've basically got about a 3m x 3m (with paths between) patch of area in a fairly small backgarden used as a raised bed, I'm slowly getting there, the area is prepared and a few simple things planted to get me started.

I didn't want to use up most of that space just yet with potatos. I then found that you can buy potato barrels that you can lift the base to pull out potatos as and when needed (tho there are cheaper alternatives available).

I've done searching,and even read my potato sections of the books I have but cant seem to find any definate answer as theres so many different types available etc, but basically is it too late in the year to grow any should I order some to plant now and receive it in a few days?

The closest I've got to a result from searching is about planting some in autumn time to get a winter crop. so this mean I'd be hard pushed to get anything now.

This is the item I was thinking of buying

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/proddetail.asp?prod=PBAR

Its the cheapest place I've seen it for if anyone else is after getting something. As you can see it also has a pulldown box where you can pick from a choice of potatos. Some of them are now out of stock but I was thinking of Charlottes (which are unfortunately now unavailable - but I was only thinking that because those were more or less the only type I know of small salad potatos )

I don't know if the potatos supplied would be chitted or not, as I read that that should be done a few weeks in advance but isnt essential.

Can anyone tell me if it is unreasonable of me to expect to buy something like this and grow successfully straight away? or should I wait until its time to start trying for the winter crop.

If that is a yes, then which of the currently available potatoes there would be the easiest for me to grow (and preferably relatively small to factor in that it is going into a tub).

many thanks for your time,
Tuck

[alan refail]

Hi Tuck

It's certainly not too late to plant potatoes, chitted or not. I put my last earlies in yesterday (and that was a week earlier than last year). Still got 2nd earlies and maincrop to plant.

As you have found, what it is getting too late for is finding decent seed potatoes in the variety of your choice. See what local garden centres have available, and remember you will get a crop of new potatoes from 1st early, 2nd early and maincrop varieties.

As a last resort, go to the supermarket, buy some Charlotte, keep them warm and dark for a few days and you'll have sprouted potatoes to plant straight away. In case anyone spots it, yes, I know I have advised against this method elsewhere, but it will give you some potatoes - which is what you want.

Pob lwc - best of luck

Alan

[Multiveg]

I still got maincrop to plant too, though my earlies have been in 2-3 weeks (about 15-20 miles or so from alan refail).

You can get "bags" for growing potatoes in - my mum's local garden centre had them last year. Some people even grow in "compost" bags.
Plenty of garden centres will have seed potatoes still for sale (admittedly less choice) - some may sell them loose, or in small packets (6 or 10 tubers) or in the 3kg packs.
There is still a debate going on about whether to chit or not - I came to the conclusion for earlies, chitting helps.


For the winter crop - I haven't tried this, but the seed companies keep back some of the "second earlies" for the second cropping - such as Carlingford.

Good luck. Supermarkets can't touch the taste of homegrown spuds.

[Midnight Tboy]

Heya,

thanks for your replies.

I've just this minute ordered one of them to give it a shot thanks to your advice

For the free spuds, I've requested the Arran Pilots, as a quick google said they were first earlies, whereas most of the others seem to be maincrop or 2nd earlies. Their site does say on the seed potato section tho that they're actually out of stock of most of them (even tho it says in stock for that partic potato on the barrels page), so will remain to be seen what I get.

Worst case I'll plop in the ground whatever it is they give me Here's hoping for some successful growing....somethings gotta work right

[bigpepperplant]

Hi
Just quick thing about the potato barrel you're buying. I got one of these a couple of years ago and had a really disappointing crop (Charlottes). Particularly surprised since the barrel is so tall. I was advised afterwards that I would have got more potatoes if I had added perlite to the compost to reduce the weight on top of the growing spuds. So might be worth considering this...
good luck

[Midnight Tboy]

heya,

thanks for that tip....now I just have to find out what perlite is and where to get it from

Can I ask, when you say its a disappointing crop, how many seed potatoes did you put in and at a rough guess how many did you get out? I have no clue as to how many I should hope/expect to get out of this pot Its just an excuse for the other half to spend more of my money

[bigpepperplant]

gosh, can't really remember. Think I may have put about six in and got enough for maybe 6 meals for two people.

[Tigger]

Don't forget - you can grow potatoes in any ordinary large tub - often found at economy or pound shops. I always grow a few for Christmas and Easter this way.

[Johnboy]

Hi Biggerplant,
I really do not think that adding Perlite to soil will help one iota except to conserve some moisture.
Potatoes hereabouts are sown at 11" and they seem to get over 20 tons to the acre without any problems.
They have gone in this week and will be harvested in September. The reason for the deep planting is to avert late frost damage. These potatoes will not emerge until after the last frosts.(hopefully.)
JB.