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Potato and carrots.

Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
in Fruit & veg
So I planted my
potatoes and carrots in their plastic containers on 15th March and nothing is showing any signs of growing yet. 
How long should I expect to wait. Many thanks. 
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Posts

  • barry islandbarry island Posts: 1,817
    Potatoes 3 to 4 weeks carrots longer.
  • purplerallimpurplerallim Posts: 5,228
    Do you mean the plastic boxes besides the veg beds? If you do they are unsuitable for potatoes as the light will get to the tubers making them green and poisonous. Also it's still a little cold outside, my potatoes are still chitting in the conservatory not going out till the weekend. It is still early to see any growth outside.
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    purplerallim said:
    Do you mean the plastic boxes besides the veg beds? If you do they are unsuitable for potatoes as the light will get to the tubers making them green and poisonous. Also it's still a little cold outside, my potatoes are still chitting in the conservatory not going out till the weekend. It is still early to see any growth outside.
    I’ve seen loads of people growing them in plasric
    containers outside?
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,120
    The problem isn't that they're plastic, it's that they're transparent (I grow mine in halves of old water butts and it works fine).
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    JennyJ said:
    The problem isn't that they're plastic, it's that they're transparent (I grow mine in halves of old water butts and it works fine).
    Surely the tubers would have to be in direct sunlight?
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,854
    No.  Complete darkness is what they need or they go green.  The foliage needs sunlight to photosynthesise but there should be no light on the tubers.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    Obelixx said:
    No.  Complete darkness is what they need or they go green.  The foliage needs sunlight to photosynthesise but there should be no light on the tubers.
    I’ll be wrapping the tubs tomorrow in black plastic. Only been in the tubs about 12 days
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,854
    Then they should be OK altho I don't see much room for earthing up so make sure you keep an eye out further down the line and pour compost or soil over any exposed potatoes.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • Williamgiddings25Williamgiddings25 Posts: 50
    Obelixx said:
    Then they should be OK altho I don't see much room for earthing up so make sure you keep an eye out further down the line and pour compost or soil over any exposed potatoes.
    Probably about another 14 inches for earthing up. Hopefully that’s enough. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,854
    Yes.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
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