Potatoes in pots & bags

Womble54

I’ve just been earthing up my 1st & 2nd early potatoes that I grow in deep tubs and bags. Did the same last year and it worked pretty well. The earthing up is a bit of a faff and I don’t always have spare compost/soil to earth up with. Would it work if I just planted the seed potatoes near the bottom as usual and filled the tubs up to the top?I’m planning ahead for 2nd harvest spuds and next year, trying to reduce work load. Thanks

purplerallim

Not sure a tiny seed potato would have the energy to grow all the way to the top of a grow bag @Womble54 without the help of photosynthesis .🤔

purplerallim

This is why I grow my toms in tubs in the greenhouse ( plus less bending and no kneeling) I use last years compost to earth up and mix it with fresh to eek out the new for flower planting.

Womble54

Fair enough. I’ve heard of people not earthing up potatoes grown in the ground and having decent results, thought could do similar with tubs/bags. I’ll stick to the earthing up.

Womble54

philippa smith2 said:

It's not a good year for those of us without access to soil to earth up our pots - any kind of medium seems to be in short supply.
I think @purplerallim is right - a gradual process to allow the sprouting to produce the tubers is needed.
Not very encouraging

I managed to find compost and mulch on amazon. Was more that usual cost at garden centre but not crazy expensive. Availability seems to vary. Sounds like everyone is trying their hand at growing in isolation.

Steady Eddie

I have grown potatoes successfully in a black sack. I put a small amount of compost in the sack add three/four seed potatoes, fill to the top with compost, water as required then harvest once the top growth dies.  No earthing up required at all.

purplerallim

I have earthed up twice already on the earlies and once on the lates. No gain without pain.😁

JesseD

I’ve been able to get compost from Waitrose (small expensive bags but very good quality) and I’ve been told B&Q are delivering compost. Also try Tesco as they have had some recently.

Ive always grown potatoes in grow bags due to lack of space and I have earthed-up as they’ve grown. It is faffy but I’ve always had fabulous results. Think they would struggle under all that compost. Good luck 😊

Womble54

purplerallim said:

I have earthed up twice already on the earlies and once on the lates. No gain without pain.😁

Very true. But with the kids at home most of the time and extra shifts at the hospital, finding it hard to squeeze in as much garden time as I’d like.

purplerallim

It's a wonder you have any @Womble54 .🙂

Skylarks

Wickes have compost and top soil on their click and collect service. The man at Wickes told me they have different items available online each day so if what you want isn’t available, try another day. They also text you when it’s ready to be picked up.