Feeding Spuds

I have grown potatoes in sacks for the last few years but the harvest is nothing to write home about - do you think I should feed them - or will that just make more foliage instead of potatoes. n.b. There is plenty of garden compost mixed in with the potting compost.

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Permalink Reply by Catherine on May 6, 2012 at 23:23

I am beginning to think the same. Hubby grows traditionally outside, I grow in tunnel and tubs and bags, and think mine are bigger :)

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Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on May 7, 2012 at 7:12

What do you fill all your containers with to grow your spuds Colin?

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Permalink Reply by david sharp on May 7, 2012 at 21:50

Organic potatoe fetiliser is for sale in poundland.pellet type
Iv been addin it to my compost as i earth up.
Also i use liquid plant food once a week

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Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on May 7, 2012 at 22:10

Thanks for the info David

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on May 8, 2012 at 22:11

My potting mix is two parts compost from the daleks, one part leaf mould and one part garden soil plus BFB and seer rockdust. This year some also got potato fertilizer at planting time. When I ran out of leaf mould I switched to cheap grow bag contents.

elaine rickett said:

What do you fill all your containers with to grow your spuds Colin?

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Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on May 8, 2012 at 22:36

What is seer rockdust - I have seen it mentioned on USA blogs didn't realise you could get in UK

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on May 8, 2012 at 22:48

It's a crushed up volcanic rock which has quite a few of the trace elements in it and is produced by a company in Perthshire. Because of the very intensive cropping techniques I use I figured it just might put back something into the soil that I'm taking out. They make great claims that it produces bumper crops, but then so do a lot of other people!!

I've not seen it on sale anywhere except a horticultural supplier about 40 miles down the coast from here.

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Permalink Reply by Catherine on May 8, 2012 at 23:11

Nearer to home and garden is the home grown Nettle and Comfrey liquid feed and you can use the residue leaves to mulch around! But advise using a peg on your nose..LOL!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Hearne on May 11, 2012 at 0:39

I did use a pellet feed with mine so hopefully they will come out ok.

I only have 3 bags (first attempt so keeping it small) unlike that Colin up there and for which I have to agree, he is insane. 70 OMG!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Andrews on May 16, 2012 at 16:09

I use an organic potash fertiliser (i think from unwins) specially for potatoes, works really well I think

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Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on May 20, 2012 at 22:48

Just to let those of you growing spuds in tubs know that you must give them time to develop. I like to pick the first in April just cos I can but the yields are pathetic. Below is what I harvested per seed at different times. The variety is Lady Christl.

210g after 10 weeks

520g after 12 weeks

840g after 14 weeks

I'm sure the yield would increase if I left them but that's not the point of new potatoes.

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Permalink Reply by elaine rickett on May 21, 2012 at 8:17

Crikey the difference between 10 and 14 weeks is impressive - can't wait to tip mine out and see what's there - my greenhouse ones are only in 12" pots, but I expect there will be enough for a meal in them. Hope so anyway.