I have a potato challenge. A couple of us from my panel are going to grow potatoes in bags, with 3 spuds in each and weigh our output.

Any hints?

I have some cracking compost but would I be better with some lightweight shop-bought compost, or perhaps mine at the bottom of the bags and then lightweight on top?

And varieties? Our local hardware shop has dozens of interesting varieties. Has anyone had particular luck with any. AND I need a spread date-wise as we are a small household now and don't eat potatoes every day.

I know this will reach deaf ears but the Fern Bay NZ Sauv NV in a box from Tesco isn't half bad. Works out at £4.50 a bottle.

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mel

Depends for what you want them.

http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/p ... r-type.php

Good compost with well rotted manure. Chicken manure pellets if you can't get anything else although you want to avoid the tubers touching the pellets if at all possible. Maybe try compost mixed with pellets at the bottom then the seed spuds in plain compost with some pellets sprinkled on top. Remember the best bet with spuds is to earth up, so half fill the bag at first, with the bag rolled down so the foliage gets enough sun and as they grow add more compost bit by bit. Sunlight is very important so find the sunniest spot you can.

Variety wise you cannot beat charlotte. Excellent salad potato when small and if grown to full size is even fantastic as a baked potato.

I'm probably going to miss growing potatoes this season as we will be moving house soon. I might plant a few for our buyers though as I have some chitting already.

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tribs

Where are you going T???

half a mile down the road

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tribs

What tribs said. Also, dont let the bags dry out...EVER!

Morrisons are currently selling 10kg organic chicken manure pellets for £6.

I planted my second earliers on the plot last weekend, Ive only gone with around fifty plants this year, going for quality not quantity, plus I wanted room for other stuff.

My spuds last year...

Beautiful. Am working on much smaller scale. Will read all the links and try and get them in on Sunday.

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mel