By nanny ogg

Re: How do I ................
27 Apr 2008 13:10

prepare the old heavy rubberised dustbin that I would like to try and grow potatoes in? where should the holes
be? it is a very heavy duty dustbin any tips on how to drill the holes?
xxxxxxx

Replies

By lucyhan

Re: How do I ................
27 Apr 2008 14:05

Hi Nanny

I would just drill them in the bottom of the bin and maybe raise if off the ground on a couple of bricks although I don't think this is necessary. You can also drill round the bin about 3inches from the bottom as well but I don't think you need to. I have just got mine in yesterday as the weather has been so cold, now just have to wait for some delish pots I hope! LHxx

By *Bramble

Re: How do I ................
28 Apr 2008 10:56

You only want the excess water to run away, Nanny, the holes don't have to be a pretty job, turn it upside down and bang holes through with a stone chisel and a hammer I would say! Throw some rubble and stones in the bottom (put the bin where it's going to live before you fill it!) and you can empty in those really cheap growbags as compost because it's not forever, only for this crop. Fill it halfway, plant your spuds and keep a couple of bags for topping up as the plants grow. Potatoes like lots of water. Let us know how you get on :-)))

By nanny ogg

Re: How do I ................
28 Apr 2008 13:49

Do I have to buy potatoes from the garden centre or can I use potatoes from my vegetable rack ?
xxx

By Sam, worthing west sussex, uk

Re: How do I ................
28 Apr 2008 14:46

gosh just typed out a long reply and it vanished.....

DO NOT USE YOUR OWN SPUDS....

homebase and b and q, i noticed today are still selling seed potatoes.

for this time of year, you want to look at varities classed as maincrop or lates

you will also need to chit your potatoes, before planting, which can take several weeks.

ideal places for chitting is a warm dry and light envirnonment, sheds with windows are ideal, not ideal to chit in greenhouse as its too hot and high humidity. also on a window sill indoors but not in full hot hot blazing sunshine window, but at the same time not one that lets in barely any light.

chitting is where it roots from the eyes, and egg boxes are the best things to place your pots in, so they can be stood up and safely with nothing to damage the skin.

when you can plant your seeds up are when the chits are on average at least an inch long.

prepare your bin.....now as your bin is rubber, i am not 100 percent sure this will work, as its an oil based product against metal bins or the hard plastic (do you know what i mean) but holes will need to be drilled in the base, around 5 - 6 no more than 2 cm in diameter.

then raise your bin off the floor for drainage, using 3 or 4 bricks.

when your potatoes are chitted, you can plant (mine have been chitting for 2 months, and no where near ready for planting yet) to plant, place 4 inches of compost soil in the bottom, lay 3 seed pots in cover with 3-4 inches of compost.....when your shoots are poking out and about 3-4 inches high, cover with another 3-4 inches of compost, when shoots again 4 inches high you can place another 3 seed pots on top, and cover again with compost...DON'T put anymore seed pots in your bin, or it will get overcrowded and you may end up with little or no harvest. keep layering until you are about 6 inches from the top of your bin.

you can harvest your pots when the shoots have flowers, the shoots will about 18 -24 inches high (depending on variety), then its the hard graft of how to get pots out...

I normally with aid of OH turn the bin on its side and empty that way, the pots at the bottom will be lovely and BIG and the second set smaller.

to keep your pots as you will have too many to use at once, the BESTEST thing you can get your hands on for storage is hessain sacks.....so if you can find one of them...snap it up (like gold dust nowadays) failing that, banana boxes with shredded newspaper, and keep them covered over...discard any green pots...... and store them in shed or garage.

I hope this helps.

Sam

By *Bramble

Re: How do I ................
28 Apr 2008 14:57

Nanny, I do use spuds that have chitted (sprouted) in my larder, the only time I bought seed potatoes I could have bought a sack of spuds for the price! Sorry to disagree with you Sam, usually I hang on your every word :-)))
Bramble xxx

By Sam, worthing west sussex, uk

Re: How do I ................
28 Apr 2008 15:07

No worries Brambles, its just it was a fmaily thing with spuds, and only ever buying seed pots, because of diseases and sterilsiation, as you don;t always know where your humble spud has come from, and what it may have been sprayed with.

And if i may add, Percy Thrower was at my Nan and Grandads Wedding, so i grandads advice came from someone that knew.....

But I am willing to have a go with a spud or 2 that i have, just as an experiment to see the difference.

and i don;t mind critisism I am happy to admit if i got somethign wrong or different....with gardening much the same as cooking you are learning ALL the time...esp with global warming...no one season is the same as the previous season.

Sammy