#Planting buckets how to

Then fill the container with a little more compost, firm that down gently however, leave about an inch below the brim, so when watering it doesn’t flow over the top. This is enough feed for this number of potatoes for the whole growing cycle. Add another one and a half ounce of blood fish and bone and of the potato fertilizer and mix that in. The reason to add the feed above is because the water drags the feed down for the potatoes to access. Fill the container to about three quarters of the way with compost and add the feed. There is no need to put feed in the middle part, so cover over those potatoes. So in effect creating a cross, but at two different heights of the container. To plant the next two potatoes set them opposite each other, but in the space that wasn’t planted in below. Although it take them a bit longer to come through the compost, you’ll have a much stronger potato plant for it. When you grow potatoes in containers, you could break the plants as you add more compost and that will set the potatoes back. Should you only put a little layer of compost on and then fill the container up as the plants grow? When you’re looking at any potato feed you want to have nitrogen to start with, but not too much and then you need potassium in there, so get a good 10 and above for potassium.

You could also add one and a half ounces of pelleted potato feed, it’s organic and the NPK on this is 6. About one and a half ounces in the bottom and mix it in. You can add a bit of feed to the first couple of inches in the bottom of the container. Feeding when you grow potatoes in containers So if for any reason you forget to water, you get the best of both worlds. The potatoes will send out roots through the bottom of the holes and it’ll work down into the ground. When you grow potatoes in containers, you do not need to put any stones or anything down in the bottom of the container. Do I need to put broken crockery or rocks at the bottom of the container? The buckets I use are 30L and have got four big holes in the bottom, as well as holes right around the circumference are holes, which will aid in drainage. Put a good couple of inches of compost in the bottom of the bucket. This helps the roots to penetrate through easily. Use a really good compost, that is nice and light, with no massive pieces in it. You can actually speed up your harvest time because the black containers absorb less sun so it helps the plant to take up the nutrients much faster. Third, your crop will be there much quicker. You can put them in the polytunnel and as soon as the plants start showing above the compost level, get them out into the sun, providing you’ve got good weather and is no frost forecast. Second, you can start them early if you want to. You may have a late frost, but with a container you can pick it up and take it to the polytunnel. The soil can dry out, it can crack, potatoes get blown, all shapes and sizes.

First is you get to control the growing environment. They are fantastic and there’s a couple of reasons why. I grow a lot of my potatoes in 30 litre buckets.

#Planting buckets how to

A step by step guide of how to grow potatoes in containers and buckets.