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Here’s a list of the key elements to producing a potato crop
from the Potato
Barrel:
SOIL AND POSITION
In beds, potatoes need deep, fertile soil
with a PH of 5-6. In Potato Barrels, Spud Tubs or
containers, use a mix of rotted compost, manure and good garden
soil and place in a sheltered, sunny position.
WHEN TO PLANT
First early potato varieties can be planted
in February and all other types from March onwards. Tubers
should not be planted any later than late May. Many gardeners like
to ‘chit’, or sprout, their potatoes before planting
– place the tubers in a cool frost free place with natural
light until the chits reach about 2.5cm (1”) in
length.
PLANTING DEPTH
10 - 15cm – leave room to earth up as
potatoes develop, as exposure to sunlight will turn new tubers
green and poisonous. Simply draw soil up around the stem as it
grows, or add around 10cm of compost when the plants are around
15cm tall. Plant no more than 3 tubers per Spud
Tub.
FERTILISER
Apply a high potash fertiliser either when,
or shortly after, planting and ensure the potato tubers do not come
into direct contact with the fertiliser granules.
WATER
Heavy watering when the new tubers reach the
size of marbles should result in a higher yield. It’s
especially important to make sure the soil in spud tubs and
containers is kept moist as it can very quickly dry
out.
HARVESTING AND STORAGE
Depending on the variety, potatoes take the
following time to reach maturity;
|
Type
|
Plant to
Harvest Time
|
|
First
Early
|
10
weeks
|
|
Second
Early
|
13
weeks
|
|
Early
Maincrop
|
15
weeks
|
|
Late
Maincrop
|
20
weeks
|
Potatoes which are left in the soil longer
than the above periods will become larger, but are also more
susceptible to slug attack. Dig up the potatoes in dry conditions,
leave on the soil to dry and then store in boxes or Hessian sacks,
NOT polythene – this causes the stored tubers to
rot.
This is by no means a definitive account of how to
grow potatoes, but will hopefully prove to be of
help!
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