"June Hughes" wrote in message
...
I planted some potatoes in one of those tall plastic contraptions with
three little hatches at the bottom via which to remove the potatoes. I
thought it was a good, space-saving idea at the time and the potato plants
appear to be growing well. I also have three black plastic buckets with
potatoes growing in them.

Yesterday, I thought I'd just take a look and see if there were any
potatoes ready to harvest in the plastic contraption. When I slid a hatch
(one of three) to one side, all I could see was a little compost and a
huge mass of thin, white roots. I have never seen so many when harvesting
potatoes in the conventional manner. Can anyone advise please? If there
are no potatoes, it is too late now but I wonder where I have gone wrong.
The compost and weeds are compacted, so it is only possible to scrape out
a little compost before coming to a halt.

Might there be some potatoes 'higher up' in your plastic tubs?