Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
They sprouted quite spectacularly - some had a bush sized foilage until
recently.
So tonight was crop time. The garden pots were reasonable, though a
little small.
Then onto the compost heap, which, frankly were an embarassment, there
were 2 or 3 of around a inch round, the vast majority were half an inch
round.
So they have obviously put their energies into growing tall, yet not
developing the potatoes beneath them.
Why is this - soil too rich?
Ta
Alan.
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"A.Lee" wrote in message
.. .
Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
They sprouted quite spectacularly - some had a bush sized foilage
until
recently.
So tonight was crop time. The garden pots were reasonable, though a
little small.
Then onto the compost heap, which, frankly were an embarassment, there
were 2 or 3 of around a inch round, the vast majority were half an
inch
round.
So they have obviously put their energies into growing tall, yet not
developing the potatoes beneath them.
Why is this - soil too rich?
Ta
Alan.

You say "Soil too rich". What soil? You cannot fool nature. Potatoes
need to be grown in soil which has been suitably enriched with manure
and then earthed-up to ensure that the developing tubers are not exposed
to the light.

Your next experiment could well be the growing of potatoes on a farmyard
manure heap and the result would be similar to that which you have just
reported-a failure.

Regards,
Emrys Davies.

"Emrys Davies" wrote in message
...
"A.Lee" wrote in message
.. .

Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
[...]
soil too rich?

You say "Soil too rich". What soil? You cannot fool nature. Potatoes
need to be grown in soil which has been suitably enriched with manure
and then earthed-up to ensure that the developing tubers are not exposed
to the light.

Your next experiment could well be the growing of potatoes on a farmyard
manure heap and the result would be similar to that which you have just
reported-a failure.


Lots of us grow potatoes in compost in buckets without a problem.

Tim w

"Tim W" wrote in message
...

"Emrys Davies" wrote in message
...
"A.Lee" wrote in message
.. .

Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
[...]
soil too rich?

You say "Soil too rich". What soil? You cannot fool nature. Potatoes
need to be grown in soil which has been suitably enriched with manure
and then earthed-up to ensure that the developing tubers are not exposed
to the light.

Your next experiment could well be the growing of potatoes on a farmyard
manure heap and the result would be similar to that which you have just
reported-a failure.


Lots of us grow potatoes in compost in buckets without a problem.

Tim w

I always seem to have bag upon bag of woody shreddings. For two years I've
put them in buckets or other containers and planted left-over seed potatoes
in them. The yield isn't huge but there IS a yield and the potatoes are
always sound. There's no manure in the shreddings, unless the odd creature
has died or deposited in there.

There's no point in wasting expensive, heritage seed potatoes.

Mary

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...

"Tim W" wrote in message
...

"Emrys Davies" wrote in message
...
"A.Lee" wrote in message
.. .

Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
[...]
soil too rich?

You say "Soil too rich". What soil? You cannot fool nature. Potatoes
need to be grown in soil which has been suitably enriched with manure
and then earthed-up to ensure that the developing tubers are not exposed
to the light.

Your next experiment could well be the growing of potatoes on a farmyard
manure heap and the result would be similar to that which you have just
reported-a failure.


Lots of us grow potatoes in compost in buckets without a problem.

Tim w

I always seem to have bag upon bag of woody shreddings. For two years I've
put them in buckets or other containers and planted left-over seed
potatoes in them. The yield isn't huge but there IS a yield and the
potatoes are always sound. There's no manure in the shreddings, unless the
odd creature has died or deposited in there.

There's no point in wasting expensive, heritage seed potatoes.

What potatoes come under the heading of 'heritage'?

And, where can I get some?

Do you just keep some of the tubers from last year to plant again?

Alan

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...



There's no point in wasting expensive, heritage seed potatoes.

What potatoes come under the heading of 'heritage'?

A lot.

And, where can I get some?

T&M or other good seed/plant/vegetable suppliers.

Do you just keep some of the tubers from last year to plant again?

Never, deliberately. But I don't always manage to get every tuber out of the
ground so we have volunteers coming up all over. And there are always
peelings which grow round the compost bin.

Tonight we had Salad Blue - blue potatoes which are blue all through (unlike
Edzell Blue which re only blue on the outside, but they taste very good) and
if you steam them or boil them in a small amount of water (I always do) the
water is green ... beautiful!

The potatoes taste good too.

Mary

"Tim W" wrote in message
...

"Emrys Davies" wrote in message
...
"A.Lee" wrote in message
.. .

Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
[...]
soil too rich?

You say "Soil too rich". What soil? You cannot fool nature. Potatoes
need to be grown in soil which has been suitably enriched with manure
and then earthed-up to ensure that the developing tubers are not exposed
to the light.

Your next experiment could well be the growing of potatoes on a farmyard
manure heap and the result would be similar to that which you have just
reported-a failure.


Lots of us grow potatoes in compost in buckets without a problem.

I have just dug some out of my compost heap which grew from potato peelings,
and some of them were HUGE!

Emrys Davies wrote:
"A.Lee" wrote in message..

Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
They sprouted quite spectacularly - some had a bush sized foilage
until recently.
So tonight was crop time. The garden pots were reasonable, though a
little small.
Then onto the compost heap, which, frankly were an embarassment, there
were 2 or 3 of around a inch round, the vast majority were half an
inchround.

You say "Soil too rich". What soil? You cannot fool nature. Potatoes
need to be grown in soil which has been suitably enriched with manure
and then earthed-up to ensure that the developing tubers are not exposed
to the light.

Yes, but why is that?
I would have thought a compost heap would be ideal growing ground, yet
they put all their energy into growing a large plant, but the potatoes
were tiny.
They were well buried, so light shouldnt have reached them, but as in
most compost heaps, the compost was very lightweight and 'fluffy',unlike
my soil, which was very hard and heavy when I dug up the garden grown
ones.
Also, the compost heap would have been warmer, and better drained, so
they are more factors which may have contributed.
Alan.

--
To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

A.Lee wrote:
Emrys Davies wrote:
"A.Lee" wrote in message..

Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
some in a year old compost heap.
They sprouted quite spectacularly - some had a bush sized foilage
until recently.
So tonight was crop time. The garden pots were reasonable, though a
little small.
Then onto the compost heap, which, frankly were an embarassment, there
were 2 or 3 of around a inch round, the vast majority were half an
inchround.

You say "Soil too rich". What soil? You cannot fool nature. Potatoes
need to be grown in soil which has been suitably enriched with manure
and then earthed-up to ensure that the developing tubers are not exposed
to the light.

Yes, but why is that?
I would have thought a compost heap would be ideal growing ground, yet
they put all their energy into growing a large plant, but the potatoes
were tiny.
They were well buried, so light shouldnt have reached them, but as in
most compost heaps, the compost was very lightweight and 'fluffy',unlike
my soil, which was very hard and heavy when I dug up the garden grown
ones.
Also, the compost heap would have been warmer, and better drained, so
they are more factors which may have contributed.
Alan.

Well, coincidentally, yesterday I went down the bottom of my garden
where the compost heap (a very informal affair) is to collect a
wheelbarrow of the stuff to spread over a bed ready for Autumn planting
of onions. While digging it out I came across a "wild" potato plant, the
spuds were large, numerous and in great condition.

In article ,
(A.Lee) writes:
| Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
| some in a year old compost heap.

I tried some in a large bag in a polytunnel, to get some extra early
ones. Not merely were they later, they were exactly like yours!


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 14 Aug, 09:41, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article ,a... @darkroom.+.com (A.Lee) writes:
| Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
| some in a year old compost heap.
I tried some in a large bag in a polytunnel, to get some extra early
ones. Not merely were they later, they were exactly like yours!

Hullo folks! Just arrived and surveyed pots and beds, troughs and
baskets etc. Our 'spud bucket experiment' is a disaster. I had put in
around 6 pink fir and got 10 back, a handfull, pathetic. I've heard
the sun hasn't much appeared in the last 15 days we were away. We on
the other hand got far too much ;o) I will put the disapointments of
this year's harvest to lack of sunshine. I can't remember a worst year
in 26 years. Haven't yet seen the allotment - hoping for some treats.

La Puce writes:

On 14 Aug, 09:41, (Nick Maclaren) wrote:
In article ,a... @darkroom.+.com (A.Lee) writes:
| Having a few seed potatoes left earlier this year, I thought I'd try
| some in a year old compost heap.
I tried some in a large bag in a polytunnel, to get some extra early
ones. Not merely were they later, they were exactly like yours!

Hullo folks! Just arrived and surveyed pots and beds, troughs and
baskets etc. Our 'spud bucket experiment' is a disaster. I had put in
around 6 pink fir and got 10 back, a handfull, pathetic.

I put 2 each in old compost bags and topped them up as they
grew. Emptied the first bag last weekend and got a whole pound of
potatoes. The four remaining bags are still showing growth in the tops
so I'll leave them for a while longer, but they were planted later
with a week or two between each.

Anthony

On 16 Aug, 19:35, wrote:

I put 2 each in old compost bags and topped them up as they
grew. Emptied the first bag last weekend and got a whole pound of
potatoes. The four remaining bags are still showing growth in the tops
so I'll leave them for a while longer, but they were planted later
with a week or two between each.

Well done to you ) I've decided I'm done with spuds for a couple of
years if no more. I fancy increasing carrots of different varieties
(and colours) and salads including sorrel/spinash and peas/broads,
leeks/oignons/garlic and extend the herbs side with lots of flowers
and perhaps introduce new ones. Everyone is talking about Good King
Henry (which I've never eaten) and I'd like to try growing Alexander,
Amaranth and Red Orach etc. things which I wanted to do for years and
never got to do. So there )

"La Puce" wrote in message
ups.com...
On 16 Aug, 19:35, wrote:

I put 2 each in old compost bags and topped them up as they
grew. Emptied the first bag last weekend and got a whole pound of
potatoes. The four remaining bags are still showing growth in the tops
so I'll leave them for a while longer, but they were planted later
with a week or two between each.

Well done to you ) I've decided I'm done with spuds for a couple of
years if no more. I fancy increasing carrots of different varieties
(and colours) and salads including sorrel/spinash and peas/broads,
leeks/oignons/garlic and extend the herbs side with lots of flowers
and perhaps introduce new ones. Everyone is talking about Good King
Henry (which I've never eaten)

I can't recommend Good King Henry. I grew it as a potherb in my mediaeval
garden but it had no character, either as leaves or the flower spikes (which
were supposed to be Poor Man's asparagus). The whole plant is soft and with
very little flavour. I know why It's not used these days.

Mary

In article , writes

I put 2 each in old compost bags and topped them up as they
grew. Emptied the first bag last weekend and got a whole pound of
potatoes. The four remaining bags are still showing growth in the tops
so I'll leave them for a while longer, but they were planted later
with a week or two between each.

Anthony


I put three cara in a proper potato bin and fed and watered it regularly
but I got about 6 small potatoes from the entire bin! Not going to
bother again.
--
Janet Tweedy
Dalmatian Telegraph
http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk