How to Growing Potatoes in a Bin
As you know, I have turned a keen “hobby veg grower” since having kids. I started growing vegetables, so I could teach my children all about where food comes from… but also to avoid any poisoning instances. I am also a bit of a “what you make and grow yourself must be cheaper than what you can buy” – what else is the point?!
For this reason, I have not really bother with potatoes before – afterall they are such a “commodity”. Then last year, we randomly planted a Jerusalem Potato, and the result was so “cool”, that this year we decided to plant potatoes too! That and the fact that there a random empty bin appeared in our front garden, that no one claimed for 3 weeks!
Materials: a bin, lots of earth, a drill, stones/ broken pots, potatoes
1) Firstly drill lots of holes at the bottom of your bin.
2) Then fill with stones and broken pot pieces – this is to allow for drainage.
3) Fill half way with earth and plant 5-6 potatoes.
4) Place in a reasonably sunny spot and wait.
…
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5) Finally, after about 8 weeks (?) the potatoes were sprouting happily and the first flowers are showing.
6) [After consulting Twitter and getting advice from @NicolaJWhite you …] now top up to the top with earth. This allows for the potato to grow more potatoes all along the stem you have just covered. Ideally, I should have topped them up sooner – before (as in the photo) they were sprouting mightily high. Because then, as they continued growing, I could have topped them up time and again. With each top up you encourage new shoots and growth.
7) Wait some more (months)…
8. You potatoes will be ready when the flowers have dropped and the leaves begin to wilt.
Dig them out and ENJOY!
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We’ve just started our veggie patch this year too. We’re growing potatoes, pumpkins (for Halloween carving), french beans, cornichons ( the baby gherkins my brood love), tomatoes and red onions… all our favourite veggies. We’re blogging about it too! We’ve got our kitchen herb garden too, as they’re really handy… to be able to just nip out and grab the fresh herbs you need – priceless!
I agree! Simply priceless!! I have never had ANY luck with pumpkins! Keep trying and I don’t get passed the young plant, at best a MINI squash, that then doesn’t grow 🙁 Booooo. And herbs.. don’t talk to me about herbs. Sigh!
For sure I will let you know how the pumpkins turn out! We’re trying to grow “big Mama’s” – they are supposed to grow as big as a baby! I will send you the links to the posts and photos to prove it! 😉
Oh yes, please do!! Though I am sure I will be *jealous* 😉
Fantastic. About how deep was your bin? It will be great if you can produce them because they are so delicious straight from there to the table.
Our bin was about a 1m-1.2m deep. But this year, I have them in pots prob about 70cm deep? The deepness is just good so you can harvest more – i.e. you have to cover the plant with earth as it grows to encourage more potatoes to grow…