please help...what do you do with potatoes? pots/ground/hanging baskets [joke!]

[yogabird]

have just bought some 'catriona' early spuds and have never grown them before. Are pots a good idea? how many to a pot? does each potato grow a plant or what? how does it work? I have a reasonable amount of land but don't want them to take over. Should i plant a few now and then more later etc...to avoid the 'lettuce glut' i got from sowing a whole packet a few years ago?

perhaps i should just put them in hanging baskets?
any advice?
please?

hello yogabird. i am growing pots in pots (see what i di there?)

no seriously... i think pots is the only way to go. saves digging for a start. and you can pot up to increase yield.
hang on and will link to a fab thing...

this potato barrel lets you plant 5 tubers in the bottom and then 'pot up' as they grow, filling the barrel with potaotes, and the slide up panels let you harvest them without digging the plant up. brilliant!

or this looks like a good option too. you can stagger the planting to prolong the yield season

how many to a pot depends on pot size. a 40cm diameter pot or tub should take about 4 tubers

each potato grows a plant, yes.

the seed potatoes (only use seed potatoes, not normal eating ones, especially if you are doing them in the ground as eating pots could carry something bad for pots apparently and if they infect the soil, you'll not get potatoes to grow there again for years. apparently)

I have put 3 in each old dustbin (4)as we ran out of room in the allotment no idea what to do with them in there so thanks for the info!

You don't have to spend money on a fancy planter - you can use a black bin bag.

Put compost/soil in bottom and roll down the sides. plant potatoes, then keep topping up with soil and unrolling bag as you go.

hey thanks girls - that's helped, thnks for all of your posts NappiesGalore but i rather fancy the binbag option (being a bit of a cheapskate!) so, just to clarify.... soil in bottom, 3 spuds? 4? then some soil on top - how much? Top up - when? harvest how? by ripping hole in the bag? Sorry to be such a novice and ask such daft questions. Should they be sited in the sun or not? The spuds are rather on hold at the moment i've been demolishing an old shed and smashing wood all day to make room for my greenhouse (in bits, purchased second hand weeks ago and waiting for dh to do his stuff with it now i've cleared a site. Have filled all windowsills with beans, peas, courgettes dwarf corn toms, etc. cos am having to manage without it. Sorry for rambling, just caught myself - must be the half botte of red that i've consumed with supper - sorry! [hic!]

ok
do about 4inches soil in bottom first.
then (imagining the bin bag size) i would say 5 spuds in a circle and 1, or 2 even in the middle.
you are sposed to 'chit up' the spuds before you do this; put/leave them somewhere and let them sprout a bit. when the sprouty bit is an inch long, you can plant them. apparently you should/can rub off any sprouts that are too long and start again.
soooo, then cover the spuds with more soil, water and wait.
when you get greenery, put more soil in. just keep adding more as the shoots grow, leaving the top of the leaves showing. remember to have the bag in its long-term location before it gets too heavy (or put it on a piece of wood or summink so you can move it if you want.)

harvest... hmmm (ama learner too really) i would guess yes, rip a small hole in the bag and have a feel about. once the bag is full and the plants grows up to full size out the top and flower and then flowers die away that is.

sunny, sheltered from too much(ie gale force) wind spot perfect.

lol at ramble... am prone to those myself

nappies - you are a star! lots of info for me afternoon off tomorrow so will set to it i'm feeling really rather keen now and not at all apprehensive - thanks. Will keep you posted with progress!