Unlock the secret to growing the perfect 1st early potatoes right in your own backyard!
Transform a simple 30-liter container into a thriving garden oasis, even with limited
space.
In this fast-paced, easy-to-follow guide, we'll explore top potato varieties, planting
tips, and essential care to ensure your success.
Get ready to harvest delicious homegrown potatoes with our step-by-step container gardening
tutorial.
Selecting the right variety of 1st early or determinate potatoes is crucial for successful
container gardening.
These types of potatoes have a shorter growing season, making them perfect for containers.
Here are some top picks, each with their unique characteristics:
'Arran Pilot': A classic favorite, 'Arran Pilot' boasts a creamy white flesh and fantastic
flavor.
It's perfect for boiling or using in salads, and it's known for its resistance to common
scab.
'Rocket': As its name suggests, 'Rocket' is a fast-growing variety with a reputation for
high yields.
These potatoes have a delicious taste, firm texture, and are great for boiling or steaming.
'Swift': If you're looking for a potato that's easy to grow and produces an early crop, 'Swift'
is the one.
With a soft, moist texture, it's a versatile choice for boiling, mashing, or roasting.
'Red Duke of York': This eye-catching red-skinned variety brings a pop of color to your plate.
With its creamy yellow flesh and rich, buttery flavor, it's perfect for roasting, baking,
or making wedges.
'Dark Red Norland': A popular choice in the USA, 'Dark Red Norland' features deep red
skin, white flesh, and a slightly dry texture, making it great for boiling, frying, and baking.
Yukon Gold': Another favorite in the USA, 'Yukon Gold' is renowned for its smooth, golden
skin and buttery yellow flesh.
With a moist texture and rich flavor, it's a versatile choice for boiling, mashing, or
roasting.
Remember, when choosing a variety, consider your local climate and growing conditions,
as well as your culinary preferences.
With these top varieties in mind, you'll be one step closer to a bountiful harvest of
delicious homegrown potatoes.
Now that we have our potato varieties sorted, it's time to prepare for planting.
A crucial aspect of growing healthy potatoes is using the right soil mix.
This year, we're using a blend of 60% homemade compost and 40% coconut coir.
This mix provides a well-draining, nutrient-rich environment that encourages strong root development
and overall plant health.
Last year, we experimented with bagged peat-free compost, but unfortunately, our potato plants
didn't thrive as we had hoped.
This prompted me to rethink our soil mix and opt for a more sustainable and effective solution.
Homemade compost is an excellent choice because it's packed with nutrients and organic matter,
which improve soil structure, moisture retention, and fertility.
Plus, it's an eco-friendly way to recycle your kitchen and garden waste.
Coconut coir, on the other hand, is a fantastic peat-free alternative that offers excellent
water-holding capacity and aeration.
It's made from the fibrous husks of coconuts, making it a sustainable and renewable resource.
By combining these two components, we've created the ideal growing medium for our container-grown
potatoes.
With our soil mix ready, we're all set for planting our 1st early or determinate potatoes
and ensuring a successful harvest this year.
As for the best container size I chose 30 liters as the ideal size because it provides
an adequate growing medium for healthy growth while keeping material costs low.
I have tested many different sizes but 30 litres provides the best results for the materials
used.
These containers are sourced from Oakland Gardens, which recently introduced a new design
featuring additional drainage holes.
Good drainage is crucial for preventing waterlogged soil and promoting healthy root growth.
To begin planting, fill your 30-liter container to one-third of its depth with the prepared
soil mix, and blend in some feed (we'll discuss more about feed in a little while).
Today I am sowing Aaron pilot seed potatoes.
Notice how strong the shoots or chits are, this is because there is a benefit for chitting
1st and 2nd early or determinate seed potatoes.
It provides a good start for the tubers while the ground temperatures are still relatively
cold.
Place two seed potatoes in line with the handles of the container, then cover them with the
soil mix until the container is just under two-thirds full.
Add a little more feed and position two more seed potatoes at right angles to the first
two.
Growing first early or determinate potatoes in a container allows us to plant four seed
potatoes instead of just one, as these varieties grow on a single layer.
This technique maximizes yield and makes efficient use of resources and space by growing on multiple
levels.
Once your container is filled to about an inch below the rim, incorporate more feed
into the top layer.
There's no need to hill these potatoes gradually, like in traditional trench methods, because
we can fill the container all at once, making it a simpler, one-time job.
After filling the container, add a layer of mulch, such as rapeseed straw, which we're
using here, or any form of straw or grass.
Mulching prevents evaporation, retains moisture, and provides insulation for the soil layers,
keeping the potatoes warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather for consistent growth.
Oakland Gardens is currently offering a deal on these 30-liter containers: you can get
10 containers for £33 delivered using the code "Simplify33".
Check the link in the description below to take advantage of this offer.
Many people have asked what the best food is for growing potatoes, and for our container-grown
1st early or determinate potatoes, we're using a combination of blood, fish, and bone meal
and a balanced pelleted potato feed.
The blood, fish, and bone meal is a slow-release, balanced fertilizer that provides essential
nutrients over time.
If you can't find this product where you live, you can purchase blood meal, bone meal, and
fish meal and mix them in equal parts.
The balanced pelleted potato feed can be purchased using the link in the description below.
If you can't find this product, just look for a potato feed that is based on equal parts
of nitrogen and phosphorus, with 1.5 to 2 times that amount of potassium or potash.
Nitrogen and phosphorus are crucial for good formation of the haulms or foliage, while
potassium or potash is essential for tuber formation.
By finding a feed with these balances, you can ensure that your container-grown potatoes
have the nutrients they need for healthy growth and a bountiful harvest.
We will incorporate the initial feed into the soil mix during planting, and it will
last for the first 6-8 weeks.
After this time, we can give a surface dusting of more feed, or even use a comfrey liquid
seaweed to continue the growth.
After planting your determinate potatoes in their containers, it's crucial to consider
the best growing conditions for them.
Container-grown potatoes are particularly susceptible to high winds, so providing proper
support for the haulms is essential.
One solution we've found effective is to build a sturdy timber frame to support the plants.
Many of our viewers have adopted this method, and it has proven successful.
However, for those who don't have access to timber, cow wire is also a viable option.
The frame is not only supportive, but it also allows you to cover the plants with fleece
in case of a late frost.
This protection can help ensure the best possible harvest.
Another consideration is the possibility of frost damage.
By keeping your containers in a greenhouse or polytunnel until the last frost has passed,
you can protect your plants and give them the best chance for success.
Once the threat of frost has passed, you can easily move the containers to their final
growing area.
Finally, it's worth noting that the frame also supports any watering system you may
want to implement.
Potatoes are thirsty plants, and it's essential to keep them well-watered for healthy growth.
One of the great benefits of using containers is that they hold moisture in longer, especially
with the addition of coir and mulch.
However, if you're using wooden or fabric containers, you may find that you need to
water more frequently.
When watering your container-grown determinate potatoes, it's essential to water them until
water flows out of the drainage holes.
Wait for about 10 minutes and then water them again to ensure that the container is moistened
all the way through.
It's best not to let the compost dry out, as it can become hydrophobic, meaning it won't
absorb water.
By watering in this way, you can prevent this from happening.
To determine when to water next, use the finger test.
Simply push your index finger up to its last knuckle into the soil, and pull it out.
If it feels moist, or any compost sticks to your finger, there's no need to water.
However, if it comes out dry, or with nothing sticking to your finger, it's time to water
again.
Potatoes require between 1 and 2 inches of water per week, but during hot summer months,
they may need more.
Last year, we had a particularly hot summer, and I typically used about 4 liters of water
every 3 or 4 days per container.
By providing your container-grown potatoes with adequate water, you can ensure healthy
growth and a bountiful harvest.
One top tip for growing healthy and productive container-grown potatoes is to remove the
flowers when they start to appear.
While it may seem counterintuitive to remove flowers, it's actually a pro take-away that
can significantly increase the yield of your harvest.
When a determinate or first early potato plant starts to flower, it uses a lot of energy
to produce flowers and eventually turn them into seeds.
This energy is not beneficial to the gardener, as it takes away from the energy that the
plant could be putting into tuber formation.
By removing the flowers from your container-grown potatoes, you can redirect that energy towards
tuber formation, resulting in larger and more plentiful potatoes.
It's a simple yet effective technique that can make a significant difference in the quality
and quantity of your harvest.
So, the next time you see your container-grown potato plants start to flower, remember this
top tip and remove the flowers to redirect their energy towards tuber formation.
It's a small but powerful step towards a bountiful and successful harvest.
Harvesting your container-grown determinate or first early potatoes is an exciting moment
for any gardener.
With the shortest growing season of all potatoes, typically around 65 days, you can expect to
harvest fresh small potatoes around this time.
However, if you want larger and more mature potatoes, it's best to wait until about 50%
of the haulms have turned yellow.
When this happens, it's time to remove all of the haulms with secateurs and leave the
potatoes in the container for two weeks to allow the skins to mature.
This will help ensure that your potatoes have a firm texture and last longer in storage.
It's important to keep in mind that different varieties of potatoes may have different growing
seasons and maturity rates.
So, be sure to check the recommended growing and harvesting times for the specific variety
you're growing.
Harvesting your container-grown determinate potatoes is a rewarding experience, and by
following these guidelines, you can ensure the best possible harvest.
Whether you're looking for fresh small potatoes or larger and more mature ones, knowing when
and how to harvest them is an essential step towards a successful and enjoyable container
gardening experience.
Once you've harvested your container-grown determinate or first early potatoes, it's
time to store them properly for later use.
Here are some tips for storing your potatoes to keep them fresh and flavorful:
Cure the Potatoes: After harvesting, allow your potatoes to cure in a cool, dry, and
dark place for a few days.
This will allow the skins to harden, and any minor cuts or bruises to heal.
Curing also helps to increase the shelf life of your potatoes.
Sort and Clean: Once cured, sort through your potatoes and remove any that are damaged or
diseased.
Then, gently brush off any excess soil, but don't wash them.
Washing potatoes can remove the protective layer on the skin, which can make them more
susceptible to spoiling.
Store in a Cool, Dark, and Dry Place: Store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place
to prevent sprouting and spoilage.
The ideal temperature for storing potatoes is between 45-50°F (7-10°C).
Avoid storing potatoes in direct sunlight or in damp areas, as this can cause them to
sprout or rot.
Avoid Storing with Fruits: Fruits give off ethylene gas, which can cause potatoes to
sprout prematurely.
So, it's best to avoid storing potatoes with fruits.
Now you know how to grow 1st early or determinate potatoes in containers and get fantastic results.
With the right variety selection, soil mix, planting techniques, watering schedule, and
harvesting and storage practices, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of delicious homegrown
potatoes right in your own backyard.
If you're hungry for more tips on growing potatoes in containers, be sure to check out
this video for even more pro take-aways and expert advice.
I'm Tony O'Neill, and this is Simplify Gardening.
Thanks for watching, and I'll see you in the next one!