Container potatoes

[duajones]

That is Boothbys Blonde cukes in the background, first time growing them.

[feldon30]

I was gonna say, those cotyledons look awfully like a curcurbit. Squash, cucumber, etc.

[shelleybean]

This thread has inspired me to grow some Rose Finn Apple in those potato tower things. And I'm growing Boothby's Blonde cukes this year too.

[duajones]

Added another layer of soil and the foliage is growing out the top of the can now. One more layer of soil and not much more I can do. Do I need to support the plants in anyway as they get taller?

[feldon30]

I don't want to take away from any unique, useful info that might be posted by Tom or others here at T'Ville, but there is some good info here on your questions:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/potato.html

Also good info about when to water, when to harvest, etc.

[shelleybean]

Good stuff. Thank you, Feldon.

[duajones]

thanks for the link feldon, no mention of supporting the plants in any way. Seems like I remember reading somewhere that you should give them support of some kind. Will keep reading

[feldon30]

I thought that's what the hilled soil was for. But this is my first time so who knows. I have no idea when to expect flowers.

[gardenmaniac]

I never stake my potatoes that are planted in containers. They eventually will get beaten sideways by a severe storm or high winds, but it doesn't hurt them. They just aren't as pretty. I don't think it is worth the effort, but I could be wrong.

If they were in the ground, perhaps I would consider it so they wouldn't be laying on the ground and get exposed to more disease opportunities.

The flowers appear it seems once the plant has hit its full height. In my buckets, they are about 2 ft tall above the dirt at this point. Of course, each variety is going to be a bit different. I expect to see flowers in the next 2 or 3 weeks on some of mine. We'll see! I never seem to get fruit set, however. I wonder if I don't have the right pollinator or if the plant needs a certain environmental requirement that I am not meeting. I would love to save the seed if I got some fruit.

Tiffanie

[duajones]

Mine are roughly 6 inches above the top of the container now, will be adding final layer of soil in the next few days. They grow much faster than I had imagined. I used some osmocote and a touch of manure in the lower part of the container. I need to decide what to fertilize with if indeed they need more.

Duane

[feldon30]

I think most potatoes are hybrids so saving seed will be an issue. I believe Tom Wagner is growing stabilized O.P.s with the intention of making seeds available.

[duajones]

Here they are tonight, over the top.

[ddsack]

That is so decorative, I love the sunny colored trash can, all I see around here are grey or brown industrial colors. I must have missed how many inches of soil you started with under your potatoes ... about a foot?

[duajones]

started with about 6 inches of soil, probably should have been more

[jhp]

duane, did I miss it or did you not say, what kind of soil are you using? Some kind of container mix? Just curious. I've never grown potatoes in a container, but I'm thinking I may put a few in some containers this year, just for fun.

Thanks,

Jen