Potato Growning

[Phoenix82]

Do I need seed potatoes or will any potatoes that are starting to chit do?
I have a rigid plastic container that has drainage holes in the bottom (It was actually the old recycling box) that I'm thinking of using as a planter-would it suffice?
Thank you

[lancashire lass]

Ideally you should get certified seed - potatoes are susceptible to so many diseases such as viruses which may be present in the supermarket tubers and which can develop during growth. You might get lucky, then again you might not - is it worth the risk? Seed potatoes are not that expensive.

As for containers - it is possible but you would need a deep one and keep it well watered especially when the plants start to flower and up until they are ready to crop. Main crop potatoes are not suitable as they need a lot more root room (I think I know what size container you mean so I'll hazard a guess of maybe one or two potatoes for that pot) You could grow first early potatoes (new potato type) which do not need much space (in the ground they would be planted 12 inches apart in each direction, second earlies about 15-18 inch, rows of 12 inches apart, main crop about 18-24 inches, rows of 18 inches)

[Phoenix82]

Thank you for the insight,They have an offer on seed potatoes at our local garden centre. I was looking yesterday which got me thinking-hence the question. I have seen them for sale in Poundland too!

[billnorfolk]

Thank you for the insight,They have an offer on seed potatoes at our local garden centre. I was looking yesterday which got me thinking-hence the question. I have seen them for sale in Poundland too!

Poundland ones are ok ,you don't get many for your £1 but for growing in tubs where you only want 2or3 in each tub they are ideal,you can also buy the bags for growing them in at the same place .Put 3to4 in of compost in tub or bag ,place your poatatoes on top then another 3to4 in add more compost as the green shoots grow till bag nearly full harvest after flowering

[Mo]

Our local hardware shop has big sacks of various sorts, you can pick and mix, so I got enough earlies to plant a couple of rows (Sharpes Express), and more maincrop (Edwards). A couple of Kilos for under £3. The Aran Pilots had sold out though, I could have got a 2k bag from the garden centre but that was too many. Our garden centre had 2k bags and bags of 10 potatoes - but not AP (I didn't even want 10, 5 maybe).

Was reading about research into GM Desire spuds that have genes from wild Mexican spuds and resist blight. Might be better than a lot of spraying.

[Phoenix82]

I set my Potatoes away yesterday,in a bag from Poundland. What a lovely feeling it was I did then feel a strong urge to start digging up the Garden to plant more Veg! I do have a little project in mind for the weekend though..