Help wanted : what is the best compost for potatoe barrell

20 years ago

I know that this is not a gardening exchange but the other exchange does not seem to be for UK gardeners.

I have just bought a potatoe barrell and need to know what is the best comport / soil to buy to fill it. I need 80 litres. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

stevethelizard
20 years ago
hi hows it going?
a good potting compost likejohn innes mixed with mushroom compost would be a good bet try to avoid cheap seed/potting compost, its not really rich enough for potatoes. you will need to water very well in a barrel and i do mean lots the soil should never dry out once the plants are well established and they will also like a good feed.if you want to grow more than one barrels worth a very easy way to do it is to buy an 80L or 100L bag of compost stand it on end where you want to grow your spuds slit the top of the bag all the way across and roll it down to just above the level of the compost prick lots of small drainage holes in the bottom of the bag and plant your seed potato about half way down.if you have a greenhouse you can have new potatoes nearly all year round. sorry to waffle on but i hope this helps
oh by the way what spuds are you growing?
jitterbug_bh23
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for the advice / ideas - I am going to grow King Edward and Pink Fir (somethings). How many seedling spuds do you think I must put into the 80 litre potatoe barrell? Also do you built it up or just fill the barrell with the compost and plant the potatoes on the top ?? Sorry about all the questions but I am a total novice.
Related Discussions
Planting Potatoes - Compost/Manure
Q
Comments (15)
I am out of control with potatoes this year. I have them planted in rai.sed beds, old garbage cans, old whisky barrels, wire clothes hampers, black plastic pots and I too am trying the black fabric s.mart (potato) bags for the first time. You can get seed potatoes at nurseries or big box stores. There is no end to the varieties available at my area stores. I always plant small whole potatoes...no cutting. For soil I use my oak leaf mold, peat moss, sandy topsoil and any good potting soil mixed together. You can add bone meal before you plant. Anything with PH or Phosphorous that is for root crops or bulbs. You don't want to add N or Nitrogen since this will make for big plants but not such a big crop underground and this is where the manure warning probably comes from or maybe it has to do with the scab disease problem (which I think is actually more of a concern for commercial farmers and not so much for hobby gardeners like us). And as an aside, I think those s.mart bags are pretty neat and probably useful for plants other than potatoes. They come in quite a range of sizes. The bags are a little cheaper if you order direct from the maker rather than through a gar.den supply place. And I'm pretty proud that I only have one more seed potato left to plant. The problem is finding a place for it. I mean I am full up. (periods placed within certain words to foil Bing)
...See More
Compost potatoes & other produce
Q
Comments (11)
Lamalu- how big was your wire cage? That sounds intriguing. I've been eyeing off a dumped, wheel-less shopping trolley on my street for a while as a potential planter (it's getting to the point where I'll happily plant in anything that will contain dirt and drain water). Potatoes might be a fun use for it. Did you use potting mix or a compost mix or some other medium in your cage? I guess what I've seen of potato planting situations is that they seem to need to be pretty big to get a decent harvest, so I wasn't sure if I had the space or capacity to try it the proper way. Also I've been told that root crops don't do well the first year in a no-dig garden bed. But if container-grown (or bag-grown or shopping-trolley-grown) could work, I'll try it. pnbrown- I think my initial post was less about a desire to attempt a potato harvest in my compost bin and more a curiousity as to what might happen, something I thought other forum members might have experience with. A lot of gardening is curiosity, don't you find? At the basic level (and I'm still very much a beginner), the notion of putting a seed in some dirt and 'seeing what happens' is how we get our gardens. Not all experiments are destined to succeed, of course, among them probably the compost-bin potatoes.
...See More
rain barrel and composter
Q
Comments (12)
I am using 3 30 gallon rubbermade trash cans with lids. I connected them with 1"rubber tuning and fittings with plastic nuts and rubber washers at the top 3" down. The bootm of each has the same type of fitting, but threaded for a garden hose. I could have put two hoses on each, top and bottom with a simple lever valve, but ran out of funds, and I already had the spigots. I don't know how long it will take to fill up 90 gallons or so from the gutter that runs into it, but hope I will find out. Added benefit is that the down spout drained into an area that in turn drained into my garden and caused some erosion. As far my compost pile, it's made from ugly concrete blocks, but turning it is as easy as moving the walls over to the other side, and forking it over. Good Luck. TiMo
...See More
best location for compost barrel
Q
Comments (10)
The best location is one that easily accessible and conveniently located near where you will be using the finished compost. The sunlight is not a critical factor. When I first started composting, I had read several recommendations to keep it in the sun. But that is kind of misleading. Perhaps if you live in a hot climate, you may want your pile in the shade to keep it from getting too dry. And if you live in a cold climate, you may want your pile in the sun, to help keep in warm in the winter and thaw it out in the spring. And if you like to turn and work the pile, you may want in the shade so your labor is done in the shade rather than the sun.
...See More
shrubs_n_bulbs
20 years ago
My first thought would be a JI#3, possibly plus something like manure, but I haven't grown spuds in a barrel. Is the bottom going to be open? I have also read not to use the type of soil that you would want in the garden, but to go with a regular multi-purpose compost in a barrel? Mushroom compost may be, usually is, alkaline, which isn't so good for potatoes. Stick to composted manure or home-made compost if you have it.

Don't plant the seed potatoes on top. Fill the barrel maybe a foot deep, then plant, then cover them. Earth up as they grow. If you don't want the trouble you can just plant them in a full barrel of soil.

In summer, water them until you think they can't possibly take any more, then water them some more :)

Related Stories

COOL-SEASON CROPS Cool-Season Vegetables: How to Grow Potatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

This ever-popular tuber is a stalwart in spring and fall gardens and a staple in kitchens everywhere

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Get on a Composting Kick (Hello, Free Fertilizer!)

By Matt Kilburn

Quit shelling out for pricey substitutes that aren’t even as good. Here’s how to give your soil the best while lightening your trash load

Full Story

112

FARM YOUR YARD The 8 Tools That Help Bring the Farm to Your Table

By Abundant City

Vegetable gardeners get a big assist from these essential helpers

Full Story

SAVING WATER 11 Ways to Save Water at Home

By Carol Crotta

Whether you live in a drought-stricken area or just want to help preserve a precious resource, here are things you can do to use less water

Full Story

140

GREEN BUILDING How to Harvest Rainwater for Your Garden

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Conserve a vital resource and save money by collecting stormwater for irrigation in a barrel or tank

Full Story

EARTH DAY Grow a Beautiful Garden With Ecofriendly Greywater

By Greywater Corps

Reducing home water waste means lower bills and a healthier planet. Here's how to set up a greywater home irrigation system that can help

Full Story

110

GREEN BUILDING Off the Grid: Ready to Pull the Plug on City Power?

By Jen Dalley //

What to consider if you want to stop relying on public utilities — or just have a more energy-efficient home

Full Story

145

EARTH DAY The Case for Losing the Traditional Lawn

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Work less, help the environment and foster connections by just saying no to typical turf

Full Story

237

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

Full Story

CURB APPEAL Houzz Call: How Do You Hide Your Trash?

By Mary Jo Bowling

No one wants to see those trash and recycling bins. So where do you stash them while you wait for the garbage truck? Show us your designs!

Full Story

Help wanted : what is the best compost for potatoe barrell

Comments (3)

stevethelizard

jitterbug_bh23
Original Author

Related Discussions

shrubs_n_bulbs

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Help wanted : what is the best compost for potatoe barrell

Comments (3)

stevethelizard

jitterbug_bh23Original Author

Related Discussions

shrubs_n_bulbs

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jitterbug_bh23
Original Author