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The size of these larger plants varies according to the particular variety and the age of the plant, but as a rough guide, 10 litre plants fall in the range 75 - 120cm (2½ - 4ft) high, while the 30 litres are generally 90 - 150cm (3 - 5ft).
It should come as no surprise then that, potatoes are one of the UK’s most farmed crops and have become a favourite among those who grow their own food. Normally potatoes require a lot of space to grow. When planted in the ground, it is recommended to leave at least 45 cm between each row. For large containers which will hold multiple plants, it is important to give each plant as much room to grow as possible so avoid placing the potatoes too close to each other. With best growing practices, it’s possible to use a 10 litre rather than a 15 litre pot. It’s possible to grow most varieties successfully in an 8 litre pot too. It’s how we grow them that determines the pot size. But what about the roots?
Four maincrop plants left for final pots on Monday, given weather forecast, soil based going in on Monday too and 31st for Quadgrows and other competition plants. If you are going to use a slow releasing fertilizer, mix it into the soil now, if not skip to step 3. Dimensions: 55cm diameter top, 41cm diameter base and 37.5cm depth. Internal top diameter 50cm. Capacity: 60 litres.
The type of potato you will grow also has an impact on the end result, most gardeners prefer growing early potatoes in pots. The early type are ready to harvest by mid-summer, this means they are not affected by the late summer potato blight like other varieties. Rot capping is when surface roots become so pot-bound that they form a cap of tight fibrous roots at the soil surface. Oxygen is prevented from entering into the root area below and the gasses that are given off by respiration are prevented from escaping. So now that the potatoes have been planted that’s it, right? Wrong. There is more work to be done during the growing process. This additional work is called hilling. This method doesn’t require any growing medium at all – roots are suspended in a trough of flowing water and nutrients, a bit like a horizontal drain pipe. Water and nutrients flow over the roots several times each day (or hour!) and plants are able to access all they need. Dimensions: 12cm diameter top, 7.7cm diameter base and 10.7cm depth. Capacity: 0.735 litres. Recommended use: For pot bedding and young plants.
Tip: Add 4-5 cm of soil around each plant so that they are all surrounded by a small hill which covers around one-third of the showing plant. Don’t worry about the covered leaves dying, the plant will grow more. The humble potato has been a staple of the British diet since the end of the 16th century, it has earned its place in the pantheon of British dishes by adding tantalising delicacies such as mashed potatoes and roast potatoes, along with many others, to our palette.
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