Potato growing 2022

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by JWK, Jan 1, 2022.

  1. Frazzled

    Frazzled Gardener

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    Can someone check my maths homework? :) I'm trying to figure out how many kgs of seed potato I need to order to fill a specific garden space. I'm struggling to find a simple answer to this, which I find odd. What information I have found is the ratio is roughly 4 seed potato tubers per square meter. And, there's roughly 13 seed potato tubers per kilogram.

    Of course, just to make things more difficult, I've been given the dimensions of the plot in feet. So here's the calculation:

    Width x length of potato plot = square footage of plot.
    Divide square footage of plot by 10.764 to get square meter of area.
    Multiply square meter of area by 4 to determine number of seed potato tubers required.
    Divide that number by 13 to determine how many kilograms of seed potato tubers to order.

    As an example, a 12ft by 40ft plot would require just under 14 kg of seed potato tubers.

    Does that sound right?
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    I think the maths are about right, but that's as long as the 4 per metre and 13per kg are correct.

    I tried it by converting the feet to metres before working out the area.:smile:
     
  3. Jack Sparrow

    Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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    I thought I might have a go at growing some potatoes in a pot.

    received_466081351788664.jpeg

    This is the pot I have designated. Would this pot be ok and is the sighting ok? It would be in full sun all day. It is surrounded by lavender, nemissia, eryngos, trachelospermum jasminoides and a bird table. Would any of those adversely affect the potato crop?

    G.
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Maybe three seed in there Jack:smile:
      I dont think the surrounding plants will be a problem unless you let them grow over and shade the spuds.
       
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      • JWK

        JWK Gardener Staff Member

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        That looks a good location Jack, sheltered and full sun, they will do well. Potatoes in containers need lots of watering once they get going. The surrounding plants are no problem, star jasmine gets tall as you know and will need training onto your trellis.
         
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        • Hanglow

          Hanglow Super Gardener

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          I was going to just grow charlotte, but have instead ordered some pentland javelin and yukon gold, both first earlies. Will plant half in grow bags, half in soil. Anyone grown yukon gold? Its quite popular in the US by the looks of things
           
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          • Tomcat

            Tomcat Gardener

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            Tried Yukon Gold last year , good yield , good keeper and lovely flavour.
            It is classed as a determinate variety, producing tubers at one level . I found it very useful as l tried these on a no dig bed and didn’t have to dig deep to harvest.
             
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            • DieAna

              DieAna A girl with a fork in the world of soup.

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              Did you start to chit potatoes yet guys?
               
            • JWK

              JWK Gardener Staff Member

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              Chitting is on my list of things to do, I should have started a week ago. It's only worthwhile for early potatoes by the way.
               
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              • DieAna

                DieAna A girl with a fork in the world of soup.

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                Hmmm I thought it's worth doing for all the potatoes? Just a kick off start?
                 
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                • JWK

                  JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                  There is no harm in chitting main crop but it makes no difference to yield or earliness.
                   
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                  • Hanglow

                    Hanglow Super Gardener

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                    Thanks, I do no dig too. I usually just earth up with more compost
                     
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                    • JAS

                      JAS Gardener

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                      I'm doing no dig spuds this year as well
                       
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                      • pete

                        pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                        I wasn't going to bother with any spuds this year, but thought I'd give just a few of these a go. 20220321_155543.jpg
                         
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                        • Jack Sparrow

                          Jack Sparrow Total Gardener

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                          I only want 2. It looks like I'm going to have to buy a whole packet. I do have some past their best potatoes in the pantry. Would they work?

                          G.
                           
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