Page 37 - ALG Issue 3 2022

1. Place about 5cm (2in) of compost in the bottom of the bag. Any compost will do including cheap multi-purpose or growing bag compost.
2. Place one tuber in the middle of the bag with the eyes or shoots uppermost. If there are many shoots on self-saved tubers you could rub all but three off.
3. Cover the tuber with 2.5cm (1in) of compost, then scatter a handful of potato fertiliser or chicken manure pellets or similar over the compost. Add another 2.5cm (1in) of compost.
4. Water the bag well and stand on the greenhouse/polytunnel border. As the shoots develop fill the bag with more compost after sprinkling with more fertiliser.
HARVESTING YOUR CROP Once your potatoes start
to flower or the tops stop growing dig down to see
if you can find any tubers. If so, and they are of a reasonable size, gradually allow the compost
to dry out. The tops can then
be removed at soil level and
the bags placed somewhere frost free where they will remain dry until required. Just give them a rinse – no need to peel – cook and enjoy!
‘Nicola’ is an ideal potato for planting in containers.
Kitchen Garden is Britain’s best-selling magazine for dedicated fruit and veg growers.
Allotment and Leisure Gardener 37