Jacket Potato Sprouting and Planting Update

Posted on 02. May, 2011 by Tracey in Veg Plot

My jacket potato tubers have had more than enough time (8 weeks) to pre sprout on the kitchen windowsill ready for planting outside. The potato sprouts are itching to get their already open leaves into that lovely peat based compost in their recycled planter.

Instead of buying a brand new wooden planter, I have decided to save money and recycle the ex-compost slatted bin (1m x 1m) into a new low planter for the jacket potatoes.

This would give them plenty of room to grow into their characteristic jacket types. As the ex-compost bin has holes in between the slates, the inside will be lined with newspaper before the compost gets added.

Potato Recycled Planter

Here’s How I Planted my Spuds:-

Number of Chitted Spuds: 12

Jacket Potato Variety: Marfona
Size of Planter: 1 metre x 1 metre wide and 4 inches high (so far).

Plant in: April to May
Harvest in: September to October

Build the slats up to 2 rounds approx 4 inches high on bare solid soil,
Line the gaps in between the slats with newspaper to stop the compost falling out,
Add compost to the first 2 inch wooden slats,
Place 12 spuds 1-2 inches apart into the soil so they stand up (chits facing upwards),
Add more compost to cover all the potatoes and shoots,
Water well,
Cover with horticultural fleece or netting which allows light and water through,
Place more wood slats across the top to prevent cats from digging in the planter (these will be removed when there’s enough foliage to stop them digging)

Uncover in a week or so to check progress, water every week (or leave to the rain, if we ever get any) and then earth up (add more compost) over the green leaves when they appear above the compost level.

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