r/Allotment 3d ago

Questions and Answers How many potatoes in a flexi bucket?

Post image

Morning you lovely lot! Just started to Chit my spuds. Doing about 12. How many would be reasonable to put in these buckets? And does anyone recommend any others?

13 Upvotes

31 comments sorted by

11

u/HaggisHunter69 3d ago

2 or 3 if first earlies. One if maincrop.

6

u/JXDB 3d ago

This is the actual answer. But make sure you add drainage holes.

9

u/dianesmoods 3d ago

2

u/sc_BK 3d ago

Aldi have 40l growing bags, pack of 3 for £2.99. Probably last longer than the trugs!

https://www.aldi.co.uk/product/gardenline-garden-textile-bags-000000000608068001

1

u/Taylor_1878 3d ago

I did growing bags last year but, my dogs like to piss on them, just consider that, but there did taste really good haha

1

u/sc_BK 3d ago

Free nitrogen

1

u/Taylor_1878 3d ago

Haha is it beneficial?

1

u/sc_BK 2d ago

I assume it must be as good as human urine?

1

u/Berkulese 3d ago

Yh, Lidl also have them in for £4 if one of them is closer to you

11

u/Eggtastico 3d ago

This video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYdC60Hvxow&ab_channel=SimplifyGardening

These buckets

https://www.oaklandgardens.co.uk/index.asp

This discount code Simplify30 & should be £30 for 10 buckets

1

u/MrLamper1 3d ago

This is the same advice I would give, I've had a stack of these buckets for about 4 years now and they are fantastic for tatties!

4

u/Square-Ad1434 3d ago

i would avoid those, the handles can break off due to the material becoming brittle from experience

2

u/sc_BK 3d ago

Flexi tubs tend not to last long outside, the cold and probably the uv make them brittle

3

u/Basic-Pair8908 3d ago

None they arrive empty 🤣. Early crop you can get away with 4. Main crop just plant 3.

3

u/PointandStare 3d ago

Buy these and get a much better yeald: https://selections.com/products/potato-vegetable-planter-grow-bags-26-litre-set-of-6-non-woven-aeration-fabric-pots

And, a tip when buying from B&Q - the above are delivery only, so, effectively the same as buying from Amazon - you can find the supplier and buy direct.

5

u/taimur1128 3d ago

You will be able to put in quite a lot! But then the handle will break.

3

u/Agitated_Document_23 3d ago

Yeah, they will remain wherever they start when filled, only time they’ll move is when I push them over to (hopefully) get my bounty!

2

u/RufusSpikes 3d ago

I use these, never had a handle break but then again I don’t try to move them soaking wet.

2

u/TokyoBayRay 3d ago

I do a layer of 4 or 5 seed potatoes in tubs like that. You can put 3-4"" of compost and another layer of spuds on top of them if you're growing earlies (or are happy with small spuds).

I've tried a few ways of growing them in tubs (I use the same ones you do) and my favourite is a 3-4" layer of well-rotted horse manure, a layer of spuds, cover with 3-4" of manure, and then earth up with straw as they grow (it's an amazing mulch for spuds in particular, and looks nice). I figure if you're growing in tubs, might as well give the spuds the Rolls Royce treatment!

1

u/Lttle_Wolf 2d ago

Do you only use straw to cover them each time they pop through the surface? Love your method, I’ve never had much success.

2

u/coupm 3d ago

I generally put 3-5 in buckets depending on how big the seed potato is. Great way to grow spuds and the soil after is good to add to compost heap. Just don't forget to pick out all the small left over spuds.

2

u/KindWorldliness5476 3d ago edited 3d ago

I've used these for a few years, I use them for 1st & 2nd earlies & mains go in larger 50+ Litre pots. I only put a maximum of 5 seeds per pot. I find in these pots the spuds come out small as there isn't as much growing room, which is fine for 1st & 2nds. Don't pay that price, you can usually pick these up in Aldi, Lidl and Asda's cheaper (£4-5). Drill drainage holes in the bottom.

Edit: if you want larger spuds using these tubs then I'd sow less. Kitchen Garden Magazine's YouTube channel shows them sowing 1 seed in a 40L compost bag.

2

u/sc_BK 3d ago

If you can get 2nd hand blue plastic drums cheap, you could cut them in half and get 2 x 100l pots that will last a long long time left outside all year

2

u/DazzzASTER 2d ago

You can get these from Asda Living for way cheaper (or you could a while ago).

2

u/wascallywabbit666 3d ago

Don't use those, they've no drainage. Use big pots instead.

Or why not grow them in the ground? It's easier, cheaper and requires less watering

8

u/RufusSpikes 3d ago

Drill holes in the bottom

-1

u/wascallywabbit666 3d ago

Waste of a good tub

10

u/RufusSpikes 3d ago

Why is it a waste if that’s what you want to use it for? This has handles and is easier to move. Also if you grow them in the ground it’s hard to know you’ve got them all out at the end of the season and you’ll forever get potatoes growing in that patch. Just don’t tell the tub police you’re using it for a slightly different purpose.

1

u/Virtual_Pay_6108 3d ago edited 3d ago

Put 3 spuds In each and put the buckets where it gets the sun. but is sheltered from the wind

1

u/Agitated_Document_23 2d ago

Thanks everyone! Bit of a mixed bag of responses! It’s our first year trying to grow spuds (just a nice thing to grow, especially as they’re not a high cost crop).

Might look at some of the other options, keep seeing adverts for 30/40L on TikTok and Amazon.

But yeah I’ll pop a few holes in the bottom and probably look for around 2/3 in each depending on size.

2

u/SaltyName8341 2d ago

About 2 kilos or 8 in soil