spud u like

[sharkhunter]

Hi all, is it possible to grow potatoes in a barrel, like strawberries, i have heard it's possible, anyone ever done it ?

[Ian]

yeah - my Dad.

[mark224]

Yep my grandfather used to do it

[Russethouse]

http://www.dobies.co.uk/pd_559171_Potato_Barrel.htm?gclid=CK7N3PD3h5ECFSEmEgodtQXqIA

There are other special barrels on the market

[woolybananasbrother]

What else can one do in a barrel apart from live? Heyyyyyyyyyyyy, just solved the French housing problem. How many families can you get into a standard wine barrel. And what about those whopping great ones?  TLM, so much cheaper and when you wanna move....[6]

[Tony F Dordogne]

Easily done but if you do use them, cut them in half crossways because if not, with a narrower top than sides, they can be a real b ugger to get the spuds out.  I use the )aka very cheap, even free) blue barrels hidden behind raised beds at the back of my potager, had a very good result with them last year.

[cooperlola]

Diogynes did it, I believe, woolyb's b.

[woolybananasbrother]

Frith, did they have housing problems in Ancient Greece too. No wonder they all went to London.[6]

Anyway, please tell me more about what can be grown in a barrel. The only way anything will ever grow in my garden is if I can protect it from JCB, so logically barrels.

What you know about barrels RH?

[woolybananasbrother]

Dont hide the decorative blue plastic effect. Seriously, how do yields compare with old fashioned methods?

[Clair]

I remember watching a BBC gardening programme where Bob Flowerdew (what a great name!) had grown potatoes in a tower made from old tyres.

There are some instructions here: http://rcg.org.au/index.php?pr=Gardening_Tips

The tyres can be painted if you prefer...

[Gardian]

The thing that I always remember about that bloke was his advice to regularly pee on one's compost heap.  Sound advice I'm sure, but I could somehow never quite come to terms with it.

[woolybananasbrother]

Some time ago I suggested to my elderly, retired ,French, farmer neighbour that he might try this rather than digging. he thought I was nuts.

[Limousin Lass]

Last spring I found some smallish potatoes that had were sprouting and had gone quite soft, instead of throwing them away I planted them in a very large flower tub (the type you get quite marture tree/shrubs in).  I put about 6" of soil/compost mix in the bottom and covered with about the same amount, as they grew I covered with more mixture until pot was full to the brim.  Had some lovely new potatoes and would have had more if the dreaded blight had not attacked them.

Saw the programme with Bob Flowerdew and there was quite a bit of discussion on allotment forums about whether this was safe due to chemicals leaching from the tyres.

Sylvia

[Tony F Dordogne]

Gardian, peeing on your compost is one of the best things you can do to it - especially if you have a big garden and it's a long way to the loo from one end to the other.

The effects of urine on compost have been extensively researched and published tho I suspect it's easier for guys than women.

[Pierre ZFP]

I always grow my potatoes in tyres. because it makes earthing up a doddle (sling on another tyre and fill with earth) keeps them contained in a small area and weed free and I get a great crop from a remarkably small space, good quality too with no pests like wire worm.  I'd definitely recommend having a go - what can you lose?

[Rozmum]

Last year I grew some potatoes in a plastic dustbin that I drilled holes in the bottom for drainage.  I put in five potatoes and let them sprout then covered them up with another layer of earth, then carried on like this until the soil got to the top.  I got about 7 kilo's of spuds and they were lovely.  No pests and dead easy!  I shall be doing it again this year  :)  For anyone who's interested have a look at this

www.potato2008.org/en/index.html