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Air pots for better root growth GardenReviewer - Fri, 22 Jan 15:49 Air pots for better root growth psilo - Fri, 22 Jan 16:30 Air pots for better root growth Madge - Fri, 22 Jan 19:26 Air pots for better root growth Richard Eric - Fri, 22 Jan 21:19 Air pots for better root growth Psilo - Fri, 22 Jan 21:21 Air pots for better root growth Wendy Woo - Sat, 23 Jan 11:16 Air pots for better root growth Madge - Sat, 23 Jan 12:04 Air pots for better root growth Madge - Sat, 23 Jan 12:05 Air pots for better root growth KathrynP - Sat, 23 Jan 12:17 Air pots for better root growth Madge - Sat, 23 Jan 15:33 Air pots for better root growth KathrynP - Sat, 23 Jan 16:36

Air pots for better root growth Date: Fri, 22 Jan 15:49 Author: GardenReviewer Location: UK Profile

My best gardening purchase last year were 5 12.5 litre Air Pots from www.internetgardener.co.uk (not sure of manufacturer) These pots have numerous holes in the sides that allow air to enter the full depth of the soil / loam and promote exceptional root / crop growth. I was cautious of the benefits, but last year I had my best ever yield of potatoes - from Air Pots...not my allotment! To view :- http://www.internetgardener.co.uk/Products/1121/Air-Pot-Planters.aspx

Air pots for better root growth Date: Fri, 22 Jan 16:30 Author: psilo Location: Bolton Profile
Interesting to note but i would think it far cheaper to buy a cheap black plastic bucket/ heavy duty black plastic bag or empty compost bag and make your own holes in the side.

Air pots for better root growth Date: Fri, 22 Jan 19:26 Author: Madge Location: Hertfordshire UK Profile
Yes, I have used black plastic bags to grow potatoes psilo and they are very effective. Dustbins are also good and can give a huge yield.

Air pots for better root growth Date: Fri, 22 Jan 21:19 Author: Richard Eric Location: Surrey Profile
Did you also put the holes into the sides of the dustbin Madge? I grow some in large pots last year but the foxes or maybe the badgers dug them up and my return from them was not great although it has not deterred me from trying again this year with some netting around the pots.

Air pots for better root growth Date: Fri, 22 Jan 21:21 Author: Psilo Location: Siberia Profile
Yes Madge seed potatoes are already in the garden centres I am tempted to give it a try. Maybe we should set a potato growing challenge. Who can grow the most potatoes in one sack lol

Air pots for better root growth Date: Sat, 23 Jan 11:16 Author: Wendy Woo Location: Hayes, Middx Profile

Several years ago I grew spuds in an old plastic dustbin on my balcony. It was a complete accident, I had thrown various composting material in including some raw new spuds that had grown green shoots in my dark cupboard. The green shoots must have grown and grown, because I had a lovely show of potato flowers and my gardener mate and I dug them up when the flowers went over. Me and her and her daughter had a delicious dinner of small, but very tasty new pots that night. And they werent even planned.

Air pots for better root growth Date: Sat, 23 Jan 12:04 Author: Madge Location: Hertfordshire UK Profile

No Eric, you just need drainage holes in the bottom. The idea is that if you plant the potatoes, say 1/3rd the way up, they force themselves to the surface, making babies as they go. It is important to cover the foliage each time it breaks through or when it gets to 4/6 inches, or the potatoes will be green. They are ready when the foliage breaks into flower, around late June or when the foliage is dying off. You could have separate bins for earlies, maincrop and lates (don't mix them). http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Grow-a-Dustbin-of-Potatoes Here is a video of Monty Don doing it:- http://www.self-sufficient.co.uk/Grow-Potatoes-in-Containers.htm There is no need to buy seed potatoes as you can 'chit' your own favourites by putting them in an egg box in a cool, light place for around a month until green chits/sprouts show. Plant the chits uppermost. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/fruitandvegetables/7053223/How-to-grow-chitting-and-forcing-potatoes.html You might not get such a good crop from potatoes chitted this way but it is a cheap method as seed potatoes are not only expensive but they sell them in quite big packs and you might only want to propagate one or two in bags/bins. Plant chitted potatoes in October and you will have home grown new potatoes for Xmas! Start now with earlies and you will have them for Easter! Caution: You can introduce diseases to your garden by chitting your own potatoes and putting them in the ground but if you are growing them in containers this is not a hazard. I did it for years.

Air pots for better root growth Date: Sat, 23 Jan 12:05 Author: Madge Location: Hertfordshire UK Profile
You can check your supermarket for unblemished, sound potatoes to chit and can tell which are earlies/maincrop/lates by looking at this list:- http://topveg.com/2008/01/early-potato-varieties-to-grow-in-the-vegetable-garden/ And this list tells you which varieties are best for boiling, baking or chipping:- http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/potato/potato-flavour-type.php

Air pots for better root growth Date: Sat, 23 Jan 12:17 Author: KathrynP Location: South Cumbria Profile
we've just bought rocket and they are sitting on the conservatory window sill in egg boxes.

Air pots for better root growth Date: Sat, 23 Jan 15:33 Author: Madge Location: Hertfordshire UK Profile
Did you buy them as seed potatoes Kathryn and will you be growing them on the allotment or in containers?

Air pots for better root growth Date: Sat, 23 Jan 16:36 Author: KathrynP Location: South Cumbria Profile

Seed potatoes Madge. Most will be put in the polytunnel and the others outside. Our son in Suffolk grows new potatoes in special bags on his patio and my sister in East Yorkshire has very good results with a punctured plastic dust bin. These are the only potatoes that we shall be growing this year after having two disastrous years of ruined potatoes due to too much water. Instead we have a day out and buy a sack at Morecambe for £5. This is a large sack of Wilja potatoes grown near Ormskirk - so not worth planting potatoes for us anymore. They last for ages as we don't eat that many spuds.

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