BUCKET OF SPUDS

YOU WILL NEED:

A BUCKET, A BAG OR A BARREL; any container will do, as long as the water can get out the bottom. If you choose to plant in a bucket, drill plenty of drainage holes.

SEED POTATOES FROM YOUR GARDEN CENTRE. Choose early crop varieties (such as Rocket, and Cliff’s Kidney) which will be ready before Christmas.

PLANTING MIX OR COMPOST

1 Find a sunny, sheltered, frost-free spot for your container.

2 Add some planting mix, up to about 10cm deep.

3 Place your seed potatoes on top. Two or three seed potatoes is enough for a bucket. Cover with more planting mix (10cm deep) and water with a watering can.

4 Water enough to keep the mix just moist, not soaking wet or your potatoes will rot!

5 When the plants have grown to 15cm high, add some more potting mix, leaving about 5cm of the plants uncovered. Repeat this until the container is full.

6 After flowering, about 90 days after planting, you’ll have new potatoes ready to harvest. Tip the container up-side down and count your treasure!