Top Veg
  • Homepage
  • Blog
  • Gardening Resources
  • Contact Us

What fertiliser before planting Potatoes??

19
Feb, 2017
By Sally Osgerby
What fertiliser before planting Potatoes??
  • Blog,Plant Food,Potatoes
  • No comments
dig1

dig1

Potatoes are hungry plants so it is good to add some fertiliser to the soil now, before the potatoes are planted.

If the soil is fertile the potatoes will be able to reach their potential and yield well.

Apart from all the elements and minerals a good soil provides, potatoes particularly need:

1. nitrogen for leaf growth. Too much nitrogen results in too much leafy top, and not enough tuber development, so care must be taken not to overdo the nitrogen on potatoes.

2. potassium for tuber development. Wood ash and decaying comfrey leaves are good sources of potash.

mix-manure-into-seedbed

mix-manure-into-seedbed

In the autumn or winter before planting:

Apply manure:

  • well rotted farm yard manure, or compost, can be spread on the soil
  • try hard to cover the soil evenly
  • a 20Kg barrow load of manure per square metre is about right
  • this should  provide sufficient potassium and phosphorus for the potatoes.  But on poor soils the potatoes may need a further dose of nitrogen when the leaves are growing
  • the worms will drag the manure down and mix it into the soil
  • the manure can be dug into the soil after Christmas when the soil is not too wet
dig2

dig2

Warning- check that the manure has not come from hay, silage etc which has been contaminated with aminopyralid herbicides. If you are not sure where the manure has come from, or what the animals have been fed on, do not use it.  This contaminated manure either kills, or reduces the vigour of, potatoes.

If manure is not available:

  • add 1kg/10m of general purpose fertiliser such as 6-24.24, 8-24-24, or 10-20-20 just before planting potatoes
  • rake the fertiliser into the top of the soil

Do not add lime to garden where potatoes will be grown next year. Potatoes like a slightly acidic soil with a pH of just under 6.


Potatoes will respond well if fertiliser is applied to the garden before planting potatoes

About Sally Osgerby

Recent Posts

  • Earth Day in the Vegetable Garden
  • Dig up the lawn & grow Veg!(
  • World Soil Day
  • World Vegan Month
  • Pumpkin Day 2019

Recent Comments

    Categories

    • About
    • Advice
    • Blog
    • Brassicas
    • Cabbages
    • calendar
    • Carrots
    • chef
    • Flowers
    • fruit
    • Herbs
    • How to grow cards
    • How to Grow Herbs
    • How to grow page
    • Peas & Beans
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Plant Food
    • Potatoes
    • recipe
    • Root Veg
    • Salad
    • Tomatoes
    • Uncategorised
    • Vegetable Gardening

    About TopVeg

    TopVeg is where we talk vegetable growing in all its forms, good and bad. The site discusses how to grow delicious, fresh vegetables for the family, planning for a constant supply to the kitchen, (in gardens, allotments, or window boxes) and generally provides great quality and relevant information to anyone interested in growing their own.

    Latest Posts

    22nd April 2020 | Sally Osgerby Earth Day in the...

    Vegetable gardeners cherish the soil as an essential part of

    16th April 2020 | Sally Osgerby Dig up the lawn...

    If you want to grow veg but have no space,

    Contact

    If you have a comment, question or article idea please let us know and we will get back to you as soon as we can. TopVeg is always interested to hear your ideas & Mike is always pleased to answer any gardening questions, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
    • topvegetables@googlemail.com

    Follow Us

    © 2016 Top Veg. All Rights Reserved