TV gardener Alan Titchmarsh tested growing potatoes in grow bags versus raised beds, and was stunned by the surprising yield from his space-saving experiment
(Image: Getty)
Alan Titchmarsh’s “heart was in his mouth” after a gardening experiment left him gobsmacked. The 76-year-old TV presenter decided to put things to the test last year, popping seed potatoes into his raised beds whilst trying out three potato grow bags.
Alan revealed he “wanted to see the yield” from the bags. Plenty of green-fingered folk swear by the bags as they’re a cracking way to cultivate spuds without hogging valuable garden real estate.
And whilst he wasn’t banking on spectacular results, Alan was knocked sideways when he sliced open his bags. He discovered a “good amount of foliage” on each bag, suggesting a “good crop” lurking beneath.
Speaking on his Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh YouTube channel, he admitted: “I have to say, I was quite surprised with how many potatoes came out of those bags with so few put in there.”
After unveiling his impressive haul, Alan went on: “My heart was in my mouth as I did it because I didn’t check before I did it in front of you.”
Alan grew potatoes in bags(Image: Getty)
“There could have been half a dozen in here, but there weren’t, there were absolutely loads. In future, if I’m ever strapped for space, I’ll be growing a few spuds in these potato bags.”
Alan reckons loads of gardeners shy away from growing potatoes because they reckon they haven’t got the room. The former Ground Force host however simply chucked five seed potatoes into three compost bags to cultivate his crop.
He shared: “I planted five seed potatoes in three sacks, showing what you can do with a potato bag if you’ve got no space for a veg patch. I just added more compost as the shoots grew out of the top, filling it up that little bit higher.”
Alan warns the potato bags need constant attention to ensure they “didn’t dry out” throughout the growing season. What’s more, the bags are reusable for next year’s crop, and he splashed out just £1.50 on the seed potatoes that filled them.
Alan Titchmarsh tried a gardening hack(Image: Getty)
The telly favourite reveals he’s been cultivating spuds for over 60 years, yet still experiences a “childlike” rush whenever he unveils a harvest. He added: “I was probably just into double figures and it was magical.
“The ludicrous thing is all these years on I still get exactly the same thrill as I did when I was 10 from uprooting my first crop of potatoes. I suppose some people might think it’s rather pathetic, rather childish, but for me it’s the stuff of life.
“It’s not childish at all. It’s the most basic of pleasures of human endeavors of growing something to feed yourself with.”
Alan returns to the box this morning (January 25) at 9.30am with Love Your Weekend. Joining him on this week’s episode are actress Maureen Lipman, Grantchester favourite Al Weaver, and American performer Trevor Dion Nicholas.
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