Post by farmertrappe on Apr 13, 2015 18:35:37 GMT -5
I have grow spuds in containers, with the idea of just spilling or tipping over the container to harvest the potatoes. Place them where when you tip them over the soil goes into the garden for next year or next rotation. Its worth it to start with certified seed stock, not table spuds. I really enjoy fresh spuds even with them being so inexpensive to buy.
John Gusmano
Swamptalker Extrordinaire SwampTalker of the Month - 03/2015
I have grow spuds in containers, with the idea of just spilling or tipping over the container to harvest the potatoes. Place them where when you tip them over the soil goes into the garden for next year or next rotation. Its worth it to start with certified seed stock, not table spuds. I really enjoy fresh spuds even with them being so inexpensive to buy.
What kind of container?
OBSESSED: A word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.
farmertrappe
Swamptalker Extrordinaire Swamp Talker of the Month - October 2015, October 2016 - Swamp Talker of the Year - 2016
Post by farmertrappe on Apr 14, 2015 7:35:00 GMT -5
Most anything will work that will hold dirt and be big enough for the tators to grow. I built four bottomless boxes about that were 3'X 2 1/2' and 18'' deep. I had a ready supply of soil to fill them with, placed them on the corners of my garden. I was looking for smaller new potatoes so I had five plants per box. When I wanted to harvest a box, I just wiggled it back and forth a few times and pulled it up. Pull out the spuds and rake the soil in to the garden. Barrels or trash cans cut in rings works well also.
Have used (pickup) truck tires. Held the tires open with pieces of wood so the sidewalls, of each tire, would be parallel. Figured the tires would draw extra warmth from the sun. Needed here, maybe not so much in Michigan?
Local greenhouse recommended packing straw (no dirt) in the tires for potatoes. When you need to hill the potatoes, add more tires...
Bottom line;
All worked good -- in theory!
Straw was a bad idea. It didn't this one time I tried it, but very likely could have drawn moose into the garden. And moose don't need too much of an incentive to clean out a garden!!! Deer???
Even in the off season, you got all these piles of tires laying around cluttering up the place.
Now, I use an extra deep (square foot) raised bed frame. With the high sides, just add more soil mix to hill the plants. So far, so good.
I found this about a year ago, and am trying it this year. seems simple enough, and if you have access to an free pallets or scrap wood will be pretty cheap.
histopicker
Swamptalker Extrordinaire Swamp Talker of the Month - 02/2015
I found this about a year ago, and am trying it this year. seems simple enough, and if you have access to an free pallets or scrap wood will be pretty cheap.
I found this about a year ago, and am trying it this year. seems simple enough, and if you have access to an free pallets or scrap wood will be pretty cheap.
This is like awesome!
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Seems pretty cool. I'm hoping it works out. Its worth a try at least.
John Gusmano
Swamptalker Extrordinaire SwampTalker of the Month - 03/2015
Seems pretty cool. I'm hoping it works out. Its worth a try at least.
It works,,but use seed stock for sure. Made mine last year with table spuds and only went up 3 boards high and ended up with about 10lbs of taters. Going up all the way 6 boards high and letting the vines die off a couple weeks i'm sure i would have had 60-80lbs of taters. I'm going to use seed spuds this year on my potato box and go all the way up 6 boards high,,,we'll see what happens.
And using free pallet wood to boot here,,,though i'm keeping some of the hardwood red oak and walnut for knife scales! LOL
rendezvous
Swamptalker Extrordinaire 07/15, 12/15 Swamp Talker of the Month - 2015 Swamp Talker of the Year
