I think I could have done just as well with the conventional method, my potatoes were in the bottom 12" of the box? Probably not worth the extra labor, but my production could have been the variety I went with? I'm up in the air weather to try it again in the spring? But I'm glad I gave it a shot, the potatoes were nice and good size.
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
I got around 35-40 lbs. for 5 lbs. of seed. I planted to whole seed didn't cut them in half. I had the same results as rondy with all the potatoes growing only on the bottom 12-16". Next year's test will be 5 lbs. of seed sliced in half, plant 6 seeds on the bottom. When its time to backfill I will add another layer (6 seeds). Let them all grow up and add 6 more seeds again when it's time to backfill. This way I should be able to utilize the whole depth of the boxes. We shall see!
Ok, the wife an I are thinking of getting into some gardening, could someone explain these to me.
Here is a picture of my potato box, basically every time the plant get about 12" tall add one tier of 6" boards and back fill. You start with this... Back filled with soil... Keep repeating the process... and continue til about 3' tall, I did put in the last tier and back filled...
When it starts to die cut plants and wait about a week...
Take it apart to harvest potatoes...
With all that said, success may vary. This is what I wound up with...
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
I got around 35-40 lbs. for 5 lbs. of seed. I planted to whole seed didn't cut them in half. I had the same results as rondy with all the potatoes growing only on the bottom 12-16". Next year's test will be 5 lbs. of seed sliced in half, plant 6 seeds on the bottom. When its time to backfill I will add another layer (6 seeds). Let them all grow up and add 6 more seeds again when it's time to backfill. This way I should be able to utilize the whole depth of the boxes. We shall see!
BRL, in that blog about using fencing for growing potatoes, a couple of the comments mentioned that early potato varieties only grow at the bottom of the root system, while late varieties continue making spuds as you hill the plants.
Other comments mentioned adding additional seed potatoes as the plants are hilled...
My first impression of this setup was to wrap the unit in clear visqueen to help warm the soil.
Then got thinking that this method might be better for zucchini, tomatoes, &c., than for potatoes??? Cutting the fencing to about 2 ft. tall. Would also place foam insulation on the ground before filling with soil to help insulate this "raised bed" from the cold ground.
Then... add a vertical length of PVC with holes drilled in it for sub-surface watering.
A pole tripod for example placed over this setup with a cord for the tomato plants to climb...?
Straw bales could possibly be incorporated into the system as well. Forming the fencing around a half or a whole bale of straw??? All something to think about.
