Wire fenceing cylinders for Potatoes

In this month's edition of Organic gardening is an article of all the ways to grow potatoes. I like the idea of a wire fence cylinder but the article said it dried out too fast. I was wondering if I lined the sides with plastic and grew morning glories on the outside of the fence if it would insulate it enough. Has anyone tried anything like this before?

I did this, instead.

I Grew spuds in old washing machine tubs, hilled to the tops with pottIng soil. Then I wrapped the tubs with plastic poultry wire ($5) and continued hilling with leaves.

Very EZ, and not a bad harvest for a firsttime potato grower.

That sounds like a lot of work just to grow potatoes. If you want to grow them in containers instead of the garden, you can use anything around that will hold soil. A 5-gallon bucket would do the trick; just make sure you put holes in the bottom so the excess water drains away. There is also growing bags available for potatoes should you not have any buckets around. Enjoy your potatoes!

MainManJoe,,
One concern was we didn't get any potatoes except at the same level that we placed the seed potatoes.

We thought we'd have them throughout all the soil we hilled up. I researched and wondered if when the horizontal runners hit the sides of the Container, the growth stopped.

Any experience with what kinds of yields we can expect in a bucket? I have 25 gallon molasses tubs, but before I go filling them with dirt, I'd like an idea of what to expect.

Thanks!

Gymgirl, I had the same experience- only potatoes at the level of the one I planted. This year I am just planting them in a trough and will not hill them.

I couldn't decide how to do things, so I've got two hills, a tub, and 3 dog food bags. Each has 4 or 5 potatoes. I'll report back later on how things go. Btw, I saw a video where a family dumped cylinder after cylinder out, looking for potatoes and there basically weren't any. I sure hope that doesn't happen.

And I'm wondering, if potatoes only grow at the level of the ones planted, maybe it makes sense to put down a few more in another layer as the the cylinder fills? I haven't done that, but maybe it makes sense.

I have to echo what Gymgirl and JoParrott said. I tried growing potatoes in garbage cans last year and got the same result. The potatoes were really nice and several large ones, but they only grew in the level in which they were planted.. As a novice gardener, I thought that I had done something wrong, but apparently that's the results most people get. I'm planting them in raised beds this year.

So glad ya'll have chimed in!

LiseP,
When did you put your potatoes down? Last year mine were down Valentine's Day, and I'm soooooooo behind this year. Hoping to get them in this week. I'm thinking I'll use the 25 gallon molasses tubs I retrieved from a fellower DGer. At least I know I have enough depth to plant several layers. I'm using Tapla's 5:1:1 container mix this time, too (Pine Bark Fines: MG potting mix: coarse perlite).

So far, the BPs are going crazy planted in the stuff. It's light, fluffy, airy, and drains FAST, yet holds moisture. Perfect recipe! I modified mine to a 3:1:1 ratio on Tapla's recommendation for self-watering containers. I'll do the 5:1:1 in the tubs, since they'll be free draining vessels with no built in reservoir like the eBuckets.

I put them down in two batches - the first were maybe a few days after Valentines Day, the second were a week or so later. All are doing okay so far -- I think.

Glad to hear of your success on the peppers. (I guess that's what BP are?) Mine are still very small, I started them late. I went ahead and put one into its permanent home, but I'll have to be careful watering it, because the pot is really too big for it.

This is a nice read for Zone 8-9a potato growers, and overall general growing info for the other zones....

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/easygardening/E-511_irish_potato.pdf

If I plant out the spuds this week, that'll put my harvest at the end of July (18 weeks = 126 days). I should be ok since Tapla's mix will allow enough aeration to keep the soil a little cooler, perhaps? I can wish....

The article reminded me I can plant my cowpeas right after the spuds are out! Yay!

This message was edited Mar 14, 2011 12:32 PM

If I get mine planted this weekend, 18 weeks later (126 days) will put me at the end of July...I should be ok. It's already time to start the sweeties!!!

Here's a very interesting article, BULLETIN NO. 38 NOVEMBER 1936
By George Washington Carver, M.S. AGR., D.Sc., Director, Experiment Station, Tuskegee Institute entitled,

"How the Farmer Can Save His Sweet Potatoes and Ways of Preparing Them for the Table".

Interesting is the section on planting sweeties in sand...hmmmmmmmmmm....

Recipes follow the article.

Enjoy!

Linda

I was trying to find this pic earlier...it's what I'll put the spuds in.

This year I am growing potatoes in my compost bin !! Yuk !
My friend was very sucessful last year.
I took this picture a few days ago.
The potatoes are already 12" tall and I keep trowing more "finished" compost on top.
Wish me luck !

I grew potatoes last year in a 25 gallon barrel with wire and I put straw in it as the plants grew. Like everyone else, I pretty much only found potatoes on one level. I did get a good harvest, but it was all on one level. Hope that helps.

Ok. I'm calling the Ronniger Potato people to ask them why we're only getting potatoes on one level. I'll let ya'll know what they say...

GG, and others, the majority of potato varieties have been chosen by farmers for years to only grow potatoes at one level. This is important due to harvesting methods, which is usually done with a plow.

If ya'll will try a variety that is known for producing more stolons further up the plant you'll have better success. You'll want to find a long season variety, Kennebec and Red Pontiac come to mind as do some of the fingerling varieties. Also, hilling up the plants too early will shut down stolon growth. Ideally you want to see stolons coming off the main stem at around growd level, then add more "topping" (be that soil, straw, leaves, etc).

I'd be interested to hear what Ronniger has to say. Hopefully they can offer a type that is long season as well as known for stolon production.
Will be looking for your reply from them.

Shoe
(edited cus I speed type sometimes and mispell. sorry)

This message was edited Mar 15, 2011 12:04 PM

UBERShoe,
Then that knocks me outta the water, 'cause I'm in short-season country. I found a a picture of what potatoes (sweeties) look like underground with all the stolons. Is this what you're referring to?

I have Kennebecs, Yukon Golds and Purple Vikings.

"Also, hilling up the plants too early will shut down stolon growth."

Well darn. Suppose I can "unhill" some?

This is great info!

MGCrystal,
Here's the REAL discussion! We've come a loooooooooooooong way in growing potatoes in containers!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1092018/

"Then that knocks me outta the water, 'cause I'm in short-season country."
Linda, you could try a mid-season potato. Or, don't ya'll have cooler fall weather? If so, plant a long season later in the year and have it come to maturity during the cooler fall weather.

Yukon Golds should definitely be ruled out. Although I think they are a mid-season spud they produce at a single level. I wonder if you can find Lasoda (sp?) down your way, that would be good.

"I found a a picture of what potatoes (sweeties) look like underground ..."

I'm not sure what you mean by "sweeties". Are you meaning sweetpotatoes? If so, that is not a picture of them, that pic is of "Irish" potatoes. And keep in mind, sweetpotatoes and Irish potatoes are two different creatures altogether, requiring different growth habits, temperatures, etc.

LiseP...Hehehe, "unhilling", go for it. Might be worth a try, eh? I sure would, but then I love playing in the dirt and with plants!

Shoe...coming inside, going back out, coming inside, going back out kind of day.

Ok, here's the scoop from Ronniger on why we're not getting the yields:

First off, like UBERshoe said, in order to get those kinds of yields like in the pic, we need to be growing LONG SEASON varieties. Ronniger's suggested "Nicola".

Long season varieties need 100-130 DTM, without freezing the spuds. According to Ronniger's, Kennebecs are MId-season, Yukon Golds and Purple Vikings are EARLY-season.

I explained we are short-sighted, short-season growers (smile). HOWEVER, where there's a challenge, there's Gymgirl....

I explained to her that I grew my first spuds from Feb-June (120 days). I picked my very last potato in mid-July (at 150 days with no problem), and I got a single layer of spuds -- which is exactly what I was supposed to get with the varieties I grew.

So, if I switch over to Nicola, plant a little earlier, and be prepared to keep the vines protected in case of our freaky freezes (throw a hoop over and put some blankets around the container) I should get a different harvest by late-June to mid-July.

So, next season, I'll be trying the Nicola. If I could figure out how to plant in the fall and keep the containers protected through the winter and into late spring, I'd have a bumper crop! hmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

Well, there you have it from Ronnigers.....

Linda

P.S. Shoe, you're right about that being Irish Potatoes. I got the articles mixed up...

You think planting spuds in the fall in a raised bed covered with a hoop would keep the ground warm enough over our relatively mild winter to not damage the vines?

Thanks for the "Ronniger Report"! I've not grown Nicola but might want to try it someday, too.

I was wondering if you, Linda, can grow your plants late Spring through summer and harvest them in the cool of the fall. What with potatoes doing their best harvest during cool weather I wonder if just keeping the plants well watered during ya'lls heat of the summer would work.

Last year we had umpteen degrees for umpteen days and very little rain. My inground spuds were gonners, or so I thought. Sometime late in the summer/early fall I plowed that area up (to plant peas) and pulled up a bumper crop of taters. I was surprised. I thought the ground had gotten too hot and they would rot; it really was exceptionally hot last summer. So, that being said, I'm thinking you may be perfect to shoot for a fall harvest. And if successful you could even more easily store your spuds thru the winter for eating or for next years seed stock (barring no diseases).

Shoe

UBERShoe,
I think you're on to something! If I order the Nicolas and plant out at the end of May, I think I could keep the vines from frying in our summer heat. Remember, I kept three cabbages alive through a summer, fall, and winter!

I read somewhere once that the optimum growth cycle is for the vines to start in the warmth of spring and grow into the cool of the fall.

I could safely let them go all the way to the 1st or 2nd week of November. That would be 7 months or 210 days. Something ought to happen by then, yah think?

I could even wait until June to plant out.
Lemme know what you think.

This message was edited Mar 15, 2011 8:12 PM

Well, I have to point out I'm just not familiar w/Texas weather. I keep thinking ya'll are very hot there, to the point of not growing much during the summer months, except maybe hot peppers, tomatillos, and melons (?).

I think you'd be better to start spuds when your ground, or containers are cool. Hot soil/ground/containers might make the potato pieces/eyes rot, not grow. Course now, knowing you, you're gonna pull your containers in and out of the sun as needed! And remember, taters can get by on about five hours of sun so that might help with things, eh?

What if you set them out the end of April/first week of May, get them growing above ground during that time, keep them watered and mulched, then expect a harvest in Sept/October? At the very latest, due to extreme hot weather and slow growing, you harvest may be in November. Now wouldn't that be a fun garden?

But again, I'm just not familiar w/Texas extremes, weather, water, etc, so just guessing.

Shoe

Thanks, Shoe.
June, July, Aug are hottest, avg +97 degrees. Sept & Oct are 3 degrees cooler ...

I'd have a better shot starting them in August, and trying to keep them warm under a Hoop thru Nov & Dec. Our County Extension suggested planting date for IrIsh potatoes is January 15. It's April for sweeties.

Ugh. 97º and up is what hit us last summer. It sure wiped out lots of gardens. Normally we just deal with mid-80's or so.

Off to get to it!
Happy Day....