potatoes are growing!

[catballou24]

so i'm experimenting with the trashcan method of growing potatoes, even in the summer.. i ordered some organic seed potatoes from peaceful valley organics and they arrived last week. so against all gardening suggestions, i'm determined to have a good harvest of potatoes in the fall... we'll see how it goes. i put the can in a spot that get's plenty of sun but also some shade to help it with this hot texas summer heat. i was so excited to see some sprouts peaking up from the compost this morning.

it could all turn out to be for nothing, but i'm still going to see what i can do. i also thought about putting some shade cloth over the can if things get too intense..

[Dandelionkid]

Me too!! I am in zone 3b and really excited about my trashcan potatoes this first year of trying it. I love telling people I am doing it and seeing the surprise on their faces and hoping it works out so I can be all smug I planted around 5 fingerlings in each can and have some beautiful looking vines peeking out. Hoping it all goes according to plan- it is so exciting!!

[catballou24]

i have one can going right now that is a mix of blue, red and yellow organic potatoes. i am going to grab another can this weekend and do some other yellow - german butterballs i think they are called..

i tried to grow potatoes in the ground but didn't realize about the mounding. so i think this will work out alot better...i'm hoping anyway. we are already in hot days, zone 8b....but i've got them under cover from the intense sun, and the vines are all poking out and looking nice and green!

[weliveintheforest]

that's awesome

We have a few rows of fingerling potatoes that appear to be doing well, and I am so excited to eat them. They are the only thing doing well, if they die I will be so crushed.

[Quaniliaz]

My potatoes are the only thing that seem to be enjoying this crappy hot/cold (mostly cold) weather we are having. Very dry here, but I've been watering them. I'm growing in a cattle water tank. Something was eating the leaves, but it doesn't seem to be bothering it at all.

[purplegirl]

I have mine in a container. The vines continue to push through the dirt quickly? Do I need to keep the vines covered with dirt??

[Quaniliaz]

I cover mine as they grow - leaving some of the leaves out in the sunshine. Potatoes form in the dark, so whereever you have covered the plant with dirt (or straw), potatoes can grow there.

[purplegirl]

Originally Posted by Quaniliaz

I cover mine as they grow - leaving some of the leaves out in the sunshine. Potatoes form in the dark, so whereever you have covered the plant with dirt (or straw), potatoes can grow there.

[tankgirl73]

I'm doing something similar, I think. Not in a garbage can, just in a box. But a big box, 6'x4' and 10" deep. I think I've spent more on the compost than I'd spend in a year on potatoes, so it better be worth it!!

I started with the seed potatoes on just a thin layer of pure compost, and have been burying them since they sprouted. I've been burying them completely whenever they poke their heads up. Not deeply, but definitely buried.

I've now stopped burying them because the box is full and mounded up, so they're growing freely now. They're so excited to finally be allowed to grow in the sun. There are sooooooooo many plants, some are already getting big. It's so exciting!

[Ashtony]

Originally Posted by catballou24

so i'm experimenting with the trashcan method of growing potatoes, even in the summer.. i ordered some organic seed potatoes from peaceful valley organics and they arrived last week. so against all gardening suggestions, i'm determined to have a good harvest of potatoes in the fall... we'll see how it goes. i put the can in a spot that get's plenty of sun but also some shade to help it with this hot texas summer heat. i was so excited to see some sprouts peaking up from the compost this morning.

it could all turn out to be for nothing, but i'm still going to see what i can do. i also thought about putting some shade cloth over the can if things get too intense..

Nice. I love potatoes, Might i ask for pics?

[Greenmama2AJ]

Congratulations on the potatoes everyone!

Just wanted to pipe in and say that you can use straw, instead of soil/compost, to mound in a potato container and it works great! I use pea straw - a bale is super cheap and you get peas growing as well - two birds for the price of one!

I have kipler potatoes growing at the moment!