Potatoe boxes?

[GregD]

Does anyone have any experience with potatoe boxes?

In case this is an unfamiliar term, it's a wooden box in which one grows potatoes in a very limited space. designed so that pieces of the side may be removed, you plant at the bottom and let them grow. Over time additional soil is added to a depth of a few feet.

I've seen a couple different styles of boxes but not used any. What have you used? What was successful?

thanks

[WolverineDG]

1. I haven't use it, but you can also use trash cans

just make sure you drill holes in the side for drainage. :) Lots of sources for that on the google. :)

dg

[Arkansas Granny]

2. I saw a method many years ago in Mother Earth News. They planted

potatoes in a few inces of dirt in the bottom of a trash can (drill holes for drainage) and whenever the sprouts grew a few inches, they covered them with sawdust until they reached the top of the trashcan. Apparently potatoes grow along the roots for the full depth of the can, giving you a much larger harvest, and you just tip the can over to harvest them. You can then use the partially decomposed sawdust in your compost heap.

I've never tried this myself, but I have an old trashcan with a rusted out bottom and access to sawdust from untreated wood. This may be the year to try it.

[GregD]

3. I have a friend who did the trash can thing last year and it worked well.

I hope others will post actual experiences here. I know there are plans online - I'm hoping to learn from the experience of others.

[pengillian101]

4. I hope others will post actual experiences here.

My folks used to plant potato eyes in a big leaf pile. They experimented. Little baby potatoes tasted good.

[Why Syzygy]

5. We have potatoes planted

in a raised bed. It's only about 2 feet tall. That would be neat if we get growth to that depth.

[bvar22]

6. Dan Quayle.! .. Is that YOU?

http://www.capitalcentury.com/1992.html

Sorry....couldn't resist.
I always out an "e" on the end of potato until the Dan Quayle episode.
The only thing that administration did for me was teach me how to spell potato.

Personally, I never had much use for anyone who could only spell a word one way.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. I'm using a old food barrel...

I thought about using the box method, but when I ran across the barrel I changed my mind. Now I'll use that wood for another garden box.

I'll let you know how it works out in about 4 months. :)