We planted the seed potatoes in a storage tote. It's not a huge one, but I thought it would be the equivalent in height to 1/2 a garbage can.
Why a garbage can? I'd read somewhere to cut a 64 gallon can in half and use it as a planter. We have city issued trash containers. I'm pretty sure the city would frown on me cutting them in half and I couldn't bring myself to purchase a garbage can just to cut it in half. So instead I used the tub. I talked about it in "The MVP tool of the garden". Okay, that's not the title, but it was along those lines.
Anyway, we planted the seed potatoes and covered them with just enough to dirt to cover them. Redundant, but true.
As the leaves grew, we added more dirt until it reached the top of the container.
Then it continued to grow.
And grow...
The Worlds Tallest Potatoes!
Okay, maybe not, but HOLY COW! I had no idea that potatoes grew almost 5 feet tall. I'm 5' 2". My had is just above the tallest leaves and even with my nose!
I had to stake them after the first big storm that came through. They stakes worked pretty well until the most recent storm that blew through on Monday. The bottom leaves are severely diminished, and the stakes are not quite as effective, but it's doing it's job. There's new leaf growth on the lower parts of the stems.
I'm very excited to see what we get this year. The last time I planted potatoes, two years ago, I had not researched their growing habits and I'd planted it in a trough. Believe it or not (and I have pictures on the blog, so you have to believe it!) I actually got a few quarter size potatoes.
Next year, I'm buying the 64 gallon trash can, and planting the potatoes in it!
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