Potato Bins

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 7:36 am

My potato bins are definitely impressing me this year. I've always grown them in the ground and found them to be so much work. This is by far much more forgiving with time. I have 3 bins on the go.

Before any sprouts

Now we have one bin full with layers. I ran out of potatoes so I got some more last week and the other bins have been layered and when they sprout again, 2 more layers in each bin to top them out. Sooooo easy!!

They are also starting to sprout out the side holes as well, so hopefully the bins will be disguised soon.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 1:42 pm

How does that work? Can you harvest them sooner?

Post by **WLLady** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 3:23 pm

if you slowly fill the bin with dirt as the plant grows it will form roots all through the pot and then at the end of the season the barrel will be full of potatoes. just dump and harvest

the trick is to add dirt as the plant grows so that you fool it into putting down more and more roots. they don't grow any faster than in the garden, but if you get a barrel that opens at the bottom you can harvest new potatoes without affecting the rest of the plant. and with correct water/dirt etc you can greatly increase potato harvest yields and save space in your garden for something else. i know someone that brought the pots in and grew potatoes in the winter in the house. a little extreme for me though to try.

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:13 pm

Thank you WLLady :) that pretty much sums it up Kenya. I have 7 layers in the bin that is full. I have 5 layers with 2 maybe 3 more layers of potatoes to go for another 2 bins.

With each layer sprouted I had a new layer of potatoes and throw dirt on the potatoes and sprouted potatoes, wait for the majority to pop up through dirt and repeat.

End of season harvest.

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:33 pm

Can you use any container, just wondering if a pail would work or a large pot.
I want to try this,I have some blue potatoes I'd like to try it with. Do you cut apart the potato, you know so each section has 3 eyes, that's the way we've always done it?

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:45 pm

I cut in half. I would think any container would work. I wouldn't go any smaller than a 5G pail. Even then I wouldn't expect to yield too much, but you should get a good batch in 5G. I used full size garbage cans. As long as it's deep enough for a few layers it should work. I'm thinking the more shallow, the less potatoes you put in.

I drilled holes on side for 'air' to get at it because I used full sized garbage cans. I also have holes drilled in the bottom for the water to exit if it needs to.

Straw is so soil doesn't fall out sides or bottom where the holes have been drilled.

In the garbage can lids I have them with holes drilled as well to help control water flow when it rains/pours but so far that hasn't been an issue. We really are lacking in rain.

Keep us posted! Pictures or it didn't happen :)

goatgal35 · Post by **goatgal35** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 6:09 pm

I use half 45 gal barrels for horse water. Sometimes they freeze and the bottom splits and a new potatoes barrel is born. I had some potatoes that had sprouted so I toss about 7 in a barrel and every time I see leaves poking up I cover them with compost from the pile until the barrel is full. I place these outside of my chicken pens and dump the chickens dirty water on them when needed. They provide shade for my birds and I can easily flick any bugs off the plants into the chickens. after they flower and the plants start to die back I dump them over and harvest. This has worked well for me. You get a lot of potatoes per barrel. They are even kinda pretty to look at when they are in flower.

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:31 pm

Looking good Sandy. I have 2 potato "bins" on the go, mine are wooden frames, 2 ft x 2 ft square, with 1x6 boards as the sides as the potato plants grow I attach another row of boards and fill up with more soil/compost. Time will tell how well they work.

JimW

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:35 pm

Nice Jim! Keep us posted :)

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Thu Jun 30, 2016 8:50 am

Did you give it a try Kenya?