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Sun, Jun 24, 12 at 13:23
| I have seed potatoes growing in a garbage can. The plants are now a foot and a half over the top. I was wondering if its worth it to use cardboard at the top and keep filling more soil/clippings. I was wondering how tall can potatoes get? Any help is appreciated! |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Cardboard at the top? Why? Your potatoes are so tall because they're trying to get some light. They're not mushrooms. |
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| How tall up they will produce potatoes depends on variety. But common practice is that 12-14" of stem mulch covering is usually enough. Dave |
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| The whole garbage can theory is that you keep filling the can with mulch/soil materials, and the potatoes keep growing up to the top, and make potatoes all along from the bottom of the can to the top (if I remember correctly.) Supposedly. I'd say, yes, go ahead and mulch the can up to the top. And make sure the plants have enough sun. Is the cardboard at the top of the mulch to keep the sun off the potatoes underneath? |
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- Posted by muddypaws4ever 6 (My Page) on Mon, Jun 25, 12 at 10:02
| Thanks for the responses, Digdirt and Elisa. I probably didn't explain well. I started at the bottom of the garbage can and the tops are now above the top by about a foot. I was considering "extending" the top with cardboard to keep growing them upwards. They're getting plenty of sun and I do realize they're not mushrooms (not sure what that comment meant anyway). Maybe I'll just wait till the tops die back and forget the extending thing... |
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| It's an urban/rural myth that you can build a potato tower or box and have tubers all the way to the top if you add soil/mulch as it grows This method might increase harvest if you are using a late variety potato. Others will form tubers only near the bottom of the stem. Adding more than a couple of feet to cover the potatoes from the sun and to keep them cool is a wasted effort. I have been growing potatoes in bags and plastic containers and this is an excellent method to supplement my hilled crop out in the garden. Make sure that you keep them evenly watered. Good Luck! |
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