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modern_pioneer
Mountain Man
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2009
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- In the woods with the critters
Thanks!! 
So here is a recent project, I built some new potato baskets.
My old ones were eight years old and didn't make the move in good condition, but I got three more years out of them.
I have used this method to grow potatos for many years, I posted on another board that if you have some chicken wire and some tomatoe stakes (4) you can make yourself one of these, you don't have to have a metal frame like I do. (edit note; Place your four stakes at 12, 3, 6, 9 o'clock, drive them at least 8 inches in the ground.)
Put some landscape cloth or black plastic, take ten feet of 36" chicken wire and roll it round. Now place your basket on top of your black plastic and add 8 inches of compost, dirt, and grass/leaf clippings. Plant your seed potatos (10-12 inches apart), cover with three more inches of dirt, water. Once the plants get 6-7 inches high, add 3 more inches of dirt. Repeat till your basket looks like a chicken wire palm tree.
Once your tater plants have died, get a tarp or plastic, lay on one side of you basket. Gently remove your wire and stakes, then push the mound gently over on your plastic. TA-DA.... now you have 80-120 pounds of fresh taters without loosing any to hoeing or digging. Also, during the early frost, the basket is easy to cover without damage to your plants.
One note ****** Remember to visit your basket often and check to see if it needs water. With the sides being opened to the air, the soil inside the basket tends to get dry much quicker than if they were in the soil. I wrap plastic around mine during the hottest days of summer.
I have had small yields do to not covering the plants in time, but if you do it right, you'll have taters all winter long.
So here is a recent project, I built some new potato baskets.
My old ones were eight years old and didn't make the move in good condition, but I got three more years out of them.
I have used this method to grow potatos for many years, I posted on another board that if you have some chicken wire and some tomatoe stakes (4) you can make yourself one of these, you don't have to have a metal frame like I do. (edit note; Place your four stakes at 12, 3, 6, 9 o'clock, drive them at least 8 inches in the ground.)
Put some landscape cloth or black plastic, take ten feet of 36" chicken wire and roll it round. Now place your basket on top of your black plastic and add 8 inches of compost, dirt, and grass/leaf clippings. Plant your seed potatos (10-12 inches apart), cover with three more inches of dirt, water. Once the plants get 6-7 inches high, add 3 more inches of dirt. Repeat till your basket looks like a chicken wire palm tree.
Once your tater plants have died, get a tarp or plastic, lay on one side of you basket. Gently remove your wire and stakes, then push the mound gently over on your plastic. TA-DA.... now you have 80-120 pounds of fresh taters without loosing any to hoeing or digging. Also, during the early frost, the basket is easy to cover without damage to your plants.
One note ****** Remember to visit your basket often and check to see if it needs water. With the sides being opened to the air, the soil inside the basket tends to get dry much quicker than if they were in the soil. I wrap plastic around mine during the hottest days of summer.
I have had small yields do to not covering the plants in time, but if you do it right, you'll have taters all winter long.
one of those dang paranas bit my nipple!!!!! 
It happened so fast, and it down right hurt, worst than getting a twister. 
Very nice looking spread you have there!! 
