Potato Tower

Chopper 8/15/2010, 11:16 pm

I was thinking about potato towers and the huge demand (on l'il ol' me) of labor and strength to pile box on box. What do you guys think of the feasibility of using bender board? It is light an pliable and about 4" deep - although I am guessing you can get different sizes.

I would think 20-24 inches total height would about cover the norm for plants - though maybe Josh or someone else could clue me in there. Might need a pole or two for stability? Last one I made for a strawberry tower I just connected the ends with hockey tape and it has held up ok.

Any thoughts? I hope my description was clear - I tend not to write a very good verbal picture.
Below is a pic of the start of the strawberry tower. What I had in mind was bender board circles of the same diameter that you pile one on top of the other as the potato plant grows bigger.

potato - Potato Tower 5_may_10

**camprn** 8/16/2010, 9:30 am

I think that bender boarder is worth a try!

boffer 8/16/2010, 10:11 am

camprn wrote:I think that bender boarder is worth a try!

I do too. The idea I like best is the ease of disassembling for winter storage. And being a plastic product, they could remain in the weather year round. That's the one thing about my 2`x2` wood boxes that I don't like-they're just one more thing that needs to be stored under a roof for the winter.

I'm not sure how well your rings will stack up, but if the price is right, and you do have the room-go for it!

Chopper 8/16/2010, 1:25 pm

Actually, as I think of it, if each successive circle was just slightly smaller than the previous - just enough to fit within the previous circle (the dirt from the previous circle keeping it from slipping down) then it would be even easier to store. They would all fit together and could just be hung on a hook in the garage. Phew. This specialized potato bin has been concerning me. This way I could have dozens, room allowing (I am thinking of maybe 2 LOL). For different timing or different varieties.

spydrweb 8/16/2010, 3:52 pm

I saw a cool technique online that starts with a 2x6 box about 3 feet squared. You put a 1x2 post inside each corner, and screw in 2x6"s on the sides, add dirt to cover the plant, and keep going up as it grows...adding 2x6's along the way. this way you can remove a 2x6 "side panel" as it grows to steal some tubers as you want... the designer of the method claims you can get 100 pounds of potatoes out of a 3 x 3 space

Chopper 8/16/2010, 4:06 pm

spydrweb wrote:I saw a cool technique online that starts with a 2x6 box about 3 feet squared. You put a 1x2 post inside each corner, and screw in 2x6"s on the sides, add dirt to cover the plant, and keep going up as it grows...adding 2x6's along the way. this way you can remove a 2x6 "side panel" as it grows to steal some tubers as you want... the designer of the method claims you can get 100 pounds of potatoes out of a 3 x 3 space

I have seen that and I like its design. However, I do not think I am up to the task. The screwing part is hard for me. Believe it or not. I am just not a guy, although I did make all of my boxes, some were done while crying and cursing. LOL. I do have arthritis in my hands and gripping can be an issue occasionally. Seems simple, and is, but harder than you would think. For some. OK, for me.

Sponsored content

Potato Tower

Potato Tower

Re: Potato Tower

Re: Potato Tower

Re: Potato Tower

Re: Potato Tower

Re: Potato Tower

Re: Potato Tower


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.