If you are trying to remove GMO products from your diet, one of the must go items is potatoes. These have been GMO for years. So, as we are working daily to eat better, eat real food and eat local- it was time to grow potatoes. Now, according to my great-grandfather Valentine’s Day is not only a day for love but for planting potatoes. Well, I am a bit late this year, but it just was not possible to get it done in February.
So, week before last the day came. Jonathan and I got busy and planted potatoes. This year I am trying potato towers. Potatoes are one of those plants that will produce roots along every bit of stem that is covered in soil or compost and then grow taller. So, the idea behind the tower is to get soil and plant going just as high as possible giving you the most produce in the smallest amount of square footage. Growing vertical is a great way to maximize a small growing area.
To make a potato tower, you will need seed potatoes, wire, straw, and compost. Dig out a circle about 18-24 inches in diameter & 2 inches deep. Place the seed potatoes in the hole and cover with soil. Wrap enough wire in a circle the size of the hole and fold the ends over each other to fasten it together. We used stakes that keep our weed barrier in place to hold the towers down.
So, here goes nothin’. We shall see how this goes. I am really looking forward to good tasting, home grown potatoes!
Holly K. Ross 
great idea
Thank you!
what an excellent idea, especially if you are short of space and even though our gardens are pretty big I am ALWAYS short of space!! have fun, you have a great place there.. c
Thanks! I hope you get to plant soon, old man winter needs to be on his way.
he certainly does, we are still frozen solid!! c
You’re right about the taste of fresh potatoes from your garden! I’ve planted them for the last 2 yrs and this year and had pretty good luck the old way, but this tower sounds great!
Hi Gail! I have planted once before and did not get really great results, of course I had clay then. But in our small space I needed to go up, hope it works…
I’m trying potatoes in large tubs this year with the same idea in mind as Holly. The little plants are about 4″ tall now. When they reach about 6-8″ I’m going to start adding straw to the tubs. I’m hoping for a big harvest!!
Great! Let me know how it works. My potatoes have not sprouted yet. Hopefully, today’s rain will help them on their way.