[Red_Devil 232]

Those 5 gallon buckets for potatoes sounds good. They would be perfect for me. Can I use any type of potato or do I need to use a seed potato? I sure do like new red potatoes!

[P8riot]

When we moved into our place 12 years ago, I found that the previous owner had squirreled away about 80 old tires in the weeds and in the creek. After pulling them out I was wondering what to do with them. It costs $5 ea to take them to the landfill and $5 more if they are on a rim (some of them were. Then I stumbled on an article about using tires to grow potatoes. So I cut the sidewall out of a half dozen tires, placed them on cardboard squares, filled them with organically enhanced soil, and planted seed potatoes of different varieties in each.

Once the plant reached 6-inches tall I stacked another tire on top (sidewall removed) and filled in around the plant with more soil. I repeated the process after it grew another 6 inches. When the plant started to die back I lifted the tires and picked potatoes. Out of one tire I got 15lbs. Some varieties did better than others, but all told I got around 60lbs the first year. Now I do all of my potatoes the same way and get a couple hundred lbs a year.

This is a great way to grow potatoes as the tires tend to keep the soil at an even temperature, and the gaps between the tires provide a way for the soil to drain. I haven't had any problems with deer around the potatoes either. Not sure, but I think they just don't like the rubber. I haven't tried it with sweet potatoes yet, but might.

[HiramQuick]

You can use any seed potato (never tried sweet potato .. to far north) but I only use yukon gold anymore. Delicious and not a “large” potato so they lend themselves well to bucket. However I have grown kennebecs as well .. they just don't get as large in the pails, but still tasty.

Reds are ideal, especially if you are after the “new” potatoes. (delicious) A hint, if you use compost and not soil you can reach “down in” and harvest young tender potatoes with out disturbing the plant.

Again .. I am not so much interested in the potato harvest as I am in the aesthetics of the plant in buckets for my perennial beds. The buckets are covered by vine and the texture of the plant is incredible and adds another dimension to my landscape.