How to Grow Potatoes in a Wire Cage
Take a piece of wire stock fence or similar sturdy wire fence., Prepare the soil., Plant the potato seedlings as you normally would., Place the wire hoops so that they are standing upright., Keep the space filled., Continue to fill in the cylinder...
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Take a piece of wire stock fence or similar sturdy wire fence.
Make it about ten feet (approx. 3 meters) long, and roll it into a cylinder about 3 feet (approx. 91 centimeters) wide.
Fasten the end to the fence with wire to hold it together.
It should form a strong but easy to open cylinder that stands about four feet (1.2 meters) tall. -
Step 2: Prepare the soil.
Loosen it, and add a bit of fertilizer.
This will get the potatoes off to a good start. , Place them about three to four inches (approx.
7.5 cm
- 10 cm) deep, hand tamping the soil around them. , Place them around the planted seed potatoes, centering the future plants. , Your potato plants will soon be popping out of the soil; as they grow, fill in the space inside the fence with leaves, straw and additional dirt.
Do not bury the plants; only bring the soil level up inside the cylinder two to three inches (5 cm
-
7.5 cm).
Once the potato shoots grow to about 1 foot, do cover completely with leaves, straw or a similar material.
You want to keep the light off the developing tubers, as it can cause them turn green. , The plants will use this extra soil to grow even more potatoes in.
Soon, the cylinder will be filled with leaves, straw dirt and potatoes.
Potatoes do not need a lot of additional rich organic material, but they do need additional water, at least 1 inch per week.
Enough to soak them thoroughly without drowning them. , When the plant tops dry and wither, the potatoes are ready to harvest.
Simply undo the wire fasteners and pull away the fence.Your potatoes will be ready to harvest, without digging, right in the cylinder of soil.
Gently spread out your new potatoes and allow them to air dry for at least a day, to help "toughen" the skins.
If rain is threatened move them to a covered area.
Once they are matured, they can be stored in a cool dry place until you're ready to feast on them. -
Step 3: Plant the potato seedlings as you normally would.
-
Step 4: Place the wire hoops so that they are standing upright.
-
Step 5: Keep the space filled.
-
Step 6: Continue to fill in the cylinder as the plants grow.
-
Step 7: Harvest the potatoes when ready.
Detailed Guide
Make it about ten feet (approx. 3 meters) long, and roll it into a cylinder about 3 feet (approx. 91 centimeters) wide.
Fasten the end to the fence with wire to hold it together.
It should form a strong but easy to open cylinder that stands about four feet (1.2 meters) tall.
Loosen it, and add a bit of fertilizer.
This will get the potatoes off to a good start. , Place them about three to four inches (approx.
7.5 cm
- 10 cm) deep, hand tamping the soil around them. , Place them around the planted seed potatoes, centering the future plants. , Your potato plants will soon be popping out of the soil; as they grow, fill in the space inside the fence with leaves, straw and additional dirt.
Do not bury the plants; only bring the soil level up inside the cylinder two to three inches (5 cm
-
7.5 cm).
Once the potato shoots grow to about 1 foot, do cover completely with leaves, straw or a similar material.
You want to keep the light off the developing tubers, as it can cause them turn green. , The plants will use this extra soil to grow even more potatoes in.
Soon, the cylinder will be filled with leaves, straw dirt and potatoes.
Potatoes do not need a lot of additional rich organic material, but they do need additional water, at least 1 inch per week.
Enough to soak them thoroughly without drowning them. , When the plant tops dry and wither, the potatoes are ready to harvest.
Simply undo the wire fasteners and pull away the fence.Your potatoes will be ready to harvest, without digging, right in the cylinder of soil.
Gently spread out your new potatoes and allow them to air dry for at least a day, to help "toughen" the skins.
If rain is threatened move them to a covered area.
Once they are matured, they can be stored in a cool dry place until you're ready to feast on them.
About the Author
Kimberly Gray
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in crafts and beyond.
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