growing potatoes in cans and having problems

It was time for more potato cans... 

We have been growing potatoes in 2 very old plastic trash 

cans for so many years they are 

falling apart. 

This spring I bought several new plastic cans.

Cheap ones (by today's standards).

They were deeper, heavier and as I thought built to 

last many potato harvests down the road.

WHAT A SHOCK!

Look at what is happening.

The light blue/gray can is an old one, it is thin and lots of light comes through it.

 The potatoes are growing as they should be.

The black or very dark green can in the back ground was planted the same day as 

all three cans were.  It was perhaps warmer being black.  However it is not

growing well at all.  The wall are thick and didn't allow the sun through in the early 

growing of the potatoes.

The lighter green can is new also, in the foreground, the plants are so small

they are still not growing well. 

 Thick plastic not good I'm thinking. 

This is the can that is not growing well they are barely 1/3 the way up the can. Sad!

Oh look at this gray can, my very oldest one. 

it is growing so very well!  Oh to have more old cans.  

All potatoes were planted the same day and in the same way!

My suggestion, keep them in a warm place.  I've moved all the

cans to the cement patio in the sun.. They still won't grow as well.

Maybe if you beat me to the local garage sells you'll find 

some old thin plastic cans.  

Once again  SAD

OCT 2012 UPDATE

All the potatoes are harvested.  Some very nice ones but clearly 
the heavy trash cans had much smaller potatoes.   It's good to hear
Kevin has had success near warm stones and metal containers.

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