Saturday, June 23, 2012

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.


My Helpers

3 comments:

Fonnell/Grammie/mom said...

Kevin,
This is good to know. I moved mine from their normal growing place in the south yard to over the cement. I think it has helped the cans that were started there.

I think keeping yours in the "Warm spot" may be a clue to why you are doing well with your can's.

Time will tell won't it.

Maybe you are a natural gardener.

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Fonnell/Grammie/mom said...

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