Patio Potatoes.... an experiment of planting

Yes, I live on five acres and this country "farming" Mama Realtor finds much to keep myself busy, but there is always room to try something new that might just work better. This year it is potato bins.

Over the last few years I've discovered the closer I can keep my gardens to my front yard (where we spend our time) the better they grow and the better they are attended to. What I'm also discovering is that is doesn't take a lot of space to grow enough veggies and fruits to keep a family going.

If I were a "city folk" I know that I would now have just as much a green thumb as I'm finding that I have in the country. And, a lot of it I'm learning by discovery. Every year we try something new. We add something new to our garden spaces and move or change how we are doing something else.

For the last few years I've had the hankering to try potatoes in a bucket. I have read about them again and again... but in my 'country thinking' have kept on planting them in the big garden. Problem? I've never successfully gotten them to grow and give me potatoes. This year is different. I took the bull by the horns and decided to change my methods.

So.... we (I and the kids) dug out two leaky bottomed barrels and plucked enough rocks out of our driveway to layer the bottom of each barrel. We added a layer of composted dirt and then our seed potatoes. Another layer of dirt and "wha-la" it's time to wait.

Within a week those buggers (plants) were high enough to add another layer of dirt. Every 5 inches of plant we added dirt and today we added our last shovels full. This was a two-three week process!!!!! Now it is a matter of keeping the plants bug-free and watered. Hopefully at the end of the season we'll have two bucket loads of potatoes to eat and store for the winter months!

I'm so excited to see them grow! And, if it works.... we might add another leaky bucketful next summer. The reason? They are easy to store, yummy to eat and give me something to look forward to.

So.... whether you are in a small yard or big acreage... come back in the fall and I'll let you know how our experiment turns out. If the photos are any indication I hope that my chances at success are very very high!

If you'd like a plot of land to call your own so that you CAN plant your own gardens... let me know! There are lots of options right now!!!