{"id":699,"date":"2012-05-03T17:03:40","date_gmt":"2012-05-03T21:03:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=699"},"modified":"2014-09-03T22:03:05","modified_gmt":"2014-09-04T02:03:05","slug":"planting-potatoes-in-a-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=699","title":{"rendered":"Planting Potatoes in a Box"},"content":{"rendered":"

I read an article awhile back about how you could grow lots of potatoes in a small space by going vertical in a box. \u00a0I thought, “I like potatoes. I should try it out.”<\/p>\n

The basic idea is to plant the spuds in a frame like the one pictured below and let the plant grow to about a foot high. \u00a0Then you add more planks to the sides and fill in dirt, covering the plant partially. \u00a0The plant then grows higher and you add a plank and bury more it and so on. \u00a0The potatoes will supposedly grow in the layers that you have buried.<\/p>\n

Here is the article link<\/a>. \u00a0The photo below is from their page.<\/p>\n

\"Grow<\/p>\n

Since I didn’t have a 4’x4′ space in full sun to build this, I changed the measurements. \u00a0Here is the space before that was empty after I moved the hydrangea that used to live here.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Mine is somewhere around 2’x2′ I think. \u00a0TB was kind enough to build this for me out of wood we had left over in the yard. \u00a0He cut all the side pieces at once so we wouldn’t have to worry about doing it later. \u00a0 He also attached all of the pieces on the back wall since we wouldn’t be able to get to it later.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

You will notice that I have stapled chicken wire\u00a0on the left and right sides. \u00a0This is because our Opie thinks digging is very fun. \u00a0 It’s even more fun when you can eat what you did up.\u00a0In fact there were holes in this very spot when I came out to plant the potatoes today. \u00a0 The chicken wire will allow sun to get to the plants but not Opie. \u00a0Since I want to be able to get in to weed I didn’t staple chicken wire across the front. \u00a0I figured I would make a removable gate or something tonight. \u00a0It is now occuring to me that I am in fact tall enough to reach over the mesh since it’s only a few feet high so staples across the front would work. \u00a0You see I’m not used to being “tall enough” for much. \u00a0(The thing blocking the front now is a foldable tomato cage unfolded)<\/p>\n

After the sides were secure it was on to planting. \u00a0These guys love, love compost so I made sure we mixed a bunch in the soil. \u00a0I had read that grocery store potatoes are sprayed with stuff to make them not sprout and to use seed potatoes from the garden center. \u00a0The ones I found were russet potatoes, not my favorite but good enough for this little experiment. \u00a0The seed potatoes have to sprout “eyes” before planting which mine did while still in the bag. \u00a0I had read you could cut them into pieces to plant more, you just had to make sure they had 2-3 eyes on each piece. \u00a0Since mine were small I didn’t bother and just planted them whole.<\/p>\n

Here is what the seed potatoes look like before planting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After realizing I only now had four and used to have five seeds, I went searching to find one laying in the grass. \u00a0Opie was “helping” by taking one for a taste test. \u00a0Apparently they are pretty gross since there was no damage done. \u00a0I planted them about 3-5 inches deep then watered a bit. \u00a0That’s it.<\/p>\n

I have no idea if this will actually work. \u00a0We shall see.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I read an article awhile back about how you could grow lots of potatoes in a small space by going vertical in a box. \u00a0I thought, “I like potatoes. I should try it out.” The basic idea is to plant…
Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19,20],"tags":[122,121],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/IMG_1162.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1J4KT-bh","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":707,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=707","url_meta":{"origin":699,"position":0},"title":"The seedlings have moved out!","date":"May 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It's a big day around here! \u00a0The gardens have been planted and the seedlings have moved outside to their new homes. Just like high school, there are cliques or groups that stick together. \u00a0Some plants do not want to sit with certain other plants at lunch. \u00a0 Other plants like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/small-garden-day-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":496,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=496","url_meta":{"origin":699,"position":1},"title":"It’s time to start seeds in NJ","date":"February 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Starting seeds for the veggie garden means exactly one thing to me: \u00a0it is almost spring!!! Last year was the first time I had a vegetable garden. \u00a0We built two raised beds out of spare lumber and added organic compost. \u00a0The whole process made me feel like a little kid\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/ridiculous-redhead-ss-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1377,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=1377","url_meta":{"origin":699,"position":2},"title":"Asparagus – The First Year","date":"August 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"So from time to time I can get a little gung ho when I have a new idea. This is usually when TB runs and hides, hoping he won't have to help and I won't make a huge mess. Last fall as the garden was winding down I was already\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/Asparagus-aug-16-13.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2776,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2776","url_meta":{"origin":699,"position":3},"title":"Plant Now for Fall","date":"August 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Fall planting time is now!! \u00a0If you didn't get around to spring planting there is still time to grow delicious food this year. \u00a0If you had big plans for a big garden that didn't quite get finished, get some pots, organic potting soil and some seeds. \u00a0You can do this!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Ridiculous-Redhead-Fall-Planting-Pin.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":810,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=810","url_meta":{"origin":699,"position":4},"title":"Are your peppers laying down on the job?","date":"June 11, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Now that the garden is really starting to get going there isn't a lot to do. \u00a0The plants pretty much know what they're doing on their own. \u00a0A little water and weeding is all I have to do for the most part. \u00a0 That and walk around every morning with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/06\/standing-tall-1410.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":500,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=500","url_meta":{"origin":699,"position":5},"title":"Planting your seeds","date":"February 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Ok we are on a roll! \u00a0We have seeds! \u00a0We have pots! \u00a0(No, not pot mom, pots) \u00a0Now we are ready to plant these little babies. To start, get a big bowl or bucket and put some soil in and add a bit of water, just so it's damp. \u00a0It's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/02\/ridiculous-redhead-ss-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=699"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2189,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699\/revisions\/2189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}