Potatoes are one of the things I usually don't bother with due to self-imposed restrictions (there are just OTHER thing I want growing in my veggie garden space) and had always known I could always do taters in containers. Then one of my kids asked about growing them so I figured I'd give it a look...

Found this article...
http://urbanfarmerseward.poste...

and must say, this looks perfect for doing together with a child. So, this year, I'll be trying them using this method. What methods of container taters do others use here?

I tried the potato sacks one year but confess I did not keep up with adding dirt as the potatoes grew. We got some, but not a lot. Now I'm doing the old fashioned way and I hate it so I just may give this a try.

I already have my potatoes planted for this year so I could do one tower/post as an experiment. I'll let you know and post pictures!

It seems like this would require a huge amount of material. Maybe the column isn't as wide as I am imagining?

Do you think they are using a weed block under the tower to keep quack grass from growing up thru the dirt? Did I miss this in the article?

I like this idea. Potatoes could be grown in any sunny spot, regardless of native soil conditions. The only drawback is, you probably wouldn't be able to harvest any early potatoes.

I'm trying this for the first time this year---

http://www.bing.com/videos/sea...

The potato grow bags with the flaps near the bottom worked for me.
Potatoes are an extension of the stems of potatoe plants so this encourages stem growth.
Similar to what we do to encourage long roots on tomatoes.
The flaps on the bags allow you to reach in and take early ones.
I intend on keeping a bag of potting soil beside the potato bag---that way I'll remember to keep adding soil.
It works for us who are too lazy to "hill" them up.

I didn't know they had potato sacks with flaps. How inventive! And I never thought of keeping a bag of soil next to the sacks. Again, how smart! I am one of those too lazy to hill them up. (or too busy to get back to it!)

I've grown potatoes in wide plastic tubs that we get mineral lick in for the heifers (a salt/mineral 'cake' in a tub). I had pretty good luck growing a small crop for fresh use, which was all I wanted that year. I'm hoping I might get some help with the potatoes this year, if I can get Stan interested in the veggie garden again.