Building the Potato Box

I have wanted to try a potato box for a couple years now. The promise of 100 lbs of potatoes in such a small space sounds amazing!!

And....  way to good to be true.

From the information I have read its hit and miss on the success rate of these things, but I am going to give it a go just the same. If I take some of the best practices such as using the correct type of potato,planting in a ring, and covering just the stems I am hoping for tons of potato come fall.

Cross your fingers with me!!

This is the basic plans we decided to follow:

The supplies were a bit more than I would have liked to spend, but that's what I get for taking Bo with me. The 2x6x8 were like $6.00 each but they are really nice boards. I almost feel bad using them to throw dirt and water on but if it gets me tons of potatoes its worth it. Ultimately all of the materials were really good quality and the box turned out awesome.... that's also what I get for taking Bo with me. :)

Ok, lets get to the good stuff!

This post will probably be picture heavy, but after all that's way better than reading my nonsense so here we go.....

Raw Materials

Boards cut to 21" and 24"

I got to do most of the cuts today with the "Saw of Death".

I have always been terrified of cutting my head off with that thing.

In hind-site it was a completely irrational fear.

(Side note: see that blue stuff? That is homemade Windex my friends! 

It works fabulously and that whole gallon cost me less than $1.00 ~ Let me know and I would be happy to share the recipe)

Holes Pre-drilled

Predrilled Holes

Notice how the pre-drilled holes are staggered? 21" on the outside and 24" on the inside.
That was one of my many lessons today.

I totally would have not thought about that myself.  Now I know. :)

Side one .... Check
(Face War begins)

Starting to look like a box
('Face Wars' continue in the background)

According to all of the instructions this is where you stop building and start the potatoes. As the potatoes grow you add more boards, dirt and hay. Since our box is going to go in a corner we have to pre-build two of the sides.

One side complete!
(The monkeys approve)

Trigger congratulating his Dad 

Checking out the hard work

(Another side note - Do you see that hammer by Bo's foot? It got used slightly on a second project. I am starting to hate the $20 hammer less now.)

Second side complete and relocated.

Final Product!

I am pretty stoked to get the potatoes started. 

In the research we have done we will need to order them in. One of the common mistakes is that people use a short or mid season potato. We have read that a long season potato is really the only one that works and unfortunately I cant find it in any of the nurseries. 

Honestly I am not that heart broken that I didn't have them today. That kicked my butt!!

One more project off the list!

Fence complete

The fence is complete and the peas are in!

I'm feeling a little guilty because the  "Old Farmer's Almanac"  technically says that I should have waited until the 7th to put the peas in.

I got too excited and they were calling to me.

This little package was filled with tons of little pea babies saying:

"put me in the ground" 

"put me in the ground"

I am sure spring fever has absolutely nothing to do with it.

So here is the finished product with both of  my monkeys on their best behavior. 

And a couple more pics with them being foiled by the mighty twine.....

Kya

Trigger

All in all it was a very inexpensive build and I will be reusing the fence for Cucumbers, Zucchini and Mini Watermelons later in the season. Provided the twine makes it.

What was expensive that Bo made me by was this damn hammer to put the stakes in.......

(he was right.... don't tell him)

Its going to make a great zombie killer one day so I'm not counting it in the total cost for the fence. 

And now begins the most difficult part. 

Waiting. 

I am a bit concerned that the seeds will get enough sun. As you can see by the pics, the fence conveniently casts a shadow just to the line of the garden. Hopefully the sun will move itself quickly to the North.

 After all, the seeds are in so therefore it is officially spring!