I will place updated information about the final numbers like: height, pounds of harvested potatoes, and notes on this Step.



THIS YEAR (2009):



- I lightly fertilized the soil before planting with composted manure with sawdust and green sand mix, and only fertilized once afterward with liquid fish emulsion before the rains came and stayed for 6 weeks. By then the plants were so huge I saw no need to fertilize.



- 9 out of 10 red potato plants survived the constant rain. I attribute that to the porous Tote fabric which allowed good air circulation, and water drainage.



- The one plant that died showed signs of severe rot (blight?) and an infestation of slugs, both caused by the wet weather. The rot was located within a layer of hay mulch I used when I ran short of the shredded leaves. My best guess is that it was not the hay, as much as mixed mulches, that caused the rot. The shredded leaf mulch is heavier and compacted the hay layer, possibly trapping moisture in that area.



- I used bush beans and nasturtiums as companion plants and had no bug problems at all. There were plenty of earthworms living in the Tote mulch.



The final tally is in:

I harvested approximately 1-3/8 pounds (0.63 kg) of red potatoes per Tater Tote.



I harvested twice from 4 of the Totes and kept the plants intact for a second harvest, but chopped them back to within 18" of the Tote because they shaded the sun from other plants.



At least 2 potatoes were found in the dirt UNDER each Tote!



NEXT YEAR:



- I will definitely reuse these Tater Totes and make a bunch more.

- I will not mulch between the bags to allow more air flow and water drainage.

- I will cut back (trim) the potato plants after they reach 2' over the top of the bag.

- I will plant them in blocks of 9 (3 plants x 3 plants) for easier care, and they can more evenly support each other.

- I will plant at least one traditional hill of potatoes as a control for comparison purposes (I don't believe traditionally grown potatoes would have survived the wet weather this season).

