Another Attempt At Potatoes

Over the last few years, I've made several unsuccessful attempts at growing potatoes. Did have a few purple potatoes grow when I planted rows one year; however, those few spuds were the exception to the rule.

After taking a year off after the ill-fated efforts with building potato boxes, I stumbled across a method using hay and compost.

Create a wire cage about 3' in diameter.
Pile up some hay about 10" deep.
Top with a few inches of compost.
Place seed potatoes around the edge with eyes facing outward.
Cover with a layer of hay about 10" deep.
Repeat layers as desired.

Created two layers.
Here's hoping all goes well.

From Grow Lights To Greenhouses

With the success of the DIY grow lights, we realized we needed to transplant the majority of the tomatoes so we could put them in a greenhouse. There were, however, two immediate problems.

1. There are almost 100 plants needing more space.
2. We don't have a greenhouse.

Since we didn't want to build a greenhouse in the back yard (yet), we opted to try portable greenhouses - clear plastic bins that could hold 20 to 25 tomato plants in red cups (our preferred container for the growth from seedling to plant before it is placed in the Earth).

We mixed our potting medium. Transplanted the seedlings. Gave them a soak in compost tea - there are holes drilled in the bottom of the cups so osmosis ensures that the soil absorbs the moisture. Then placed them in a portable greenhouse.

Less than five days have elapsed.

The results have been astonishing.

We're going to need a bigger greenhouse.