Growing potatoes in a trash can.

The first time I heard about someone growing potatoes in a trash can I scoffed.  "In a trash can?"  The horror!  It wasn't until later, after reading a magazine article on it, that I came to consider growing my own potatoes in a trash can.

I followed the instructions, watched, waiting, and then wowed when I saw the first sprouts of potato life.  I'll never forget the question my little sister asked when I told her about my glorious potato plants... "Was it a CLEAN trash can?"

*Smacks forehead*

I assured her that yes, they were clean trash cans (new ones, at that), but in the end what difference did it make when you're filling it full of dirt?  LOL. 

Here's how it goes:

• Drill drainage holes all over the bottom of a trash can, or barrel.
• Place a layer of shredded newspaper in the bottom.  This helps hold the dirt in.
• Add a 2-3" layer of dirt.  I used regular old topsoil.
• Place your seed potatoes on top of the dirt and cover with more dirt.
• As the sprouts poke their heads out of the trash can of dirt, add more dirt.
• Keep adding dirt until you get to the top of the trash can.
• Once the potato stalks are above the trash can, be sure to stake them so they don't break off.  Apparently this ruins your potatoes beneath.

Seemed easy enough, and so far it has been just that.  Come late September/early October I'll turn the trash cans over and dump the potatoes out for harvesting.  The trash can on the left is full of red potatoes and the one on the right has russet potatoes in it.  I'm looking forward to seeing how many come out of there.

Let me know if you try your hand at growing potatoes in a trash can.  I'd love to see what your results are, and I'll share mine once harvest time rolls around.

Green Beans 2012

And here it is...  My first handful of fresh-from-the-garden green beans.  Sorry about the blurriness.  My camera batteries were dead, so I took it with my phone.  There's enough out there nearly big enough to pick that I *should* get another handful this coming weekend. :)

At this point in the gardening season I can tell what plants are thriving and which aren't.  My beets started coming up, but then died away and haven't been seen again.  Only half of my tomatoes are growing; a few pepper plants, my two types of lettuce came up, but then something ate it all (probably a rabbit).

Right now, I'm the happy gardenkeeper of corn, green beans, pinto beans, tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, and cucumbers.  So far, so good with these vegetables.  I just hope they continue to thrive once the true heat of summer sets into the south.  Georgia can get awfully hot in August.

Speaking of cucumbers, as I was picking my handful of green beans I noticed more than a dozen itty-bitty 1 inch long cucumbers.  Maybe it won't be too long before I'm making pickles.  :)

Happy growing!

The garden has risen!

According to my grandmother and great aunt all the "signs" pointed to April 7th being the best day to plant our gardens.  We rambled around all that day getting everything ready, tilling, planting, and watering.  It was near dark when Tim and I finished.

Ten days later I was rewarded with sprouts all around.  And at this point I have many plants already several inches tall.  This is one of my green bean sprouts from yesterday.  It's just over three inches all.

Isn't it pretty?!  I'm quite happy with the growth we're having and even my trash can potatoes have sprouted up high enough for me to add another layer of dirt.  I'm still holding out hope for an excellent growing season and bountiful harvest. 

I'm looking forward to trying my hand at canning this year, but only if I grow more than the kids will devour fresh out of the garden.  By the end of the growing season I'll know if the garden will need to be expanded next year to accomplish a big winter stockpile.  Over the years I've learned that gardening is more about trial and error than having a green thumb.  Only this year I'm keeping my trials and errors on paper to refer back to next year.  ;)

Happy Growing!