All of the tubers, medium round to large oblong, were found in the bottom ten inches of soil. There were almost no marble-sized baby potatoes attached to the plant roots. According to a reliable source, this is because the potato “plant” actually turned into a plant (!) instead of continuing to grow as a root beneath the soil. I allowed too much foliage to grow before covering them up. These potatoes were probably ready to be dug up months ago. I, however, continued to add another twenty inches of soil, over the course of the season, to each bin after those PLANTS had already punched out.
It’s an interesting comparison: I planted the same amount of seed as in the whiskey barrels; different variety, but same planting technique. The barrels were right outside my back door; the stacked bins were down at the garden. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess. (The Achilles Heel of gardening). In my whiskey barrels, I found loads of the usual itty bitty baby potatoes still clinging to the roots, wishing they had more time to grow in size. In the bins, almost none. Apparently, early season varieties cannot be grown vertically, but there should be no trouble with mid (like my Chieftains) and late (like my RBs). I must conclude then, that the problem was all me.
We try again next year.
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