Comments on: Worm Bed Potato Gardens – Update http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/ Red Wiggler Worms, European Nightcrawlers and loads of helpful Worm Composting Information Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:17:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: catherine http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-22060 catherine Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:56:02 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-22060 My compost is mainly home made garden compost, some worm compost (with cocoons), some bagged (bought) organic compost and a small amount of shop bought (rotted) horse manure. (I won't be buying that again - there were alot of stones in it. But I don't have ready access to horses). I also added some pelleted chicken manure for nitrogen. Maybe I needed to add some unrotted stuff like grass in my layers to keep the worms interested. But I think my main problem was lack of moisture. I don't think potatos like it too wet- and it would only attract slugs anyway- but once there's a good crown of leaves, it's actually very hard to keep up with the amount of water given off. My compost is mainly home made garden compost, some worm compost (with cocoons), some bagged (bought) organic compost and a small amount of shop bought (rotted) horse manure. (I won’t be buying that again – there were alot of stones in it. But I don’t have ready access to horses). I also added some pelleted chicken manure for nitrogen. Maybe I needed to add some unrotted stuff like grass in my layers to keep the worms interested. But I think my main problem was lack of moisture. I don’t think potatos like it too wet- and it would only attract slugs anyway- but once there’s a good crown of leaves, it’s actually very hard to keep up with the amount of water given off.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-22055 Bentley Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:27:07 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-22055 It's funny you should mention that Catherine - i was just thinking today how a set up like this could potentially be a viable money maker in terms of potatoes, worms, and maybe even compost (since a fair amount of raw materials being added then converted into good stuff). I'm amazed by the density of worms in my boxes, and yeah it IS quite moist in there. Not sure if this will negatively impact the potato growth. I guess we shall see! What sort of 'compost' is in your systems? Mine was basically set up like a worm bed. I transferred a bunch of material containing lots of worms from another composter, and then simply added aged horse manure and straw on top in alternating layers. It’s funny you should mention that Catherine – i was just thinking today how a set up like this could potentially be a viable money maker in terms of potatoes, worms, and maybe even compost (since a fair amount of raw materials being added then converted into good stuff). I’m amazed by the density of worms in my boxes, and yeah it IS quite moist in there. Not sure if this will negatively impact the potato growth. I guess we shall see!

What sort of ‘compost’ is in your systems? Mine was basically set up like a worm bed. I transferred a bunch of material containing lots of worms from another composter, and then simply added aged horse manure and straw on top in alternating layers.

]]> By: catherine http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-22051 catherine Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:23:12 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-22051 Bentley- how are you finding the moisture content of your potato worm bins? I put some worms in all my potato bins/ sacks/ towers but I have been disapponted with the number of worms in the mix when I harvest the potatoes. I wonder is it because worms like it wetter than the compost in the containers, and don't breed as fast. Bentley- how are you finding the moisture content of your potato worm bins? I put some worms in all my potato bins/ sacks/ towers but I have been disapponted with the number of worms in the mix when I harvest the potatoes. I wonder is it because worms like it wetter than the compost in the containers, and don’t breed as fast.

]]> By: Red Worm Farmer http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-22028 Red Worm Farmer Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:56:27 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-22028 Yes, Potato towers are great. I usde a 55 gallon drum cut in half to estblish mine. Yes, Potato towers are great. I usde a 55 gallon drum cut in half to estblish mine.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-22005 Bentley Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:07:29 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-22005 That is SO cool! Thanks for such a great explanation, Eve! More an more I realize just how much of a newbie I am with this gardening stuff. :-) I've heard of using tires to grow potatoes, but that's about it. Perhaps I should be creating some wooden additions for my boxes! That is SO cool! Thanks for such a great explanation, Eve! More an more I realize just how much of a newbie I am with this gardening stuff.
:-)
I’ve heard of using tires to grow potatoes, but that’s about it.
Perhaps I should be creating some wooden additions for my boxes!

]]> By: Eve http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-22003 Eve Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:23:37 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-22003 Potato towers are a great way to grow potatoes. Adding one to the garden can add several square feet of growing space in one small spot. One of the best parts is the ease of harvesting, Just take the tower apart and the potatoes and compost fall out. The towers can be made of just about anything, boards to old tires. You can buy them too but home made ones seem to be more versatile. The potato towers don't seem to do to well if there is only soil in the tower. It works best if you add layers of well processed compost, aged steer manure and straw. So you have all the correct ingredients going. All you need to do is go up. My tower is just 2x6 board walls that i add as the potatoes get about 6" above the ground. Then i add more compost and straw as the plant gets taller. The growing season is short here, so the best i can get is 2 feet high. But in parts or the world where there is a continuous growing season potatoes can be harvested year round. The towers can get 4-5 feet high. They harvest by jacking up the tower the levering the bottom section out from under the stack. Then the emptied section is returned to the top of the stack for refilling. Just like using stacking worm bins. With a lot of back breaking work. Google potato tower and you will get a whole range different ideas on how to build one. Potato towers are a great way to grow potatoes. Adding one to the garden can add several square feet of growing space in one small spot.
One of the best parts is the ease of harvesting, Just take the tower apart and the potatoes and compost fall out.

The towers can be made of just about anything, boards to old tires. You can buy them too but home made ones seem to be more versatile.

The potato towers don’t seem to do to well if there is only soil in the tower. It works best if you add layers of well processed compost, aged steer manure and straw. So you have all the correct ingredients going. All you need to do is go up.

My tower is just 2×6 board walls that i add as the potatoes get about 6″ above the ground. Then i add more compost and straw as the plant gets taller. The growing season is short here, so the best i can get is 2 feet high. But in parts or the world where there is a continuous growing season potatoes can be harvested year round. The towers can get 4-5 feet high. They harvest by jacking up the tower the levering the bottom section out from under the stack. Then the emptied section is returned to the top of the stack for refilling. Just like using stacking worm bins. With a lot of back breaking work.

Google potato tower and you will get a whole range different ideas on how to build one.

]]> By: Bentley http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-21998 Bentley Fri, 31 Jul 2009 19:37:07 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-21998 Well - we'll see how beautiful the 'crop' is once it comes time to harvest, but I am optimistic! :-) Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is a "potato tower"? Well – we’ll see how beautiful the ‘crop’ is once it comes time to harvest, but I am optimistic!
:-)
Forgive my ignorance, but what exactly is a “potato tower”?

]]> By: Kim from Milwaukee http://www.redwormcomposting.com/gardening/worm-bed-potato-gardens-update/comment-page-1/#comment-21994 Kim from Milwaukee Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:36:48 +0000 http://www.redwormcomposting.com/?p=931#comment-21994 Wow, what a beautiful potato crop! I'm gonna try putting my worms in my potato tower next year as well. That's a great idea , Bentley. Wow, what a beautiful potato crop! I’m gonna try putting my worms in my potato tower next year as well. That’s a great idea , Bentley.

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