Types, structure, function (+ alternatives)

What is a potato tower?

The potato tower is a relatively recent trend in potato cultivation. The basis for orientation is the principle of the raised bed. In principle, the planting of the nightshade plant requires a lot of space. However, by far not every hobby gardener has enough space available for this undertaking. This is exactly where the potato tower comes in, which promises a high yield on a small footprint.

The basic principle of the attachment is explained quickly and easily. In a stable framework of e.g. Wire mesh and straw are given one or more potato tubers. As the plant grows, the inner area is filled with soil and compost. The root strands (stolons), on which more and more new potatoes are formed, also increase to the same extent. In theory, an almost infinite number of new daughter tubers can be created in this way in a very limited space.

Types of Potato Towers

There are a number of different variations for building your own potato storm. However, not every type of construction is suitable for potato cultivation. In the following, we will therefore present six different methods in terms of their structure, functionality and possible problems.

Wire potato tower with one tuber

Construction: A wire mat of any size is formed into a tube using cable ties. This is then attached to the ground and filled up to 1/3 with hay, leaves, compost and soil. The seed potato is then placed in the middle and additionally covered with soil.

Functionality: As the potato plant grows, the area around the tuber is steadily heaped up. This prevents the formation of the toxic substance solanine in the tuber.

Problem: In theory, the constant piling up of new layers of soil should encourage the formation of additional stolons and new potatoes. In practice, however, it has been shown that this leads to stress reactions in the plant. In order to be able to continue photosynthesis, the plant has to grow higher and higher. In addition, the energy required for the supply of water and nutrients increases.

Wire potato tower with several tubers

Construction: A wire mat of any size is formed into a tube using cable ties. This is then attached to the ground and filled up to 1/3 with hay, leaves, compost and soil. The seed potatoes are then placed in turn at the edge (5 centimeters apart all around) and also covered with soil.

Functionality: As the potato plants grow, the areas around the tubers are steadily heaped up. This prevents the formation of the toxic substance solanine in the tuber.

Problem: In theory, the constant piling up of new layers of soil should encourage the formation of additional stolons and new potatoes. In practice, however, it has been shown that this leads to stress reactions in the plant. The cultivation of several tubers in one pot also leads to a high level of competition between them for irrigation water and minerals.

Wooden potato tower

Construction: The wooden variant consists of several wooden boards of the same size and an open bottom. To prevent the wood from getting soaked, the inside of the potato tower can be lined with pond liner. Ideally, all parts are attached to each other with nails or screws. The filling is then carried out according to the scheme mentioned above. In addition, several boards can be inserted with increasing accumulation.

Functionality: The constant layering of new soil is intended to stimulate tuber formation.

Problem: In particular, the construction of a wooden potato tower is much more time-consuming than the wire variant, but it is more durable. Here, too, the potato plant is put under stress. On the one hand it has to grow higher and higher to develop new leaves, on the other hand it fights for light, water and nutrients with several other tubers that have been planted.

Potato tower with door

Construction: The construction of the potato tower with door is analogous to the wooden version. Before filling, a hole of the desired size is sawn out. With the help of hinges, this section can then be attached to the actual construction again. It should simplify the harvest. To prevent the wood from becoming soaked, the potato tower is cleaned from the inside, e.g. lined with pond liner. The filling is then carried out according to the scheme mentioned above.

Functionality: The constant layering of new soil is intended to stimulate tuber formation, but puts stress on the plant.

Problem: In particular, the construction of a wooden potato tower is significantly more time-consuming than the wire variant, but also more durable. If only one bulb is planted, the tower can function as a plant pot up to a maximum height of half a meter. If there are several tubers, there is competition and the harvest is lower.

Potato tower with car tires

Construction: In this case, car tires that are stacked on top of each other serve as the framework for the potato tower. Usually between two and three are used. The interior is then filled again with hay, leaves, compost and soil.

Functionality: The seed potatoes are planted inside the tires and continuously piled up with substrate. This encourages the growth of the above ground area as the plant must continue to photosynthesize for the development of the tubers.

Problem: The use of car tires as a limitation involves the risk of accumulation of various harmful substances. These include butadiene, which is considered to cause cancer, and thiuram, which is known to be a common allergy trigger. With this variant, too, the altitude is a stress factor that can reduce the harvest.

Does a potato tower work?

The success of a potato tower can only be evaluated in comparison to other cultivation methods. If this generates higher yields in relation to an alternative planting in the bed or another container, it is considered successful and functional. A potato tower usually works just as well or worse than planting in a bed. This is due to the structure and the height.

Structure of a potato plant

The origin of a potato plant lies in a potato tuber. In the course of germination, a stalk will sprout from this, on which flowers will later form. Roots form underground on the mother tuber, which serve to absorb nutrients and water. In addition, horizontal support threads, the stolons, grow from the part of the stem lying below the ground. Over time, the new potatoes only develop on these.

Depending on the variety, both the section in which the potato plant develops stolons and the number of growing potatoes per support thread are limited. For this reason, not all varieties are suitable for tower planting.

tuber formation in potatoes

The arrangement of newly formed potato tubers varies with each cultivar. There are basically three different growth forms (source: Neues vom Landei):

• plateau
• Bullet
• strand

The ideal shape for the formation of new tubers in a potato tower is the string shape. Up to a certain height, this forms more stolons, on which potatoes grow. Potato varieties that grow in a plateau and spherical shape are better suited for planting in sacks or pots, as they tend to grow in width rather than in height. This is due to the breeding for agriculture, because the common potato varieties for private gardens are also grown in industry. Growing wider is more efficient for harvesting than growing deep. With a few exceptions, the deep growth does not correspond to the normal growth of the potato.

The following varieties can be assigned to the growth forms:

plateau growth:

• Bamberg croissants

ball growth:

• Agria
• belana
• Blue Congo
• Bolzig's Yellow Flowering
• Kennebec
• Melody
• Negra

strand growth:

• bounty
• Danish asparagus potato
• firstling
• granola
• La Ratte D'Ardeche
• Violette D'Auvergne
• Vitelotte Noire

You can find more information on Nadja's YouTube channel under "News from the Landei". In the following video, Nadja goes into more detail about her experiment of growing potatoes in a sack and shares her experiences and tips.

Growth in the potato tower

The ideal potato tower enables growth to almost infinite heights. This growth ensures a rich potato harvest with as little space as possible. However, this ideal cannot be confirmed in practice, as some natural conditions represent an obstacle.

Main problems are:

• Development of stolons and potatoes is limited
• constant piling up of earth makes it difficult to supply the areas below
• the lower layers in particular are threatened with drying out
• Growing multiple mother tubers leads to competition for water, nutrients and space
• Weight of the soil leads to the formation of smaller potatoes
• Openings on the edge offer high evaporation surface

Summary

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with growing potatoes in a potato tower. In practice, however, the enormous crop yields mentioned in many articles will be at a significantly lower level. The ideal potato tower therefore only exists in theory. Nevertheless, this form of cultivation can achieve a sufficient harvest yield if certain basic conditions are observed.

Cultivation in a bucket or sack is significantly less labor intensive and just as space-saving. See the next section for more information on this. If you still value a potato tower, please note the following:

• maximum one potato tuber per tower
• Tower height of no more than 45 to 50 centimeters (sources: cultivarable, a piece of rainbow)
• piling up twice before flowering is sufficient

Potato towers can work best when treated like plant pots. (Source: a piece of rainbow)

When selecting the variety to be planted, primarily clumping or strand-forming species should be used. The Agria, Kennebec, Ackersegen and Granola types are particularly popular. For all other genres, it is advisable to conduct your own experiments and tests.

Alternative to the potato tower

An alternative to growing potatoes when space is limited is the bucket. As with planting in beds, planting takes place between the beginning of April and the end of May. While late potatoes are planted earlier due to their long ripening period of up to 160 days should be planted later, early potatoes that need between 90 and 140 days become. At the latest after the ice saints at the end of May, there is no longer any danger of late frosts. Additional tips for optimal planting of potatoes can be found here here .

It is best to do without a coaster to avoid waterlogging. If you still do not want to do without it, it is necessary to regularly free it from excess water. Basically, it is recommended not to plant more than one tuber per bucket. Otherwise, due to the limited space, there is a risk that all plants will develop poorly.

FAQ

How is a potato tower maintained?

The care of a potato tower follows the same standards as a bed planting. The potato plants should be evenly watered and fertilized. With increasing height growth, soil should also be regularly piled up on the plant until the flowering period.

What types of potato towers are there?

The bottom layer should be foliage and branches to create an air-permeable base. Building on this, layers of earth and compost follow. Leaves and sand can be used to loosen the soil as required. The place with the tuber used is also treated with a starting fertilizer such as horn shavings(€50.00 at Amazon*) or sheep's wool pellets.

Does a potato tower work?

Potato towers come in a wide variety of presentations. The most well-known forms are made of wire, wood (possibly with a door), car tires and plastic.

Does a potato tower work?

The only way to judge whether a potato tower works is to look at the harvest yield. Compared to alternative cultivation methods in closed systems such as a planter or a sack, no higher yields are generated. Depending on the variety, reduced yields can even be expected.

How is a potato tower built?

You can make a potato tower yourself or buy it as a kit. The simplest variant is made from a rolled-up wire mat, which is attached using cable ties.

What is a potato tower?

A potato tower is a planter with a vertically oriented structure. The outer border ensures the stability of the construct and limits the space required. This form of cultivation is primarily used for high-growing plants such as potatoes.