What is it actually and what do you have to consider if you want to build a potato tower yourself? In general, different variants are possible, including pallets and earth. However, we chose the one with straw and wire grilles because it has a few additional advantages.
The valuable advantages of this extension
Usually you don't start with the disadvantages, but in this case we make an exception, because there is only one and this will also be rather irrelevant for most hobby gardeners: a straw potato tower is not every man. But as long as you have a separate planting place and don't put the towers in the middle of your ornamental garden, this shouldn't be a problem. It is much more important:
What are the advantages?
- He is very space -saving, because they plant the potatoes up and not distributed on a large area (bed or field). This makes the tower even suitable for small gardens.
- You can also on theTerrace and on the balconyPull potatoes. Then you need a drainer that catches the excess irrigation water.
- No weedsgrows or only very sparse, since the straw does not offer good growth conditions for these plants.
- OneDrainageis also included due to the crossing straws so that the water can flow well.
- For the same reason, the roots of the potatoes are constantly ventilated andsupplied with oxygen.
- DieHarvest is super easy: The potatoes get them directly from the straw. In beds and fields, you still have to dug.
- TheConstruction of the potato storm is very simple, because you don't have to loosen the earth first and dig plant holes as with classic potato cultivation.
- At the end you can also on the towercultivate other plants.
When is the right time?
You can start construction at the end of April or early May. You can also pursue the weather forecast: the nightly temperatures should no longer fall below freezing, since potato plants are cold powder. The floor temperature is optimally between 7 and 10 degrees.
Instructions on how to build the potato tower yourself
If you want to build the potato tower with straw yourself, you can also use a finished straw bales. In this case, it is not necessary to take a wire grille. It is recommended to bale from the previous year, since it has already started to decompose and thereby releases valuable nutrients. So the straw also acts asorganic fertilizer. If it is fresh, they moisten him well so that he can start decomposing.
Further useful applications from StrohFind here.
You could also use a straw bales in addition to the following instructions and as a basis.
You can get straw in the hardware store, garden center, from agricultural companies near, at farmers, in animal shops and also online through advertisements and various shops.
You need:
- Stroh
- Drahtgitter
- Wire or cable tie for fixing
- Earth and/or compost
- Pouring potatoes
Choose a suitable location:Potato plants like it sunny and warm.
How to properly plant the potato tower
- Form a cylinder with the wire grille and fix the ends with cable ties or wire.
- Put a layer of straw in the wire cylinder (or a bale as a base). Form a cow.
- They put soil or compost in the cow or a mixture of both. A layer of 10 to 15 cm should be enough.
- Spread a few potatoes, the eyes should point upwards. Depending on the diameter of the tower, 3 to 5 plant potatoes are enough.
- There follows an approx. 20 cm thick layer of straw, into which you press a cow again, and then soil and potatoes.
- Repeat these steps until the potato tower is filled out.
- Complete the tower with earth. In it you can plant a few more vegetable plants or even flowers. In the example you see Kohlrabi.
- Pour the potato tower extensively. As you can see, the excess water can run immediately.
- The potato plants will eventually fight through the straw and show on the sides.
- The potatoes are ready for harvest when the plants have faded and begin to wither. Then you can simply take the straw apart and collect the potatoes. The straw can in turn be composted.
Important care tips
After planting the potato tower, the right care is important to cultivate healthy plants and to maintain a rich harvest:
- Therate regularly, but not too often. Straw stores water very well, which is why it can quickly become too much moisture, which in turn leads to rot.
- It is best to pour in the morning or in the evening, then the water does not evaporate as quickly as during the hot sunny hours and it can penetrate better.
- In hot summer you may even have to water twice a day.
- Over time, the content of the tower drops a little. As soon as the drives of the medium potato layer are visible, it should therefore be whipped again. If he sacks again, repeat it.
- The compost should sufficiently supply the plant with nutrients. If necessary, you can also spend horn flour, which quickly decomposes and distributes its nutrients over the irrigation water to the plants.
- Clean the plants out if necessary. Remove dead plant parts as soon as possible to avoid diseases.
More on the subject of “permaculture”Find out here.
