Trench method for growing potatoes

This year, I am only growing one potato variety. I’m dealing with some space constraints since we haven’t added as many new beds as I thought we might so I decided to grow just my favorite variety, La Ratte, which tends not to be easily available in stores. La Ratte is excellent for soups and salads and also tastes really good sautéed with onion. Last year, I grew potatoes in grow bags, which worked out OK, but I found the bags were a bit of a pain and decided to grow in a bed instead this year. To grow the potatoes in the bed, I’m following the method outlined by Laura at The Modern Victory Garden. Check out her useful guidance there.

Wire cover for potato bed

After I finished planting the potatoes, I stretched out some wire fencing material to cover the bed. This is in an attempt to keep dogs out of the bed. It’s not uncommon for me to find dog prints in my freshly planted beds and the bone meal makes this bed extra tempting to dogs. I hope it works.

The rhubarb bed

Elsewhere in the garden, the rhubarb is breaking through the ground. A few weeks ago we added this 3 X 3 bed just for rhubarb. I moved the one plant I had and added a few new rhubarb roots. Rhubarb plants take up a pretty good amount of space and I wanted an area where they could stretch out without problem. So far, so good on this bed.

I also noticed today that the peas I planted over a week ago are popping up through the soil. I was a little worried that I’d have to start over with the peas because right after I planted them we had a number of days of non-stop heavy rain. Looks like they’ll make it as well.

Happy gardening!

Sandy