It is gardening season once again. The snow has finally departed and the days are warm.

Potato Towers Round 2

Last year’s potato towers did not do well. Between the slugs, substituting dry leaves for straw, and uneven watering the crop was sufficient but far from terrific.

This year, we have tons of straw bales. Yeah! Last fall’s leaves went into the compost producing many wheelbarrows of soil.

Weed Supression

1. 4 inch layer of horse manure
2. 2-4 inches of leaves and twigs (cleaning up my neighbour’s lilac bushes)
3. 4-6 inch mat of straw sheets (how straw comes out of a bale).

Planting instructions

1. Lay potato seeds around ring every 10 inches.
2. Build a light nest of straw around outside of ring. Fluff up a straw sheet. Nest is thin enough for plants to grow through and thick enough to hold soil.
3. Put a deep-watering pipe in centre.
4. Add 8 inches of soil/compost mix.
5. Water the layer
6. Repeat steps 1-5 until desired height is reached.

For instructions on building rings see early Potato Tower Post.

Image courtesy of Dibber and Boots – Great Site! https://dibberandboots.com.au/deep-watering-pipes-jan2021/

Get Away Slug!

Slugs avoid strongly scented flowers!

Nasturtium, Evening Stocks, Alyssum, Lavender, Geranium, Zinnia, and Snapdragon are flowers that slugs stay away from. Stuff your tower with these flowers and ring your tower with a colourful, scented display to keep the slugs away. The butterflies will thank you for it.

Nasturtiums are easy to grow and bloom all summer long, late into the fall. Dry the seeds for next year’s plants.