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Growing Potatoes in a Wire Tower: Cover Stems, But Leave the Top Leaves Exposed

Vertical Potato Growing: The Leaf-Coverage Balance

Wire cylinders filled progressively with compost and shredded leaves are a brilliant way to grow potatoes above ground. But as shoots emerge, how much should you bury?

The Golden Rule: Leave 4 Leaves Exposed

Cover the stem with loose compost, but always keep the top 4 leaves above the mix. Photosynthesis fuels tuber formation; burying all foliage starves the plant.

Repeat as the plant grows: add mix around stems, leaving the newest leaves free. At season's end, tip the cylinder over for an easy, clean harvest. Full details at bit.ly/potatotire.

About Gardening: Leaves Growing on Old Flower Spikes? Those Are Baby Orchids (Keikis)!; Pinguicula moranensis Winter Leaf Transition in Late Winter; Nepenthes ventricosa Yellowing Leaves: Natural Aging or Issue?; Pruning Sarracenia in Mild Winters: Hygiene Over Premature Growth Myths; Growing Grass in Shade Under Trees: Species Selection and Erosion Control; Growing Potatoes in Pine Straw: Bad Idea; Growing Potatoes Indoors: Bags, Lights, Hydroponics, and Winter Methods; Growing Potatoes in the Ground: From Minitubers to Storage Harvest; Overwintering Ginger Lily Rhizomes Indoors: Managing Early Sprouts in Cold Climates; Growing 'Rooster' Potatoes from Store-Bought Tubers

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