Intensive Crop Growing Project - First full size barrel

First GTS Barrel.

The 27th March 2008 was a milestone in the GTS Intensive Crop-Growing Project, as we had delivery of our first barrels to GTS Koloi.

The first job was to clean the barrels to ensure no contamination could get into the potato harvest.

Once cleaned drainage holes were put in the bottom of the barrel.

The barrel was positioned where it would be left to grow.

The chitted potatoes were then planted into about six inches of soil.

Potatoes planted 27th March 2008.

Update 1, Friday 4th April. 8 days after planting:-

The seven seed pototoes in the bottom of the test barrel have all broken the surface and so far we have only added one & a half litres of water to keep the surface moist.
Very exciting results so far..

Update 2. 16 April.

First top up of soil today. Still little water has been added.

Update 3, 21st April:-

This photo was taken on the 21st April and sent to me from The Gambia. There looks to be about 30 cm (12 inches) of growth in only 24 days from when they were first planted in the barrel.

The barrel has since had its second top up.

I will update this page as the potatoes grow.