UK. Trial No 1.

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Overview of Trial 1.

When growing potatoes in a barrel, to maximise the size of the harvest, potatoes are planted close to the bottom of the barrel. As the potatoes grow more soil is gradually added until the barrel is full. The aim is to develop roots and  potatoes for the full depth of the barrel.

Object of trial 1.

The object of this trial is to establish the optimum amount of leaf growth that should be left showing as the barrel is topped up with soil. This is vital advanced data needed for 2009 trials in The Gambia.

There is a lot of confusion as to how tall the potatoes should be allowed to grow before adding more soil to the barrel. We have seen figures stating that the potatoes should be topped up keeping  only about one inch of growth showing. Most seem to advise between four and eight inches. Some books even recommend not topping up until all the growth is poking out of the top of the barrel.

Method of trial 1

Three identical barrels will be placed next to each other so they receive the same growing conditions.        

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Each barrel will be planted with four seed potatoes that are as near as possible the same as each other in six inches of soil. 

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As far as is practical the barrels will each get the same amount of water and fertiliser.

Barrel A: - As the potatoes grow it will be topped up with soil leaving only about one inch (25mm) of growth showing.

Barrel B: - As the potatoes grow this one will be topped up with soil leaving about six inches (150 mm) of growth showing.

I will measure the growth of the potatoes in barell B and update a graph every seven days.

Growth rate of the potatoes in barell B.

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I do not intent to continue to monitor the growth rate, as any further data will be of little valve. The important data was the growth rate until the barrels were fully toped up.

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This photo was taken on 29th May

Barrel C: - The potatoes grown in this barrel will be topped up with soil leaving about twelve inches (350 mm) of growth showing.

When the potatoes have been harvested they will be weighed and the results known.

Anticipated results of trial 1

We expect B to produce the heaviest crop, but we can’t decide which one to back for second place. My ideal result would be for there to be no noticeable difference between the three barrels as this would mean that it will be much easier for the Gambian people when they start growing for real.

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1st update, Sunday Aprill 6th:-  

 Potatoes planted today.

2nd update, Monday April 28th:-

Most of the twelve potatoes have now broken through the soil.

3rd update, Saturday 3rd May 

Barell A, had one inch (25mm) of soil added today. One inch (25mm) of growth left showing.

4th update, Wednesday 7th May

Barell A, had it's second inch (25 mm) of soil added today, again leaving one inch (25mm) of growth showing.

From the growth chart above it seems that I will be toping it up every three days. I will not report every top up, but will tell you when barrel A is full.

5th update, Thursday 8th May

Barell B, had one inch (25mm) of soil added today. Six inches (150mm) of growth left showing.

6th update. Sunday 11th May.

Barell B, toped up again today, as with barell A,  I will not report every top up, but will tell you when barrel B is full. 

7th update Tuesday 13th May.

Barell C had its first topup today.

8th update Saturday 31st May.

All the barrels are now fully topped up.

Note that the potatoes have grown slowest in barrel A, this was topped up leaving one inch of growth showing, most in C that had twelve inches showing before topping up, and average growth in B that was topped up with six inches showing. How (if) this will affect the final harvest is yet to be seen. 

9th update Saturday 21 June. 

Photo taken today.