Potato Cages

With Spring in the air, it is time to go outside (yes, I go outside sometimes)!

PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF!  I was outside AND I exercised!

The past two years I have tried my hand at gardening.  I must admit I do not have a green thumb.  I have been able to grow beautiful plants, with blooms, but no fruit/vegetables develop.  I've done some research - either no pollination or bad dirt.  I'm going to work out a plan to fix those things.

In the meantime, I'm focusing on growing something that I can't mess up!  POTATOES!

I don't have a big garden- just a small raised bed.  I did some research and found that many people grow potatoes in a tall "cage."  I decided to try it out!

Here are the supplies I used:

10 feet of 4' garden fence
Cable ties
Straw
Compost (without manure)-6 bags
Potato seeds
2 PVC Pipes - about 3', large

The first thing I did was drill holes in the PVC pipe.  Ultimately, the pipe will be used to help irrigate the potatoes.  Drilling holes will allow water to filter throughout the cage.

Second, use wire cutters to cut the fencing into 2, 5 foot pieces.  Use the cable ties to secure the fencing into two round cages.

Start layering straw, and add compost.  As you add the dirt, the straw will go to the edge of the cage, forming a barrier.

Place the PVC pipe in the center-don't press down in the dirt or you will clog the pipe.  Make sure you layer the compost while balancing the pipe, otherwise the pipe will fall.  You will need to pack down the dirt around the pipe until it is secure.

Layer the potato seeds as you go.  I put about 5 seeds per layer-about 5-6 layers in each cage.

I made two cages.  I'll update the blog as the potatoes grow.  All of my research indicates that each cage will have about 25 pounds of potatoes.

Now it's time for a root cellar!

Potato Soup

This recipe is featured on The Weekend Gourmet

I love a bowl of soup on a cold, winter night.  Tonight I had a craving for potato soup.  Here is the recipe:

4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
4 green onions, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and diced
1/2 stalk of celery, diced
Salt and Pepper
1/2 pound bacon
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk

In a large sauce pan, brown the bacon.  Remove the bacon and set aside.  In that same sauce pan, add the carrot, celery, and potatoes.  Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.  Make sure the potatoes don't stick to the bottom of the pan!

Add green onions, salt and pepper.  Stir and cook another 5 minutes.

Add flour.  Stir to combine.  Slowly add the chicken broth.  Stir as you add it.  It will thicken as it cooks.  Let that cook another 5 minutes.  When the potatoes are soft, take a potato masher and mash some of the potatoes.  This will give a creamy texture to the soup.

Add the cream and 1/2 cup milk.  Stir.  Let that cook on low heat for 25 minutes.  If you desire, add the remaining 1/2 cup milk.  This will depend on how thick you want your soup.

Handy Hint:  Mom says that making potato soup is a good way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.  Substitute mashed potatoes for diced potatoes.  Great idea!

Enjoy!