Like a lot of Gardening, it’s an experiment that might result in a lot of good Sweet Potatoes just like using our variation on the No Dig/No Till garden bed preparation. Our success with Cucumber in Fabric Pots is a prime example of an experiment that will be a Gardening Way of Life in the future.
One obstacle we have to overcome is our suburban herd of Deer for whom Sweet Potato Vines are a major attraction as the past has proven. ‘Course, fencing is another of those Way of Life things that was brought home significantly a few years ago when Deer leaned over out 4 feet high fence and ate all the Okra leaves they could reach. Is there anything they will not eat? How, then, do we use Pots AND deter roaming White Tails?
We decided to place the Pots against a large stand of Azaleas and encircle the Pots with Chicken Wire. The idea being that any of the Vines that poke through the Wire are available to the Deer while most of the Vines will be directed into the tall Azaleas.
There was a natural half circle area where the Pot would fit and allow for a good Southern exposure for 6 to 8 hours of sun. Getting the filled pot from the garage where we mixed the dirt to its resting place. Well . . . the moving was easy. Getting the Dirt-filled Pot in/on the Foldit Cart was a bit of an adventure, but I’d put the Fence in place so it was an easy transition.
A week later the Vines look good and they have not escapes the Fence. The actual sun time will increase as the season progresses. We have had regular Deer visits recently after not having much action for months; likely to have our theory tested.
