Potato towers have been around for a while, but this particular self-watering potato tower is unique. It features a reservoir in the center that holds water, releasing it slowly to the potatoes over a period of a week or two. As long as there is a minimal amount of rainfall, you won’t have to water it.

 

To build the tower, the first step is to clean a 3-inch PVC pipe that will act as the water reservoir. PVC glue is used to seal the bottom of the pipe to prevent water leakage. A bolt is then drilled through the PVC to secure the rain catch to the top of the pipe. The tower is installed by digging a hole in the center of a 4×4 bed, using a level to ensure it is straight, and packing soil around the PVC to stabilize it. A support rod is hammered into the ground to prevent the tower from toppling over in strong winds. A trash can lid is secured to the rain catch with holes drilled in the center to allow rain to flow directly into the PVC pipe reservoir. Irrigation tubes are drilled into the tower at each level, and straw, compost, and potting soil are layered with potatoes. A high potassium and phosphorus fertilizer can be added to the reservoir to fertilize the potatoes. The tower is completed by layering the straw, compost, and soil, and planting organic potatoes that have already chitted.

Key Takeaways

• The tower features a reservoir in the center that slowly releases water to the potatoes over a period of a week or two.
• The tower is built using a 3-inch PVC pipe, a rain catch, irrigation tubes, and layers of straw, compost, and soil.
• Organic potatoes that have already chitted are planted in the tower, which can be fertilized with a high potassium and phosphorus fertilizer.

Building the Self-Watering Potato Tower

To build a self-watering Potato Tower, the first step is to clean a 3-inch PVC pipe that will act as a water reservoir. The pipe should be cleaned thoroughly to remove any debris or dust. After cleaning, apply PVC glue around the base of the pipe to seal it. This step is essential to prevent water leakage.

Next, drill a hole about one inch from the top of the PVC pipe and secure a bolt through it. This bolt will hold the rain catch at the top of the pipe. The bolt should be tightened with a nut, but it does not have to be too tight.

Dig a hole in the center of a 4×4 bed and use a level to ensure that the PVC pipe is straight up and down. Carefully reintroduce the soil back into the hole to stabilize the PVC pipe.

Install a support rod to prevent the tomato cage from toppling over in strong wind situations. The rod should be hammered into the ground and wired together with the tomato cage to prevent it from blowing over.

To create the rain catch, use a trash can lid and secure it to the water reservoir. Drill holes in the center of the lid and two holes for the wire to come up through. The wire should be secured to the bolt to prevent it from blowing off in heavy windstorms.

Drill three holes at each level of the PVC pipe and insert a piece of Mr. Landscaping micro irrigation hose into each hole. This hose will ensure that each level of the tower receives the same amount of water.

Each layer of the tower should have a layer of straw, a layer of compost and potting soil mixed together, and potatoes. Repeat this process for each layer of the tower.

To drain the main reservoir, adjust the flow of water or leave the end of the irrigation hose completely open. This will allow the water to drain out slowly, providing each layer of potatoes with a nice watering.

By following these steps, one can easily build a self-watering Potato Tower that will provide a steady supply of potatoes without the need for constant watering.

Cleaning and Sealing the PVC

To start building the self-watering Potato Tower, the 3-in PVC pipe needs to be cleaned and sealed. This pipe will act as the water reservoir for the tower. The PVC pipe needs to be carefully cleaned to ensure that there is no dust or debris. After cleaning, PVC glue needs to be applied around the very base to seal the PVC. This will ensure that there is no water leakage. The PVC glue needs to be given about a minute to completely dry to make it completely watertight.

After sealing the PVC pipe, a bolt needs to be put through it. This bolt will act as a way to secure the rain catch to the top of the PVC pipe. A hole needs to be drilled straight down from about 1 inch from the top of the pipe. The bolt needs to be run through the hole. The nut on the other side of the bolt needs to be hand-tightened down. This bolt will hold the rain catch, and it may be tightened later with a wrench.

Once the PVC pipe is sealed and the bolt is installed, a hole needs to be dug directly in the center of the 4×4 bed. A level needs to be used to make sure that the PVC pipe is straight up and down. After that, the soil needs to be carefully reintroduced back into the hole to stabilize the PVC pipe. It needs to be packed in there, and the PVC pipe needs to be checked again to ensure that it is still perfectly vertical.

The next step is to install the support rod that will prevent the entire tomato cage from toppling over in a strong wind situation. The rod needs to be hammered into the ground. After that, the tomato cage needs to be wired together to ensure that it doesn’t blow over in a heavy windstorm.

The rain catch and the automatic water mechanism on top are basically just a trash can lid. It needs to be secured to the water basin or the water reservoir to ensure that it doesn’t leak. The holes need to be put right in the center to ensure that any rain goes right into the 3-in PVC pipe. Two holes need to be drilled for the wire to come up through to secure it and ensure that it doesn’t blow off in a heavy windstorm.

Two of these holes are used to secure the bolt, and the rest of them are basically just drain holes. When the water comes in from a rain, it will drain directly into the center and go directly into the PVC pipe reservoir. Copper wires are easily bendable and will hold the potato cage in place. The potato cage needs to be secured to the inground post to ensure that it doesn’t fall over.

Finally, three holes need to be drilled at each level, and a piece of Mr. Landscaping micro irrigation hose needs to be put in each hole. This will allow each layer to have about the same amount of water as the PVC pipe fills up and slowly drains out to each level. After that, each layer needs to have a layer of straw, compost, and potting soil mixed together, followed by potatoes, another layer of soil on top of the potatoes, and then straw. This process needs to be repeated over and over.

The main reservoir can be drained in two ways. One way is to have a drip preset tip that can be adjusted to let the water leak very slowly. Another way is to leave the end of the irrigation hose completely open, and it will drain out within probably an hour to two hours. After a rainstorm, each layer of potatoes will get a nice watering. Additionally, a high potassium and high phosphorus fertilizer can be added to the reservoir on top, which will drain into the soil in each layer and provide a great fertilization and watering for each layer of potatoes.

Securing the Rain Catch

To create a self-watering Potato Tower, the first step is to clean a 3-inch PVC pipe that will act as the water reservoir. It is important to remove any dust or debris to ensure proper sealing. To prevent water leakage, PVC glue should be applied around the base of the PVC pipe and left to dry for about a minute.

Next, a bolt should be drilled through the PVC pipe about 1 inch from the top to secure the rain catch to the top of the pipe. The bolt should be hand tightened, and a nut should be placed on the other end.

The PVC pipe should then be installed in the center of a 4×4 bed and stabilized by carefully reintroducing soil back into the hole and packing it in. A support rod should be hammered into the ground to prevent the tomato cage from toppling over in strong wind situations. The rod should be wired to the cage to ensure stability.

A trash can lid should be used as the rain catch and secured to the water reservoir. Holes should be drilled in the center of the lid to allow rain to flow directly into the PVC pipe. Copper wire can be used to hold the rain catch in place.

Three holes should be drilled at each level of the tower, and a piece of Mr. Landscaping micro irrigation hose should be inserted into each hole. This will allow water to slowly drain out to each level and provide an equal amount of water to each layer.

After a rainstorm, the main reservoir can be drained slowly by adjusting the water flow or leaving the end of the irrigation hose completely open. Fertilizer can also be added to the reservoir to provide nutrients to each layer of potatoes.

Overall, securing the rain catch is an essential step in creating a self-watering Potato Tower. Proper installation and stabilization will ensure that the tower functions effectively and provides a consistent water supply to the plants.

Installing the PVC into the Ground

To start building the self-watering Potato Tower, the first step is to clean a 3-inch PVC pipe that will act as the water reservoir. It is important to ensure that there is no dust or debris on the pipe. After cleaning the PVC pipe, the bottom of it needs to be sealed with PVC glue to prevent water leakage. The glue should be applied around the base of the pipe, and then left to dry for about a minute to ensure that it is completely watertight.

Next, a bolt needs to be inserted through the PVC pipe to secure the rain catch to the top of the pipe. The bolt should be drilled down from about 1 inch from the top of the pipe. A nut needs to be tightened on the other side of the bolt to hold the rain catch. It is not necessary to tighten the nut too much, as it is just meant to hold the rain catch in place.

After the PVC pipe is prepared, a hole needs to be dug directly in the center of the 4×4 bed. A level should be used to ensure that the PVC pipe is straight up and down. The soil should be carefully reintroduced back into the hole to stabilize the PVC pipe. It is important to pack the soil in tightly and double-check that the PVC pipe is still perfectly vertical.

To prevent the entire Potato Tower from toppling over in a strong wind situation, a support rod needs to be installed. This can be done by hammering the rod into the ground. The tomato cage needs to be wired together with the support rod to ensure that it does not blow over in a heavy windstorm.

A trash can lid needs to be secured to the water basin or the water reservoir. The lid should have holes in the center to ensure that any rain goes directly into the 3-inch PVC pipe. Two holes should be drilled to allow the wi to come up through and secure the trash can lid. Copper wire can be used to hold the potato cage to the inground post to ensure that it does not fall over.

After the PVC pipe is installed, three holes need to be drilled at each level. A piece of Mr. Landscaping micro irrigation hose should be inserted into each hole. This will allow each layer to have the same amount of water as the reservoir fills up. Each layer of the Potato Tower should have a layer of straw, a layer of compost and potting soil mixed together, potatoes, and another layer of soil on top of the potatoes. This process should be repeated over and over.

To drain the main reservoir, an adjustable drip tip can be used to adjust the amount of water flow. Alternatively, the end of the irrigation hose can be left completely open, allowing the water to drain out slowly over an hour or two. High potassium and high phosphorus fertilizer can be added to the reservoir to fertilize each layer of potatoes.

Once all the layers are added, the self-watering Potato Tower is complete. Three to four organic potatoes that are already chitted can be added to the tower to grow properly.

Securing the Tower against Wind

To prevent the self-watering Potato Tower from toppling over in strong winds, a support rod needs to be installed. The rod should be hammered into the ground and the tomato cage should be wired to it to ensure stability.

Additionally, three holes should be drilled at each level of the tower, and a piece of Mr. Landscaping micro irrigation hose should be inserted into each hole. This will allow for the tower to be watered at each level and prevent any one section from being overwatered.

To further secure the tower against wind, it is recommended to use copper wire to attach the potato tower cage to the inground post.

Overall, these measures will ensure that the self-watering Potato Tower remains stable and functional even in windy conditions.

Installing the Rain Catch

To install the rain catch, the first step is to clean the 3-inch PVC pipe that will act as the water reservoir for the self-watering potato tower. This pipe needs to be carefully cleaned to ensure there is no dust or debris. After cleaning, PVC glue must be applied around the base of the pipe to seal it completely and prevent any water leakage.

Next, a bolt needs to be drilled through the PVC pipe about 1 inch from the top. This bolt will act as a way to secure the rain catch to the top of the PVC pipe. Once the bolt is in place, a nut is tightened on the other side to hold the rain catch securely.

After securing the PVC pipe, a hole is dug directly in the center of the 4×4 bed, and a level is used to make sure the PVC pipe is straight up and down. The soil is then carefully reintroduced back into the hole to stabilize the PVC pipe. A support rod is then hammered into the ground to prevent the tomato cage from toppling over in strong wind situations.

The rain catch is secured to the water basin using a trash can lid, and holes are drilled in the center to ensure any rain goes directly into the 3-inch PVC pipe reservoir. Two holes are also drilled to secure the wire that will hold the rain catch in place.

Three holes are drilled at each level of the potato tower, and a piece of micro irrigation hose is placed in each hole. This hose will ensure that each level of the tower receives an equal amount of water as the reservoir fills up. A layer of straw, compost, and potting soil mixed together is added on each level, followed by potatoes, and then another layer of soil. This process is repeated until the tower is complete.

Finally, the main reservoir can be drained either by adjusting the water flow or leaving the end of the irrigation hose completely open. Fertilizer can also be added to the reservoir to provide nutrients to the potatoes as they grow.

Drilling Holes and Installing Irrigation Tubes

To start building the self-watering Potato Tower, the first step is to clean the 3-inch PVC pipe that will act as the water reservoir. The pipe needs to be cleaned carefully to ensure there is no dust or debris. After cleaning, PVC glue should be applied to the base to seal it and prevent water leakage. Once the glue is applied, it should be given about a minute to dry completely.

The next step is to drill a hole in the PVC pipe, about 1 inch from the top, and insert a bolt through it. The bolt will be used to secure the rain catch to the top of the PVC pipe. The bolt should be hand tightened, and a nut should be placed on the other side to hold it in place.

After securing the PVC pipe, a hole should be dug directly in the center of the 4×4 bed. The PVC pipe should be placed in the hole, and a level should be used to ensure it is straight up and down. The soil should then be carefully reintroduced into the hole and packed in to stabilize the PVC pipe.

To prevent the tomato cage from toppling over in strong winds, a support rod should be installed by hammering it into the ground. The tomato cage should then be wired together to ensure it doesn’t blow over in heavy windstorms.

The rain catch and automatic water mechanism are placed on top of the PVC pipe. A trash can lid is used as the rain catch, and holes are drilled in the center to ensure any rain goes directly into the 3-inch PVC pipe reservoir. Two holes are also drilled to secure the wire that will hold the rain catch in place during heavy windstorms.

Three holes are drilled at each level of the Potato Tower, and a piece of Mr Landscaping micro irrigation hose is inserted into each hole. This will allow each level to receive a similar amount of water as the reservoir fills up. After inserting the irrigation tubes, each layer should have a layer of straw, compost, and potting soil mixed together, followed by potatoes and another layer of soil. This process should be repeated for each layer.

To drain the main reservoir, a drip tip can be used to adjust the water flow rate or the end of the irrigation hose can be left completely open to allow the water to drain out within an hour or two. Fertilizer can also be added to the reservoir to fertilize each layer of potatoes as they receive water.

Once all the layers have been added, the self-watering Potato Tower is complete and ready for planting.

Layering the Tower with Soil and Potatoes

The self-watering Potato Tower project involves layering the tower with soil and potatoes. The first step is to clean the 3-inch PVC pipe that will serve as the water reservoir for the tower. PVC glue is then used to seal the base of the pipe to prevent water leakage.

Next, a bolt is inserted through the PVC pipe to secure the rain catch to the top of the pipe. The bolt is tightened by hand to hold the rain catch in place and prevent it from falling off.

A hole is then dug in the center of the 4×4 bed, and a level is used to ensure that the PVC pipe is straight up and down. The soil is then carefully reintroduced into the hole to stabilize the PVC pipe.

A support rod is installed to prevent the entire potato tower from toppling over in strong wind conditions. The rod is hammered into the ground and wired together with the tomato cage to ensure stability.

The rain catch and automatic water mechanism are secured to the water reservoir using a trash can lid. Holes are drilled in the center of the lid to allow rainwater to drain directly into the PVC pipe reservoir. Copper wire is used to hold the rain catch in place and prevent it from sliding down inside the PVC pipe.

Three holes are drilled at each level of the tower, and micro irrigation hoses are inserted into the holes. The hoses are tightly secured to ensure they go about an inch into the PVC pipe. This allows each layer of the tower to receive the same amount of water and fertilizer.

The tower is then layered with straw, compost, and potting soil mixed together. Potatoes are added to each layer, and another layer of soil is placed on top of the potatoes. This process is repeated over and over until the tower is complete.

After the tower is completed, the potatoes are watered and fertilized automatically using the self-watering mechanism. This ensures that each layer of the tower receives the same amount of water and fertilizer, resulting in healthy and abundant potato growth.

Finishing the Tower and Planting Potatoes

The speaker in the video is working on a self-watering Potato Tower that requires minimal watering as long as there is a minimum amount of rainfall. The tower is made using 3-in PVC, which acts as the water reservoir. The first step is to clean the PVC and use PVC glue to seal the bottom to prevent water leakage. A bolt is then placed through the PVC to secure the rain catch to the top of the PVC pipe.

To stabilize the PVC pipe, a hole is dug in the center of the 4×4 bed, and the soil is carefully reintroduced into the hole. A support rod is then hammered into the ground to prevent the tomato cage from toppling over in strong wind situations. The speaker then wires everything together to ensure that the tower does not blow over in a heavy windstorm.

The rain catch and automatic water mechanism are secured to the water basin using a trash can lid. Holes are placed in the center of the lid to ensure that any rain goes directly into the 3-in PVC reservoir. Copper wire is used to hold everything in place, and micro irrigation hose is placed in each level to allow for slow drainage of water to each layer of potatoes.

Each layer of the tower will have a layer of straw, compost, and potting soil mixed together, followed by potatoes, another layer of soil, and then straw. The process is repeated for each layer of the tower. The main reservoir can be drained using a drip tip or by leaving the end of the irrigation hose completely open to allow for drainage within a couple of hours.

The tower is completed by adding each layer in time-lapse, and the potatoes are planted. The speaker will use organic potatoes that have already chitted and will be adding high potassium and high phosphorus fertilizer to the reservoir to ensure proper growth.