Most productive way to grow potatoes.

[silverseeds]

I know growing potatoes is pretty basic. (not from TPS)

I live in a short cool season area. What is the most productive way to grow potatoes per area? Reports on forums I go to range A LOT....

Some people seem to get a great yield hilling once or twice. Others do not.

How high can you hill potatoes? Ive seen people say they used tires to hill them up to chest level. I wouldnt use tires myself, who knows what would leech off of them, but is there anything to gain from hilling this high?

Would a short season type or long season type be ideal for extreme hilling?

I live in a rather arid area.... seems to me I could reduce water usage, per pound of potatoe, if it was on fewer plants.

So I would like to know the maximum level of hilling to test the levels of water needed...... of course I guess that probably depends on variety.....

[Tom Wagner]

My best yields this past year were on double trenched planting. Two feet deep trenches with tubers planted on the bottom of this and barely covered. Filled in with soil, compost, manure, and straw till it was buried by 2 1/2 ft. of this mix. Super yields with very little water needed.

Late varieties yielded the best.

Tom