Potato towers are a smart, space-saving gardening technique that allows you to grow a surprisingly large harvest in a very small footprint.
The images above show the full process—from building the tower to planting, growth, and harvest—making it an ideal method for small gardens, urban yards, and beginners alike.
What Is a Potato Tower?
A potato tower (also called a potato cage) is a vertical growing structure usually made from wire mesh, fencing, or a frame.
Inside the structure, potatoes are grown in layers of soil and straw. As the plants grow upward, more material is added, encouraging potatoes to form along the buried stems.
How a Potato Tower Works
1. Building the Structure The tower is typically formed using wire mesh shaped into a cylinder and secured with ties.
This allows air circulation, drainage, and easy access during harvest.
2. Layering the Base The bottom is filled with a layer of soil or compost. Seed potatoes are placed around the edge, not the center, to give tubers space to develop.
3. Soil & Straw Layers As potato plants grow taller, layers of straw and soil are added gradually.
Straw keeps the soil loose, prevents rot, and improves airflow.
4. Vertical Growth
Buried stems produce additional potatoes, maximizing yield per square foot.
5. Harvesting
When plants die back, the tower can be gently opened from the side or lifted upward, revealing potatoes layer by layer—clean and easy to collect.
Benefits of Potato Towers Space Efficiency One tower can replace an entire row of potatoes in a traditional garden.
Higher Yields Vertical growth encourages multiple layers of tuber production. Excellent Drainage The loose structure reduces the risk of rot and disease.
Easy Harvest No digging required—just unravel the tower.
Soil Control Perfect for poor native soil, as you control the growing medium entirely. Best Potato Varieties for Towers Yukon Gold Red Pontiac Fingerling potatoes Russet (with deeper towers)
Avoid very early varieties, as they produce fewer layers. Tips for Success Keep soil consistently moist, not soggy Use clean straw or hay Place the tower in full sun Add compost between layers for nutrients A Perfect Method for Small-Space Gardening
Potato towers are an excellent example of working smarter, not harder.
By using vertical space and simple materials, gardeners can grow a substantial food crop almost anywhere.
Whether you’re gardening in a backyard, courtyard, or community plot, potato towers offer a practical, productive, and satisfying way to grow your own food. 
