We did potatoes in raised beds last year and they didn't do great. I am not sure why...it may have been too warm.

This year, we scalped a part of the lawn tossed down the seed potatoes and covered with straw. We are planning on adding compost and hay as they start growing. It is an experiment, so we will see how it works.

Here is a link that might be useful: my zone 5 gardening blog

I just saw another picture with potatoes in tires, but the way they were set up, there would be plenty of space for planting pumpkins around them. Maybe the warmth from the tires would help my pumpkins ripen faster :)

Also, any ideas to keep the deer out of the corn? I can fence one side with the cattle panels and grow some beans on them...maybe string some wire around the other sides? I don't want to fence in the whole garden. Has this worked for anyone?

I read somewhere, maybe on this forum, that putting fishing line on poles around the garden will keep deer out. I think it said run 2 strands, one at 2 foot and one at 4 foot. They said the deer can't see it so they don't jump over. But when they touch it they are scared away. I am going to try it this year.

I use the stake (thin fake bamboo) with fishline. It seemed to work reasonably well. But my raised beds are 4' x 12'.
The other night I sewed my own potato containers using acrylic felt. I made them 16" diameter and 16" tall. I will place them in empty spots in my perennial beds. Don't have enough room in my square foot garden for all the potato seeds I purchased. We'll see how they work. Smart Pots were too expensive.
Keski