The "berries" are normal and quite common depending on the variety. If they bloom and the blooms are pollinated by insects, the seeds form - what you are calling berries. They are not a result of the watering, just variety - some potatoes bloom and some don't and some only do so if the nutrient levels and growing conditions are just right. They are however poison so don't try to eat them. If you wished, you could, theoretically grow potatoes from those seeds but most don't care to take the time and trouble involved.

Watering "from the top" is also the normal approach for most home gardeners. Whether that water was sufficient or not, can't say. If it drained out the bottom of the box it was enough. Sq foot beds, if you used Mel's mix, do drain well and fast so you may have needed to water less but more frequently - depends on the weather too. Timing of the water during the growth cycle is also important and extra is needed while the plants are blooming.

Using soaker hose on EVERY level of the box may be a bit of over-kill as it will leach out the nutrients in the soil so be sure to feed them well and several times during the season. Keep in mind that as a general rule, too much water is more problematic for plants than is too little so don't get too carried away. ;) If you note the plant leaves are yellowing then cut back on the watering.

Disappointing yields can be from several things: variety, nutrient levels, soil structure, weather, etc. Early varieties don't produce in the same fashion or as much as mid and late season varieties.

As to crop rotation - that is optional. If you can do it, great. But many can't and don't so please don't assume that it is required. And no, sterilization of the boxes is not required.

The link below is to a good basic article on how to grow potatoes. You'll also find many discussions here that a search using the forum bar at the bottom of the page and the word 'potatoes' will pull up for you if you want to review them - lots of good tips and how-tos.

Hope this helps.

Dave

Here is a link that might be useful: How to Grow Potatoes in the Home Garden

Dave - thanks for the information, and the link was really helpful. I will keep an eye out for sad and wimpy plants and keep the organic plant food around and ready. I guess it makes sense that brother-in-law wouldn't have seen the berries, since by his admission, they mostly had russets around his hometown. We'll see what we can do this year with the box. It makes me happy to not have to move dirt around every year, but I think to be safe, I will be mixing in fresh stuff with the old dirt when I go to replant. I still have to wait another couple of weeks for seed potatoes, and with my luck, they'll be in when I'm gone for work the last few weeks of the month. I'm trying to be patient about getting stuff in the garden, but I'm really anxious about the dirt sitting there empty and I feel that ... I ....MUST ... PLANT...SOMETHING ......

Anyway, thanks for responding.
Evie

As always Dave has provided lots of very useful information. Along with that, I would suggest you read the thread Potato varieties for bins. There is some good information there regarding growing potatoes in the method you mentioned.

Here is a link that might be useful: Potatoes in bins

I'd worry more about too much water in the bottom of the bins, not too little. There was alot of hubbub surrounding potato bins in these forums last year, with very disappointing results. Some have theorized that unsuitable varieties were to blame. The link johnny posted above discusses some more suitable varieties.