Lesley Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 We will not have time this year to prepare the ground where we want to have potatoes so I've done some googling and found plenty of information on growing potatoes above ground, using straw. I'm going to give it a go. Have any of you allotment holders come across this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I've not heard of this and would be easier, only thing is how do you keep the light off the developing tubers to stop them going green? karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 31, 2007 Author Share Posted March 31, 2007 That's what the straw does - it is a thick layer. The potatoes come out clean and you only take out what you need and replace the straw. No spearing of potatoes with the fork either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I've never heard of this. I've just asked my Grandad about it and he said it's not a good way to grow them. He used to be Allotment Secretary in Derby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 That's what the straw does - it is a thick layer. The potatoes come out clean and you only take out what you need and replace the straw. No spearing of potatoes with the fork either! Now that would be good karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 makes it sound a lot easier! I went on a vegetable-growing course at Capel Manor College a couple of weeks ago, and they suggested that if you have an overgrown area - or just grass - you can plant through cardboard. Basically you dig a hole for the spud, align the cardboard and cut a hole in the right place, plant the potato and then cover the lot with leafmould or compost. Spuds are kept nice and dark, the grass/weeds are starved of light and die, and in due course the cardboard rots down. The tutor was just using cut-up cardboard boxes. I haven't tried it, but it sounds good - might be a good combination with straw, if you've got a weedy area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 1, 2007 Author Share Posted April 1, 2007 I used cardboard as a mulch before but not to grow potatoes on. I collected cardboard sheets from the tip. i had to ask first as you're not supposed to take stuff from the skips. I will use cardboard again, with some chicken poo compost, put the potatoes on top and then cover with straw. Olly - our patch is very overgrown so hopefully, this will work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
