Experimental Potato Planting

This year I thought I would do a bit of experimenting at the allotment garden. As age catches up with me I decided to go in for the 'no-dig' method of gardening and have consulted many books and articles about this Anyway, I thought I would bite the bullet and have a go. It felt really strange not digging over winter and because I wasn't sure of what I was really doing, I felt a lack of confidence about it and nearly gave in and went back to the traditional methods.

But I didn't - instead I spread straw over the allotment and mulched all the beds with sprinkled poultry manure - and kept my fingers crossed. I can already see what a difference this has made - there aren't nearly as many weeds as there usually are at this time of year - digging it over helps to spread the weed seeds about. I still have the usual dandelions coming up, but they are easily removed and so far none of the other perennial weeds have shown.

Consequently, the planting of potatoes, was going to be quite different as well. I used a bulb planter to plant them, then covered them with straw, and as the shoots came up I keep adding more. This has meant that I can plant the rows closer together, not wasting as much space. I will obviously have to keep mulching the rows - today I used grass clippings. I don't know how this experiment will turn out - whether or not there will be as many potatoes as normal, and whether I manage to keep out the light so that they don't turn green. I shall just have to wait and see.

Has anyone else tried this method - if so, has it been successful?

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Colin Robinson on April 22, 2012 at 20:46

I've been no-dig for three years now, Elaine, and for the same reason as you I suspect. Putting down a good mulch definitely helps keep the weeds at bay. I mainly get annuals like chickweed and the odd dandelion but they are easily dealt with.

As for the tatties, all mine are now grown in containers which sit on top of the mulched ground. Mostly I use polypots but anything that will accommodate a potato plant gets pressed into service. Not tried mulching with straw but have tried them under black polythene with only moderate results.