Author Topic: growing potatoes on black plastic  (Read 1493 times)

nodig

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growing potatoes on black plastic
« on: May 23, 2018, 19:19:01 »
So I have planted potatoes in clean soil which I barrowed in on top of a sheet of black plastic (covering some nasty deep rooted perennial weeds) - never done it this way before and can't find any mention of doing this on the internet.  Predictions please - doomed to failure or the best idea since sliced bread?

Pescador

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Re: growing potatoes on black plastic
« Reply #1 on: May 23, 2018, 19:33:03 »
Where's the rainfall going to drain? How deep is the soil on top of the plastic?
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nodig

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Re: growing potatoes on black plastic
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2018, 19:49:02 »
I put a full barrow load on each potato.  I may add more later on.

johhnyco15

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Re: growing potatoes on black plastic
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2018, 19:55:58 »
i grew potatoes one year in straw covered by black plastic i put holes in the plastic to let the stems out it worked very well
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Tee Gee

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Re: growing potatoes on black plastic
« Reply #4 on: May 23, 2018, 20:27:24 »
You did say ON TOP of the plastic with a barrowful of soil to cover them is this correct?

Like Pescador I am concerned about drainage particularly if your plastic is on a hollow rather than say a mound.

My advice would be puncture the plastic in a few places say at least one hole either side of where each tuber is placed.

Other than that I would say you should be OK! I suppose you could say they are effectively in a very big plastic bag which is a fairly common way of growing potatoes ( but these bags usually have drainage holes in them)hence my suggestion!

nodig

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Re: growing potatoes on black plastic
« Reply #5 on: May 23, 2018, 20:34:05 »
The land is flat and on the Norfolk coast where the rainfall is half that of say Wales.  Farmers around here often use sprinklers on potato fields after a couple of dry hot weeks  I agree that it is in effect a very large plastic bag and to put puncture holes in is a good idea. 

Digeroo

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Re: growing potatoes on black plastic
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2018, 07:13:09 »
I have also used straw bales on plastic and grown everything.  My soil was contaminated by weedkiller so I wanted to ensure no contact.  Potatoes, beans, courgettes all grew well.  Needs a lot of water and fertiliser.

Is the plastic the type that drains, how will you get it out again if covered in soil.

But a great idea, I am suffering from stinging nettles.  So will get some bales.

 

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