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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: MervF on May 07, 2016, 19:08:25

Title: Growing potatoes in bags
Post by: MervF on May 07, 2016, 19:08:25
Due to our new site not being ready yet, I have been growing potatoes in bags at home this year.   Someone told me they top up the bags with lawn mowings after the initial sowing.   I am a bit worried this will attract slugs and snails.   Has anyone else tried using lawn mowings?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes in bags
Post by: Malcolm Brown on May 07, 2016, 19:47:29
I have had good success with growing early potatoes in green bags.  I put a few inches of compost in the bag, then fertiliser - I use Grow Sure Planting Magic - then a few more inches, then the potatoes and cover with a few inches.  Finally as the plants come through and grow I gradually earth-up until the bag is full.  They need plenty of water because there is a much greater water loss from a bag than growing in the ground.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes in bags
Post by: cestrian on May 09, 2016, 12:22:13
I use lawn mowings as a mulch for my french beans. it stops too much moisture evaporating and adds nitrogen as it rots down. Not noticed any more slugs when doing this, infact I don't think they like going across it when it has gone brown and dried out. i have beer traps everywhere though.

As Malcolm says plenty of water is important for good crop of spuds.
Title: Re: Growing potatoes in bags
Post by: Tee Gee on May 09, 2016, 16:32:08
adds nitrogen as it rots down.

Are you sure?

As I understand it the rotting process uses up any available nitrogen, but as it is around legumes which produce nitrogen in the noduals on the root system it might appear as if the grass  cuttings are producing nitrogen.

I might be wrong, has anybody else got a view on this?
Title: Re: Growing potatoes in bags
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 09, 2016, 17:04:06
adds nitrogen as it rots down.

Are you sure?

As I understand it the rotting process uses up any available nitrogen, but as it is around legumes which produce nitrogen in the noduals on the root system it might appear as if the grass  cuttings are producing nitrogen.

I might be wrong, has anybody else got a view on this?
as normal i agree with tg
Title: Re: Growing potatoes in bags
Post by: Tee Gee on May 09, 2016, 17:05:35
Quote
as normal i agree with tg

You don't have to!  :wave: :happy7:
Title: Re: Growing potatoes in bags
Post by: johhnyco15 on May 09, 2016, 17:08:17
Quote
as normal i agree with tg

You don't have to!  :wave: :happy7:
indeed but sense is sense no matter where you live or how you garden
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