Allotments 4 All
Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: nodig on May 23, 2018, 19:19:01
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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?
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Where's the rainfall going to drain? How deep is the soil on top of the plastic?
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I put a full barrow load on each potato. I may add more later on.
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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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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!
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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.
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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.