Potatoes and grass clippings

[ber77tie]

I recently read an article suggesting putting grass clippings  in the bottom of the potato trench.it was suggested to keep tubers clean.has anyone tried this and if so do they have to be fresh clippings or can some old partly composted be used?

[ber77tie]

[ancellsfarmer]

Definitely dont use lawn clippings from grass treated with any mosskil/weedn feed or other chemical treatment....!

[goodlife]

Yes..you do need know know what has been done or not to the grass before using it with potatoes. Otherwise it is good stuff to use As for 'keeping the spuds clean'..well, I'm not entirely sure that is what clippings do..they are messy when they do start to rot down. And when the clippings start to rot down they will behave like a fertilizer and in same process helping to make your soil better.
I sit my seed potatoes into little bit of compost in a trench/hole, cover them with same stuff and then on goes the greenery, added in thin layers with soil and some fertilizer. If you add clippings in large quantity, there is chance that it start heating up and damaging the spuds. I rather have them growing first and produce more 'babies' before cooking them

[manicscousers]

We use them to earth up over newspaper 'collars' after we can't put any more soil on. Not our idea, Bob Flowerdews   

[goodlife]

Oh yes...on top of the potato trenches as mulch..to keep weeds and moisture down or even give some frost protection for the newly emerging tops 

[Ian Pearson]

'Keeping the crop clean' probably refers to reducing scab. This is a disease which disfigures the tuber skin, and which is encouraged by high pH and low moisture levels. Decaying grass cuttings (or any other organic matter) around the tubers will help keep the pH low, and increase moisture holding capacity.

[ber77tie]

Thanks for the replies! I haven't used any lawn chemicals so should be ok.i must admit I hadn't thought of 'clean' as the scab problem so thanks for that Ian.i got the idea from a guy growing spuds for the shows so I think I'll give it a go.