I came across no-dig potatoes in the manual of organic gardening by the royal horticultural society. I'm going to try this, as the drainage in my allotment is very poor. Has any-one else had any experience with this?
Yep..I have done it and have to say that it almost as hard work as growing conventional way..it is the harvesting time when it gets easy.
I have found that forking the surface just couple of inches before planting helps the crop size as the potato is sitting slightly in the ground and can get its root bellow.
If you have access to straw or plentifull amount of grass clippings...great..as keeping the light out and mulching is so important. I have used both in same time and it was quite success...
But I still think that combination of conventional and "almost non-dig" works best for me.
I plant my potatoes just bellow surface and build up layers of mulch on top...
that way my plot gets valuable humus layer on soil, I save myself from hard work with digging and I get really good crop of potatoes with little marks on skin...beautiful...
I put my spuds in with a trowel, and then mulch over the top. You need masses of mulch as if the worms take it down the spuds are exposed and turn green. I've eaten many a green spud in my day, and I'm still here, but I don't suppose it's that good for you.
I dig a 3" to 4" planting hole too, and mulch with 8" to 10" well rotted manure topped off with grass clippings throughout the summer. It doesnt seem to matter if your ground is solid when you plant. The worm activity pulling mulch down opens up the soil beautifully. Makes for easy harvesting.
You can always add more mulch if you think the worms are being too dilligent ;)