Hi,
I have been given a bale of straw today and it was suggested that I can use this to 'earth up' the potatoes. Is this just as good as soil/compost. Do I need to let many leaves poking through?
Hi Aussie chick, the soil is heaped up to keep out light which would turn the pots green and make them poisonous. As long as it keeps out light, I suppose so, but not heard of it. You can cover all the leaves, they'll soon grow through. Hope this helps. Lottie ;D
No dont waste them on tatties- put them around strawbs and pumkins to prevent rot and weeds. Who gave you free straw anyway? (Needing some meself for my strawbs- there are lots of tiny weed seedlings around them)
The idea of straw on pots is interesting as a lot of pot growers down lottie have lost there pots due to the frost burning the leaves the straw could save them from the frost?
Yep I have to get some for my strawberries keeps the fruits clean as well.
I've used straw (well "manure" that is almost entirely composed of straw) around my spuds - mostly to mulch the soil which sets like concrete if it dries out (mmm grey clay). The soil underneath is much easier to work. I think it may attract slugs though. No problems yet...
Only sort of related but... I've wondered if using straw around leeks to blanch the stems would stop them getting gritty?
Im just doubtful that they would exclude the light above potatoes, not worth the risk of ending up with green tatties i dont think- you could trial it with one or two plants this year, and let us know what happens of course.
I have been using my lawn cuttings to 'earth up' my spuds. Have also earthed them up, but I thought, waste not want not! ;D People on our site use straw to combat the damages of the frost and it seems to work.
I use the old straw off my paths on some, works for me! Then replace the straw on paths to be used for next years beds!
I have put it under my Strawbs and have plenty for pumpkin as well. I'm hoping mice don't ( or rats) don't find it in the meantime and make themselves a home.
I got it from a friend who's a farmer, he sells it for £1 per bale, lives in north Bedfordshire. I have also been to other farm shops and they sell it anywhere from £2 to £4, so not very expensive especially if it works.
I'm going to put the straw under the leaves, to build up my mounds a bit, and cover any tatties ( my soil is clay and very hard to earth up, as its clumps), then I'm going to trial some potatoes with straw in top, leaving some greenery showing and I'll let you know how it works. I'll take photos and post it but it won't be till the weekend.
I'm also hoping that I will be able to dig it into the ground over autumn and winter and break down the clay a bit more for next year.
Thanks for your tips!
AC
Doris,
How much has the straw composted/broken down in that time?
I have a straw and manure fairy who visits my plot when I'm not there ;D I found a lovely bale of straw which I used to protect my spuds from frost. I had earthed them up with grass clippings but they still got damaged so chucked the straw right over them. They seem to have recovered :) The down side is that it blows about :(
It is possible to use straw for the potatoes. In Scandinavia people use straw for mulching for centuries. Often they grow potatoes under straw, no soil at all.
Put potatoes above ground in straw and mulch with more straw. Gives clean potatoes ;D
I am not sure how attractive it will be for mice and slugs........ >:(
I would have thought it kept the slugs off as we use it for strawbs and don't seem to have a slug problem. Mice on the other hand...!!!
In our vegetable gardens we never use straw any more. After rain we get lots and lots of slugs, hiding between the straw. Not even between the strawberies. There we use round plastics to put the berries on.
Only to protect the bulb fields, tulips and hyacinths etc. we have straw.
I've got no soil round my spuds as I didn't have any available as I didn't want to dig before planting stuff. Still don't want to dig as my back is horrible. I'm planting some stuff in a builder's sack which is filled with manure and I thought I could mulch that with the straw too. I hear what folks say about mice and slugs though so I'll be on patrol :)
I hate slugs, oh nooooooooooooooo! Might have to rethink!
AC it breaks down quite nicely in a year, strawy bits on top and composty stuff underneath!
I am looking for something to earth up spuds too as soil rock hard and cannot be nicely drawn up with a hoe as shown in books and on telly ;D. I like the idea of grass clippings although don't have very big lawn could make myself v popular with neighbours and offer to remove their clippings!
EJ - do they go slimy and smelly?
Mine was, I watered it then broke it up with a fork and then used a rake to earth up the potatoes. It is a bit lumpy so might let a bit of light through in places and I have no soil left so cannot earth up again unless someone donates me about six full mature compst heaps.
For slugs, this year, I have already put some nemaslug down.
No Justy. I don't heap them up too thickly, spread them around a bit and hey presto, all gaps filled.