Allotments 4 All

i was told that when planting  potatos to put a thick layer of sawdust or rabbit bedding down use or unused  to help with warmth iv read other pages that surgest paper grass clipping etc but wounderd if sawdust ,straw would do could any one help please

Or re-claimed peat? But none are necessary.

I think everyone has their own little quirky method of what works, and it is interesting to hear about them all.  We usually line our trench with manure and grass cuttings.  I have heard of newspaper, straw and seaweed also being used.  You pay your money and take your choice, as the saying goes.  ;) busy-lizzie

I would avoid saw dust as it will rob nitrogen from the soil as it rots and spuds are hungry feeders.

Manure, comfrey leaves, shredded paper, compost etc are all fine and help retain moisture and help feed the plant.

I also mulch the suface with grass clippings, same as on runner beans.

Jerry

Mmh Jerry

I wonder if mulching beans and potatoes with grass cuttings was not just an old wives tale to get us to keep our lawns mowed  :-\ ;D

i to as jerry use the clippings to mulch and retain moisture, and after watching that gardening speacial and seen the indian guy use stone and not water so much well its gooto be an idea !

i may even try the stone thing with my tomatoes and alike to help retain the moisture in the top of there tubs !!! any thoughts ?

carl

I used them on the greenhouse beds to good effect. They're a pretty good all round mulch.

I was going to try grass clippings, newspaper and leaf mould this year after watching the GW special.  Previous years I haven't done anything, and I'm guessing why last year I didn't get much of a crop!

I lined with seaweed and horse manure last year and got low yield (small spuds).  I also did it for onions with good results.

Don't know whether it was a combination of late planting or dry conditions, but I aim to try it again this year.

Oh dear I'm confused now. I thought onions didn't like manure? ::)

I agree grawrc. The knowledge amongst us advocates not exposing onions to fresh manure. Rotted manure may be added during preparation of the bed, to support the hunger of the onions, but that is all. I presume that is what sba did.

Don't put down sawdust it takes the nitrogen out of the soil also you can get honey fungus

thanks all keep it for the compost bin then im glad i asked now thanks again
from loulou

What stone thing? Enlightenment please .................. ???

I've got guinea pigs and theyre are bedded on shredded paper and sawdust, shall i just have them on paper and use that for tatties, and where do i put it? underneath or on top?

Quote from: Emagggie on March 08, 2006, 21:29:09
What stone thing? Enlightenment please .................. ???

The stone idea is to "mulch" the ground with large stones/pebbles with the idea that it holds moisture under neath.

Indeed if you pick up a large stone from the soil surface in summer it is often damp underneath.

Jerry

The paper should be fine and I would put it underneath the seed potato to hold a bit of moisture.

Jerry

Of course, silly me. It's what I do to my clematis.
Thanks Jerry.