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Seed potatoes under plastic

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  • #1

    Seed potatoes under plastic

    I manured / leaf-moulded the raised beds last Autumn & then covered them in black plastic.

    I sowed first early seed potatoes last week and replaced the black plastic to keep the soil warm & to protect them from frost/heavy rain. I intend to remove the plastic when the top of the haulms are visible.

    Would there be any problems associated with this method?
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  • #2
    How will you water them? (should they need it) and watch out for slugs ~ they just love sheltering under black plastic
    All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Two_Sheds View Post
      How will you water them? (should they need it) and watch out for slugs ~ they just love sheltering under black plastic
      and in my experience so do rats!i use cardboard now.

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      • #4
        If they are under black plastic how will you know when they sprout?

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        • #5
          I used black plastic last year and was very pleased with the results - loads of pink fir apples!

          some thoughts:

          1) yes plenty of water is crucial.

          2) after harvest the bed was (and remains) beautifully clear of weeds;

          3) I used Nemaslug every 4 weeks and slugs did not seem to be a problem;

          4) No sign of rats: but I am plagued by cats from next door.

          5) I kept looking to see when the spuds have sprouted and then cut holes in the black plastic in (approximately) the right places and pulled them through.

          6) I put on compost a coupel of weeks before planting, and also a few handfulls of pelleted chicken dung - high in phosphate which spuds are very fond of.

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