The first of our potatoes went in last weekend. We have Charlotte, Pink Fir Apple and Sante. The Charlottes went in using a layer of grass cuttings with 2 sheets of the 'Hereford Times' method in some trenches, manure and the 'Guardian' in the rest. They took up a lot more room than we'd expected and we can see why people advised us to only attempt 2 or 3 varieties.Had hoped to get the Pink Fir Apples in this weekend - perhaps this afternoon if the hangover wears off?
**NEWSFLASH**
We think we have an egg in bird-cam-box.
3 comments:
Oooh -here's hoping for an egg!
Now what does the newspaper do? Help absorb moisture for the roots? I used newspaper with staw on top where I'm trying to block out grass. It does seem like it could be useful. We rototilled part of that area and it has mixed in quite well. Do you use it in the trench or hole for any other plants? PS-your note on global allotments -I think an electronic book would be the way to go-with blogger photographers, gardeners and writers.
I think the newspaper retains moisture and suspect a layer of grass would turn to slime and do the same. There was a UK tv special a month or so ago featuring an allotment site in Birmingham. One of the very serious plotholders grew his potatoes this way so we thought we'd try it. We also shred newspaper for the compost bin and a lot of bloggers use it to make seedling pots which rot down.
interesting. we do our potatoes by planting with a bulb planter [i am lazy] and then well rotted manure and newspaper/thin cardboard on top, and then put grass clippings on top as a mulch as the paper rots down.
[frantic gardener]
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