[paul2004]

I intend growing potatoes in raised beds and thinking of covering in black plastic any one tried this before and what was the outcome.

[gobs]

Yes, and did not like it much,quite easy to get a lot of green potatoes. Make it a very thick sheet!

[paul2004]

Thanks gobs.

[WG.]

Depends which part of your sig applies since slugs can be a real problem.  I didn't find green tubers to be a problem - simply add soil or grass mowings on top if you think your plastic isn't thick enough.

[ytyynycefn]

I did this for the first time last season with my Desiree maincrops - worked really well!  I had a few green ones, but no more than I get by earthing up, and I applied nematodes into each planting slit at the start of the season, which saw off the plague of slugs that ate everything else.  I did get blight, but then so did most people last year!  I used quite thick plastic, which will hopefully do another season.

I also grew my salad spuds and second earlies in tyres, which worked very well too - we even had some lovely Juliet potatoes fresh on Christmas Day from the last one, which we saved especially.

[gobs]

I'm going to sound a moron of a smart a*** again but I ain't got much to lose, so here it goes.

All said is fine, generally speaking. You use good quality black sheeting or/and add top mulch and according to your liking slug control.

You surely going to tell me , so I just fire away: it is also variety. Some bulk up right under the stalk some like to spread out. If former, more greens in this arrangement.