A Lesson with Christmas taters

Jim T · « **on:** October 02, 2007, 22:10 »

I've just been taught a lesson about Grass Cuttings as mulch.

My Christmas taters were growing real strong and were about 12 inches tall. I had been taking great precautions to keep them warm and hidden from the light. Straw, horse poo etc.
And I started covering the foliage with grass cuttings.
All was OK and I had a huge pile covered with fleece and a cloche. Then is when I think I made the big mistake . I put on too much grass cuttings and watered it ......... too much.

Within days the biggest plant had disappeared. I carefully took away the grass cuttings and found at the bottom a sad white stalk in amongst nasty slimy grass pats.

I still have a few strong but smaller shoots along the bed where I did not flood them. And I hope I have rescued the nearly dead one by puffing Bordeau Powder.

I hope this might help newbies to avoid this trap; and to the experts I ask:
Do you think my analysis is correct?

DD. · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:15 »

Personally, I couldn't be bothered with the effort of trying to get new spuds for Christmas, I'm happy with roast & mash. - although I think I may have some in the compost bin.

New spuds to me shout of spring, baby carrots with lamb & mint sauce from your new fresh shoots. (That's me - no objections to how others want to do it!).

I stand to be corrected, but I think the water was the problem, coupled with mulching - too wet!

WG. · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:16 »

What exactly is your analysis Jim

:?:

gobs · « **Reply #3 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:21 »

Jim, thank you I learned a new word there.

Grass cuttings! Hot! Leave plenty of space around plants when using as a mulch, especially young ones. Can burn them. :cry:

DD. · « **Reply #4 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:23 »

Quote from: "whisky_golf"

What exactly is your analysis Jim :?:

I assumed this..

Quote from: "Jim T"

I put on too much grass cuttings and watered it ......... too much.

Jim T · « **Reply #5 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:23 »

Quote from: "whisky_golf"

What exactly is your analysis Jim :?:

Like I said, I put on too heavy a mulch of grass cuttings and watered it too much, causing a slimy pat which rotted me tater shoot

WG. · « **Reply #6 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:28 »

If it happened quickly, then it is probable that the cuttings started composting & built up heat (it happens within hours). Nothing fungal or viral could have acted that quickly.

Jim T · « **Reply #7 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:31 »

Quote from: "whisky_golf"

If it happened quickly, then it is probable that the cuttings started composting & built up heat (it happens within hours). Nothing fungal or viral could have acted that quickly.

Many thanks Dave and to everyone else.
I'll let you all know if it recovers

DD. · « **Reply #8 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:35 »

Quote from: "Jim T"

Quote from: "whisky_golf"
If it happened quickly, then it is probable that the cuttings started composting & built up heat (it happens within hours). Nothing fungal or viral could have acted that quickly.

Many thanks Dave and to everyone else.
I'll let you all know if it recovers

Yes, do. There's no such thing as experimentation if you know how to get it right first time!

shaun · « **Reply #9 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:37 »

are they outside jim ?

Jim T · « **Reply #10 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:43 »

Quote from: "shaun"

are they outside jim ?

Yes.
By the way Shaun, Should I be giving my comfrey a hair cut now - they are all very tall and flowering but not yet wilting. I think you said wait til next year.

shaun · « **Reply #11 on:** October 02, 2007, 22:48 »

you planted them quite late didnt you so I would leave em,next year you will get 3 cuts.
hows the melons ?

Jim T · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2007, 23:50 »

Quote from: "shaun"

you planted them quite late didnt you so I would leave em,next year you will get 3 cuts.
hows the melons ?

I pruned them down to about 6 little fruits.
still feeding them with comfrey tea and keeping them warm with fleece and a cloche.
But they are only an inch long and I don't have much hope of them growing now. I have a max min thermometer in with them and the range is goiing about 8 to 18 degrees C but I think this is going down fast now.
Cheers, Jim

crowndale · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2007, 08:15 »

I planted 13 seed spuds (a pressies from weeed) for Christmas spuds back in late august. Mine are in the ground and covered by a fleece cloche (home made, very proud of this!) and are so far thriving but like Jim they are an experiment and if they work then great and if not then at elast I have had something growing in the ground over the winter! Weeed's are in buckets in a fairly sheltered garden and mine in the ground in a fairly exposed garden so it'll be interesting to see if either of us are successful or not.

Aunt Sally · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2007, 17:44 »

Quote from: "gobs"

Grass cuttings! Hot! Leave plenty of space around plants when using as a mulch, especially young ones. Can burn them. :cry:

Spot on then gobs

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A Lesson with Christmas taters

WG.

WG.