[rw3272]

I bought a large quantity of weed proof membrane last year.  The plan was to line the paths and then top with slate chippings.  As it is, the extra rubble/soil we added to level the paths has compacted down into a decent and not very muddy path, so the slate is on-hold.

I have been thinking about using some membrane to plant the potatoes under.  Last year despite nemaslug the maincrops were very badly slugged.  I dont like using slug pellets in the garden as we have a pup, cat and hens... but would feel comfortable enough using the pet freindly ones underneath membrane as they're that bit more protected.  Would also help avoid greening potatoes at the top.

Has anyone done this and if so how?  If you cut mini crosses into it and plant the tuber through the hole, do the shoots manage to find their way above the surface?  In my experiance the shoots don't seem to emerge above where I put the tubers in!

I thought I had read a topic on this but couldn't find it on the search.

Thankyou,
Rachael

[arugula]

I'd personally think it isn't worth the trouble of growing them under fabric, but I've seen it done on Beechgrove and (I think) Gardeners World. Here is some info, a bit down the page under garden diary:

http://www.thebeechgrovegarden.com/factsheet/factsheet.php?fact_id=102

[upert]

I planted potatoes through membrane in my first year and it was a great success. The leaves grew through the slits I'd cut and there was no virtually weeding to be done.

[rw3272]

Argyllie, I'd generally agree in open ground.  We have rasied beds 4ft wide and grow two rows in each, earthing up is possible but harder than open ground.  I thought if I planted into ridges and then covered with fabric itwouldn't matter quite so much and we'd get less greening.  Also I'm much more comfortable using "hidden" slug pellets.  Would be easy to apply during the season, just lift an edge and scatter.  Then can save the covers again for next year.

Thanks upert, so they just managed to find their own way out?

[Yorkie]

The slug pellets don't have a long lifespan so I doubt that any you put down under the fabric will have an effect for more than a few days.

[realfood]

I have grown potatoes under weed control fabric for many years and it works well. Just cut a X, use a dibber to make a hole(15 to 20 cm deep) for the spud and push it down to the bottom of the hole, then fill in the hole. Most of the shoots come out at the hole but some may need a helping hand. Remember to fertilise before you put the fabric down. I use slug pellets under the fabric and have very few slug problems. And very few weed problems. One benefit is that the soil keeps moist in hot spells.

[solway cropper]

I once tried growing under black polythene and suffered the worst slug problem ever, even with slug pellets under the cover. I now grow all my potatoes in containers and they come out more or less free of any slug damage. I also get more potatoes from a given area than if growing in the open ground.

[BabbyAnn]

The first year on my plot and I did the trench and earthing up method and was dismayed by all the weeds that took over the bed (bindweed & thistle were predominant along with a whole range of everything else) so the following couple of years planted through weed suppressant plastic.  Definitely kept the weeds at bay but then the ants moved in which kept the slugs out too but they were quite vicious little things.  As for keeping moisture in - well, my experience is that it was short lived and when the plants needed it the most, it was not that easy.  Suffice to say I went back to the trench and earthing up after that but at least the weeds were better controlled by then.

[JayG]

Growing spuds is supposed to be quite a good way of "cleaning" neglected, weedy soil, although it's more to do with the disturbance effect of earthing up, and the light-shading canopy of the haulms than any weed-killing properties of spuds!

Can also be a problem if the weeds concerned were mainly grass, as wireworms are quite likely to be present for the first few years (that's a bit off-topic, sorry!) 

Adding a few slug pellets before each earthing up is quite a good way of keeping the protection going whilst still keeping them hidden from other animals.

[gobs]

How to grow a lot of green potatoes topic.

I'm no fan, as obvious now. Maybe, for earlies, little crops. Or for some variety that the haulm is not directly under the stem. some do stretch out. Those will be more suitable.

[NASH]

These were some of mine from last year grown through weed suppresent

[Yorkie]

Is that your plot number growing in the wheelbarrow?  Classic! 

[NASH]

It is yorkie just thinking ways of trying to better it this year 

[bigben]

I use black fabric a lot but often for onions. I found that spuds are big boys and the earthing up combined with the shade they create helps (as JayG suggests) to clean the ground a bit. It is obviously not very easy to earth up if you are growing thru fabric. Spuds can compete fairly well with most weeds - I would save the fabric for others like onions that cannot compete as well.

[rw3272]

Thanks for all the replies, think I might try one bed to start with as a bit of a trial.

Rachael