[Ema]

Just wondered if it was worth putting a layer of barley straw on top of my spuds followed by the soil almost as an insulating layer? Or will it just get wet go moldy and kill the spud?

[fatcat1955]

It can get mouldy but also attracts slug's.

[moose]

I grew my potatoes under a straw mulch last year, just straw. Yield slightly lower but it was not a good year anyway. I had only two potatoes from 6 ten meter rows that had slug damage. I've been using straw as a general mulch for three years and I don't find it increases slug damage.

[Ema]

Thanks both, I put them straight in but may well mulch with straw instead if we get a cold snap

[gavinjconway]

On the same sort of line I have bought far too many seed potatoes and am going to fill few wheelie bins with them. I have loads of horse manure mixed with shavings..  Would I be able to use this and soil mixture 50/50 or thereabouts. The manure is free and delivered to the plots each month..  I normally dig it in before planting much to other peoples disgust but hey my crops grow well.