[Bernieboo15]

Hi all, am new here and a new allotment owner (February).  I was just wondering if anyone uses straw for earthing up potatoes or growing through ect.  Have read lots of pro's and con's and I bought 2 bales...no-one else on my lotties uses it, so wondering what experience others have ?

Cheers
Bernie

[Kleftiwallah]

I have used straw to earth up quite succesfully.  Go for it but don't use hay, that just turns into a slimy mass!

Cheers,   Tony

[davejg]

Hay is also full of grass and weed seeds.

[rawrecruit]

I've just been using grass cuttings. It sounds silly but there isn't enough earth because the plot is a bit low-lying and can waterlog, so I used what was available! So far potatoes doing fine, but I remove the grass when I water them because I don't want it all to rot.

[Ema]

I have 5 rows of 8 spuds under straw this year, I didn't have time to dig the old school way. they are all looking fine I've put some weed membrane over and made some xs for the foliage because my sites quite windy! The wort case is ill have a nice clear area of ground for next year

[Ema]

A mistake I made was to use some grass clippings as most sites seem to advise this, because my lawn at home is 50% dandilions and all the flowers have gone to seed!!

[Bernieboo15]

Thanks all...I earthed them all up with the straw yesterday and seeing as its raining ALLL day today, I'm thinking that should bed it in and stop it blowing about, looks nice I think : )

[Beetroot queen]

We have in the past used straw on the strawberries but we found it seemed to attract the slugs, plus the plot neighbours weren't impressed when the wind blew and they found small amounts on their plots.

[finleyfreyaseth]

We have in the past used straw on the strawberries but we found it seemed to attract the slugs, plus the plot neighbours weren't impressed when the wind blew and they found small amounts on their plots.

my word some people moan about the slightest thing,wind blown straw on there plot bet they cant sleep at night when it blowing outside

[Beetroot queen]

We have in the past used straw on the strawberries but we found it seemed to attract the slugs, plus the plot neighbours weren't impressed when the wind blew and they found small amounts on their plots.

my word some people moan about the slightest thing,wind blown straw on there plot bet they cant sleep at night when it blowing outside

Honestly this is only the tip of a very big iceberg lol. I just ignore most of it now

[Ema]

Gosh I wonder what my neighbours think then I've got loose straw everywhere

[R6robbo]

I,m doing just that now!
Well a mixture of straw and slightly rotted manure, seems to be working great.
So far. 

[finleyfreyaseth]

We have in the past used straw on the strawberries but we found it seemed to attract the slugs, plus the plot neighbours weren't impressed when the wind blew and they found small amounts on their plots.

my word some people moan about the slightest thing,wind blown straw on there plot bet they cant sleep at night when it blowing outside

Honestly this is only the tip of a very big iceberg lol. I just ignore most of it now

seen it all and heard it all myself had bit of same myself last week lol with someone

[grinling]

Remember to rake the straw up after the pots are out and burn as it doesn't rot down very quickly.

[finleyfreyaseth]

Remember to rake the straw up after the pots are out and burn as it doesn't rot down very quickly.

:blink: seems a waste just stick it on ure compost