what to use as mulch for potatoes

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Barbara Barker

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what to use as mulch for potatoes
« on: January 22, 2026, 13:32 »
I will be growing early potatoes in raised beds. This year I want to try covering them with mulch instead of burying them in soil. I have read that straw or grass clippings are recommended. Could I use instead the recently added material from my compost bin? Rather than wait for it to decompose in the bin,could I chop it up and mulch the potatoes with it?

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New shoot

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Re: what to use as mulch for potatoes
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2026, 17:57 »
I think the problem with using stuff that is not fully composted is that it attracts a lot of slugs and they can ruin your crop, although that can also be a problem using straw.  John who owns the site has a couple of articles you might find helpful  :)

A deep layer of grass clippings might go a bit wet and slimy, but I know some people on here use them.  I think that may be for potatoes actually planted into the soil and the clippings are instead of earthing up, but someone will hopefully be along at some point to clarify that.

https://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potatoes/growing-potatoes-under-straw-mulch/

https://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/potatoes/growing-potatoes-under-black-plastic/

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Yorkie

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Re: what to use as mulch for potatoes
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2026, 18:39 »
Be careful about using grass clippings that have had herbicide / weedkiller applied, as that may affect the spuds.
I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days all attack me at once...

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vikingraider

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Re: what to use as mulch for potatoes
« Reply #3 on: January 23, 2026, 16:35 »
As an experiment, I earthed up a tub of potatoes a year or 2 ago with grass clippings(a few inches of compost at the bottom). We got some good potatoes in the end from it

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snowdrops

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Re: what to use as mulch for potatoes
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2026, 17:35 »
I just use well rotted mulches as I operate a no dig plot, I do use grass clippings later on over the mounds, I also cut down lots of comfrey if I can that grows wild on our site and layer that on where I can.
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