[alfieplot162]

hi, my potatoes have not grown much, as they were covered in weeds, is it possible to put a mulch around them to retain moisture i was thinking of using grass cuttings  thanks alfie

[aelf]

I use grass clippings around mine but opinion differs amongst the forum members. The clippings can remove nitrogen from the soil as they decompose (I think that's right?) but I have very sandy soil  so retaining moisture is very important for me. I think I can afford to loose a little nitrogen as i use lots of rotted organic matter in the planting trench. Always get a good crop of spuds anyway so I'm happy 

[alfieplot162]

thanks for your help, i am going to mulch all my plot to keep the weeds down . alfie

[Runwell-Steve]

I always mulch around my potatoes and Beans with Grass clippings, never caused a problem yet.

[horticgirl]

Whilst grass clippings will retain moisture, it won't have the same effect as earthing up.
Earthing up with soil means you get more potatoes as the plant is able to produce shoots with spuds on higher up the plant. You won't get this with grass clippings as they can't grow in the clippings.
hope that helps

[aelf]

I earth up then mulch with clippings. A friend of mine cuts grass for a living and he grows potatoes in the grass pile - he just keeps throwing more grass on and the potatoes grow through it. He has very good yeilds too (and easy to harvest as the pile is now 3 feet high) 

[Ivor Backache]

The clippings can remove nitrogen from the soil as they decompose (I think that's right?) quote]

It's the other way about aelf, Green material contains nitrogen. It's the brown materials that remove nitrogen as they decompose.

I have seen an allotment completely covered in black material with holes for the plants to grow through.

[horticgirl]

wow that's interesting and not what I've been told - although I assume it has to be kept really moist, otherwise too many air spaces for the roots?

[aelf]

he doesn't water them at all, or care for them. He just throws some seed potatoes on the pile about March and covers them with clippings each week. The spuds do the rest - sink or swim as he says!