[Yana]

Is it OK to use the straw that has been covering the potatoes (I have tried the cover with straw and then grass method for potatoes this year) to mulch around the courgettes and squashes?
I don't want to throw the straw on the compost heap just yet if I can use it for something else this season. I don't need it for strawberrys.

[Kirpi]

Definitely use it as a mulch as you say and if you leave it on the beds over winter you will supress weeds and the worms will drag it into the the soil without you having to dig the plot over; ready for planting out next year.

[thestens]

How about round your strawbs?

[Kirpi]

You've just given me an idea for one of my spare hay bales, thanks

[Schubunny]

You've just given me an idea for one of my spare hay bales, thanks

I put partially rotted hay and bunny poo on my rhubarb last autumn, this year I have lots of nice long grass growing in there too. straw is just the stalk, not the top so no seeds, whereas hay is the whole thing with lots of ready to germinate seeds.

[Kirpi]

Hay is full of seeds but the plants that come up are easy to pull and our rabbit loves them and turns them into useful manure.