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Potato growing 2026

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by burnie, Dec 16, 2025.

  1. burnie

    burnie Total Gardener

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    Received an email to say my choice of seed potatoes were now in stock, so order placed. Anya, one I have not grown for a while, my wife requested red potatoes so Rooster and Java also ordered, just a kilo of each as we don't have a huge amount of space.
     
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    • waterbut

      waterbut Gardener

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      Talking of potato growing. My neighbour has an allotment and he was telling me his neighbour at the allotments earths up his potatoes with grass cuttings instead of earth. I have no intention of doing this but has anyone tried it with success.
       
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      • infradig

        infradig Total Gardener

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        Hay, bracken, coco fibre matting, straw, strawy manure why not grass mowings. Just to keep out the light. Slugs likely the biggest problem, but needs must...
         
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        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I use grass cuttings @waterbut with very good results, never had problems with slugs. I've done it for several years running
           
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          • burnie

            burnie Total Gardener

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            I was watching a youtube AI thing on the old ways of growing potatoes(yes they are usually a load of rubbish)but it got me thinking about trying not burying the seed tatties in a raised bed as an experiment. I'll report back, thing is I will need a constant supply of mulching material through the growing season, not sure I have that.
             
          • Thevictorian

            Thevictorian Total Gardener

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            That is basically the Ruth Stout method. I've read quite a few times that it does work but doesn't give the biggest harvests because the weather plays a bigger part due to less protection and moisture retention.

            The downside to grass clippings is they do attract slugs and can go slimey. A thin layer can be good though.
             
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            I seem to get a reasonable crop off of the ones I missed the year before, just makes me wonder if the drying out through the winter is not the best of things for a seed potato tuber.
             
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