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Planting potatoes

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Keith D (U14033222) on Sunday, 4th March 2012

  My grandad & my dad both used to dig a trench & put a good thick layer of well rotted manure in the bottom & then nestle the seed potatoes in it & cover them, which is the way I have done them for the last 3 years & had fairly good results but I have just read in a gardening book that you don't add manure to potatoes when setting them. Which is correct ??

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Tee Gee (U10012255) on Sunday, 4th March 2012

  To my mind it is either/or to explain;
  
  I have done both that is; dig in the manure before the onset of winter or place it as you describe.
  
  I prefer the digging in method as this ensures the manure is further rotted and is saturated with the winter rain etc.
  
  My other thoughts are with the bed of manure the moisture retentive is below the forming tubers whereas I always think when it is dug in it is around the newly forming tubers.
  
  So now you can see why I say either / or i think it is simply a case of what your own preferences are.
  
  Perhaps others have another point of view!

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Plot74 (U15190250) on Saturday, 17th March 2012

  You can plant your spuds on a bed of straw good moisture retention and put the manure on top of your soil for this will feed the tubers as they grow and not seep away.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Plotthirty (U11684729) on Sunday, 18th March 2012

  There are many methods used, and if you are happy doing it you grandfather's & father's way and it produces the potatoes carry on.
  I must admit to trying different methods on my allotment to see what results I get. Last year due to time restraints I didn't chit mine before planting, and the results were poor. So this year they've been chitting for a month. Last year I dug in the manure [mushroom compost] when I dugover in March, but this year I added horse manure on half the potato bed, and left the other half. So we'll see what happens.
  In past years on a previous plot, I did the same as you but lined the trench with grass clippings, instead of manure, covered the tops with grass as they grew through, with a final covering of soil. Some varieties thrived on this method whilst others didn't. So it's a question of personal preference really.
  However unlike last year we could do with rain in April/May instead of drought [here in south London]

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