Mulching potatoes with mown grass and straw: planting

Mulching potatoes with mown grass (hay) or straw helps retain moisture and heat in the soil, so planting tubers under mulch is considered an effective way to improve yields in unfavorable climatic conditions.A significant advantage of mulching potatoes with mown grass and straw is that it makes gardening easier – this natural cover eliminates the need for frequent weeding and loosening the soil between plants. Furthermore, natural condensation, which forms when temperatures fluctuate at different times of the day, prevents the soil from drying out on hot afternoons.

In addition to the agricultural benefits of this type of cover, its low cost remains an important factor – compost that has been thoroughly dried in the sun is a suitable material.

Planting potatoes under mulch

Experienced agronomists recommend planting tubers under mulch. They justify this recommendation by completely eliminating the need for soil loosening and hilling. Furthermore, this method allows access to the plant in any weather, allowing for timely feeding or control of Colorado potato beetles, despite the impenetrable mud of a typical garden.

Planting process:

1. Collect all plant-based waste from the area of ​​the garden allocated for this crop.
2. Additionally, fertilize the soil with humus or peat, pre-mixed with mineral fertilizers, in a 10-15 cm layer. There is no need to dig up the beds.
3. Place the planting material with the sprouts facing down, so that when pulled toward the light, a longer stem will form. The tubers are laid out in a standard pattern—as when planting with a spade.
4. Cover the entire potato bed with a layer of dried hay or straw. Hay is preferable – it's finer and allows moisture and air to pass through better. The cover should be at least 20 cm thick.
5. When the sprouts grow to 5-6 cm, put another layer of hay or straw of the same thickness.

Types of mulch

This category of covering material can be organic or artificial. Advantages of natural mulch:

• cheapness;
• accessibility;
• gradual fertilization of the soil through natural processes.

Inorganic materials for suppressing weeds and diseases, as well as for creating optimal growing conditions are:

• non-woven materials – spunbond, agrofibre;
• polyethylene film.

This material can be used for several seasons in a row, but it's not suitable for root crops—if tightly covered, fungal diseases can develop under the film, which can ruin the entire harvest. Therefore, the beds will need to be "ventilated," which isn't always convenient.

Other methods of mulching potatoes

If hay or straw is not available, you can cover the potato rows with other types of plant or artificial mulch:

• Sawdust. All tree waste is suitable for potatoes, except for conifers, which acidify the soil too much. Most agronomists recommend covering potatoes with rotted sawdust to minimize the lingering microorganisms. The main drawback of this type of mulch is its poor decomposition. According to reviews, this type of mulch is not suitable for colder regions.
• If desired, pine or spruce cones can be used as mulch. However, in this case, you'll need to lay a layer of agrofibre underneath, as the resin in this product makes the soil too acidic. This type of mulch is most often used as a decorative covering in flowerbeds with plants that tolerate highly acidic soil.
• Besides legumes, phacelia is considered the best green manure for potatoes—the tubers can be planted directly in rows with this plant. When the potato sprouts reach the same size as the plant, the grass is mown and used for mulch, after being dried. After harvesting, the green manure mulch should simply be dug over during autumn soil preparation—it will rot over the winter and become an excellent fertilizer for the next harvest.
• Mulching potatoes with film allows for earlier and more uniform germination due to heat accumulation under the cover. Therefore, only dark-colored mulching material is used. Once the seedlings emerge, the film should be removed—without access to light, the plants will die. If desired, you can cut the polyethylene crosswise above each plant to ensure adequate sun exposure.
• Experts recommend using peat mulch when planting potatoes in holes. In this case, the sprouted tubers should be placed in a shallow hole and covered with a layer of peat mixed with soil. As the stems grow, this type of mulch should be continually added so that the sprouts rise 10-15 cm above the bed.
• When working with compost, most agronomists recommend placing newspaper underneath the compost layer—this will help better control weeds. A thin layer of compost—about 5-6 cm—is used for mulching. Furthermore, the bacteria and worms that intensively process the waste are better at controlling various viruses than any artificial fungicides.

Reviews

Stepan Ivanovich:

"For years, I've been using my own method of planting potatoes—under straw. And every time, I get excellent results with minimal effort. My neighbors literally turn their necks to look at my harvest. However, they continue to plant the old-fashioned way, wasting countless hours weeding and watering."

Svetlana Grigorievna:

"I tried planting potatoes under sawdust last year. I didn't like it—the yield was small and sparse."

Vasily:

"I always plant potatoes on newspapers and cover them with a layer of peat. I prefer to get a good harvest in a small space, so I'm generous with fertilizer and watering. I'm able to grow good early potato varieties on 200 square meters of land—it lasts until the next harvest."