Spud question again

[noviceveggrower]

Hi,
Have just watched River Cottage Spring and Hugh was planting his potatoes. OH pointed out that he did a mixture of MPC, well rotted cow muck and top soil.
I haven't got a pile of well rotted cow manure so when we were out today we called into a garden centre. They had bags of manure and it said put it in where you were going to put your veg plants and then put chicken poo pellets on the top of the soil.
Was just wondering what else I could put in with the spuds instead of the manure?
Thanks

[Jungle Jane]

Can you use grass cuttings instead,high in nitrogen? I was thinking of trying that this year

[Potstubsdustbins]

Are you planting in the ground or in containers?

[Mr Bones]

I use a good handful of BFB. Had to give up using muck or compost for spuds because it seemed to attract the slugs.

[noviceveggrower]

Can you use grass cuttings instead,high in nitrogen? I was thinking of trying that this year

I was thinking of using the grass cuttings as a mulch but think it might encourage slugs. Was also thinking that if we have a lot of rain might encourage the grass to go slimy.

Are you planting in the ground or in containers?

Am planning to get as many as possible in down at the allotment. But also have a couple of potato sacks at home if needed.

[Jungle Jane]

I use a good handful of BFB.

I've never tried that for spuds,have used it on practically everything else tho,I usually use miracle grow plant food for nutrients,then tomorite in the last month or so for the high potassium content. Iv never used manure,potatoes have been fine.

[Jungle Jane]

I was thinking of using the grass cuttings as a mulch but think it might encourage slugs. Was also thinking that if we have a lot of rain might encourage the grass to go slimy.

I'm going to add a few thin layers as I earth up,then it shouldn't go slimy. Slugs aren't that bad in my potato bags,there are plants lower down much easier to get to

[Potstubsdustbins]

For containers I start with last years dead compost and add a good measure of either BFB or growmore together with a good measure of pelleted potato fertiliser. Then like Jane start to supplementary feed after 6 weeks.

Sorry I can't help with growing in the ground I don't have any.

[KevinM67]

We've loads of free growing comfrey around the periphery of our allotments - so I usually layer the bottom of the trench with ripped leaves, sometimes adding some ripped newspaper if I have any to hand.

Without wanting to come across as a tight@rse - I never 'waste' bought fertiliser or bought compost on my spuds.

Sorry, edit to add - I plant in the ground and not in tubs though.