Ground clearing with potatoes

[Bluemchen]

I'm new to this allotment game and could do with some advice about spuds and ground clearing.

My plot is full of couch, and I've dug over the area where the spuds will go pretty roughly, and divided it into beds. I haven't weeded it much at all, except to remove big taproots. I've got plenty of spuds chitted and ready to go but am unsure how to put them in - I haven't got time to properly dig the soil and break down all the lumps. Can I just dib them in or do I need to make a trench and put them in the bottom - will they grow ok covered in lumpy soil? How deep do they need to be?

I have two small children who come and 'help', so time is of the essence and I'm looking for the simplest solution.

Cheers
Bluemchen

[T-lady]

1. Get hold of some black plastic.
2. Make 6" holes with a trowel and chuck spud in.
3. Cover spud bed with well secured black plastic
4. When greenery starts pushing at plasic cut slits to let it through
5. Harvest spuds at published times.

Hopefully by the time you lift the plastic most of your weeds will have died off. Lifting the spuds means you'll dig over the soil and improve it for next crop.

Sounds simple? .. well it is, to an extent!

[jacob marley]

There is a fallacy about that potatoes clean the ground this is not true full stop.
What cleans the ground of nasty's is hoeing and hoeing and i think hoeing it is all down to that other methods work some better than others but generally it is down to hard work so good luck and sharpen your hoe . jacob

[Two_Sheds]

You could use flattened cardboard boxes instead of black plastic. Same job, but better for the old environment (and your soil - the cardboard will actually improve it).

[Bluemchen]

Thanks guys for that advice. Much appreciated. I have some landscaping fabric, and will do just exactly that - it avoids the nasty hoeing, and yet will kill off the weeds through lack of light. I like your style!