Potatoes under straw, is this normal?

[suntzu]

Hello everyone, first time this year trying no-dig potatoes. I built a couple of 1m x 2m raised beds and put approx 4 inches compost in the bottom before laying the potatoes on this chit side up before covering them with straw. I thought I'd have a little peep at them yesterday to see how they were getting on and when I lifted up the straw the was clouds of steam and I noticed mould growing on the bottom of the straw. Is this normal?? Bit worried I've done something wrong and it's all going to go horribly wrong
Any advice would be a great help, thanks in advance.

[TEB]

Your the first person I have heard of that has covered with straw, is it just straw!

[suntzu]

Yes :-) Getting more worried now lol
Lots of info saying using just straw is ok , I followed this: How to grow potatoes without digging

[TEB]

Sorry dont mind me - didn't mean to cause any worry, however the steam would worry me as it could indicate high humidity, could you reduce the height of straw above the tubers

[suntzu]

thats ok :-) Do you mean the thickness of it? That's the bit I'm unsure about, exactly how thick it should be. It's not that thick but it needs to be thick enough to block out the light doesn't it?

[womble]

It sounds like something is composting down there, is it old straw or new stuff? And what compost did you use under the spuds?

[suntzu]

My mistake, it's actually hay, I always get the 2 mixed up! You made me think asking whether it was old or new and remembered being warned to only use old straw so I used hay instead! Under the spuds is just a multipurpose compost. I'm just worried something that's going on down there is going to hurt the seed potatoes!

[TEB]

thats ok :-) Do you mean the thickness of it? That's the bit I'm unsure about, exactly how thick it should be. It's not that thick but it needs to be thick enough to block out the light doesn't it?

Yes to keep out light, I would think between 3 - 5 inches of mulch above the tubers

[teakdesk]

Steam indicates heat - and the only thing there able to give heat is your hay composting.

Since the article says potatoes can be harvested with this method two to four weeks earlier than with traditional methods I assume they expect some heat to be generated from the straw/hay composting.

So I guess it is OK provided the heat is low and doesn't get too high and cook the potatoes.

If you are worried then turn and separate the hay to slow down the composting.

If you only used multi-purpose compost underneath, rather than well rotted farmyard manure in the article, you may find the potatoes are short on nutrients later in the season - I would sprinkle growmore on the MP compost.

[womble]

Stick your hand down there and feel the heat, the hay must be composting on the bottom, I would remove some of it and mix it up a bit to see if you can cool it down. Ideally I would remove the lot and start with some fresh stuff, but don't put it on as thick this time. Or give up the idea of hay and use something else.

[suntzu]

Thanks everyone. I think maybe taking it all off and either putting some fresh on or mixing it around to aerate it a bit more sounds a good idea. Also I hear sprinkling the hay with a manure is also a good idea so will probably give that a go too. Do you think the mould on the hay touching the potatoes is a bad thing too?

[kentvegplot]

I usually use straw for mine, although last year it was hay. About 4 inches is needed above the tubers, so if it is a lot thicker than that, it might be worth reducing it a bit. But I wouldn't worry about the heat - it's much worse if the potatoes stay too cold!

Good luck with it - I have grown all my potatoes using no-dig for the last 3 years and I wouldn't go back to all that digging malarky!

[suntzu]

I usually use straw for mine, although last year it was hay. About 4 inches is needed above the tubers, so if it is a lot thicker than that, it might be worth reducing it a bit. But I wouldn't worry about the heat - it's much worse if the potatoes stay too cold!

Good luck with it - I have grown all my potatoes using no-dig for the last 3 years and I wouldn't go back to all that digging malarky!

Thanks, that's reassuring. Do you use new or old straw?

[King Carrot]

I used very old hay last year as I only half cleared the patch as It was full of tree roots. (I'm still clearing it when I get a chance with the weather as it is)

Quite impressed with the crop but I find spuds grow bigger and cleaner with less pest damage in the ground where I am. As long as the potatoes are growing I don't think anything will bother them, you can have a look by sifting gently through the hay, I do remember I needed to help them through here and there last year as they were lifting up a mat of hay.

[Demeter]

I've got volunteer spuds growing from peelings in my compost bin. (Not uncommon for this to happen) - they are entirely unbothered by the heat, slugs, mould and other unmentionables in there, and even me pulling off all the foliage I can get at without getting covered in rotting kitchen waste doesn't seem to slow them down at all. I'm sure your spuds will be fine too!