Growing tatties under black plastic?

[Snadger]

I was just wondering if anyone had had good results growing tatties through black plastic! I think I know the theory behind it but have a few misgivings.

Main reason I fancy giving it a go is: less work earthing up,more drought tolerant? Sick of having green or half green potatoes on surface which are wasted. Black plastic should heat up soil and give an earlier crop?

My misgivings are: will black plastic be dark enough to stop potatoes greening?, will the crop be down on normally grown tatties?, will they not be cooked under the plastic on a warm day? Will the plastic be re-usable or is it a one off thing? What about watering, if required? Are slugs a major problem with this method?

What I'm really asking is, is it worth it?

[rustylady]

Don't know Snadger, never tried it. Have been tempted, but have decided against for the very reasons you've used. Lack of water to the roots, slugs, and overheating of the soil.

[Digger-07]

I tried a few years ago, inspired by Geoff Hamilton. The pots grew, didn't go green, didn't cook (foliage kept them shaded) but I think I left them in a bit too long and the slugs got a few. Definately worth thinking about with earlies and if your plot is likely to be a bit weedy (not that yours would be of course).

I used damp proof membrane from a builders merchant which was thicker than poly bag stuff. The trouble is that most DPM is now blue.

Probably an EU ruling.

[Snadger]

I've got some black teram woven sheet which I thought I would try. Weed suppression isn't really an issue as the potatoe haulms usually do that anyway!

[Snadger]

Sorry to keep replying to my own post but I've just realised, the teram sheet is breathable, so that should take care of the watering side of it!

[supersprout]

Hi Snadger, I use black plastic/clearing crop with to start cultivation of plot.

Will black plastic be dark enough to stop potatoes greening? Yes, provided you don't make a HUGE hole for them to grow through
Will the crop be down on normally grown tatties? Possibly
Will they not be cooked under the plastic on a warm day? No, the foliage shelters them. I used straw over the plastic to give a lighter surface in the hot summer, belt and braces. Straw was re-used elsewhere on the plot after harvesting.
Will the plastic be re-usable or is it a one off thing? One-off. I use woven or perforated black plastic, sounds like your Teram is similar. I got a huge roll of the latter 2 years ago and it's still going strong!
What about watering, if required? I don't water my spuds If you use woven or perforated black plastic, any rainfall will go into the soil and be slower to evaporate out. (Added later - I think we must have posted at the same time!)
Are slugs a major problem with this method? Not that I've noticed!

I would personally only use black plastic only when clearing a plot for the first time and weed suppression is one of the objectives. After the plot has come into cultivation, I grow no-dig spuds in straw

[Sue]

Hi
I didn't use plastic sheeting but grew my potatoes in pots made from the same or similar plastic. This proved a mecca for the slugs, had all sorts hiding out under the pots, up the sides etc. It did make it easy for me to collect them but I wouldn't want to grow potatoes under plastic after this experience although I didn't get much damage to the actual potatoes, think they were more interested in the cool wet shelter.
Sue

[Alison]

Used black plastic for my sweet potatoes last year and did discover quite a number of slugs hiding under the plastic when I came to remove it at the end of the season. Not a problem for sweet potatoes but not good for convential ones. Not sure it helped much as the harvest was pathetic but think that was more due to too short a growing season for the sweet pots so not really relevant to this thread.

[Snadger]

......................... I grow no-dig spuds in straw

Would you care to elaborate on your straw method supersprout cos I have access to a huge full round bale of straw! (long story!!)

[Poledragon]

Ooh, yes please - elaborate on spuds under straw! I've read about it, but never actually done it. And can source a decent quantity of straw this year.

[supersprout]

This little guide from HDRA says it all! Only thing I'd add is if you see baby barley sprouting, just turn over the bit with the sprouts - job done.
Lucky youse, having plenty of straw! Go on Snadger tell the story, you know you want to

[dexterdoglancashire]

Who was it that did this last year? Was it LJ or JA? Sorry, the old brain cells are a bit slow......I remember someone did, with excellent results. DDL

[JennieAtkinson]

Me (I think - as long as i dont have AAAADD. But not under plastic under membrane and grass cuttings!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Hi JA - I was close! Perhaps the results would be similar? DDL

[Snadger]

This little guide from HDRA says it all! Only thing I'd add is if you see baby barley sprouting, just turn over the bit with the sprouts - job done.
Lucky youse, having plenty of straw! Go on Snadger tell the story, you know you want to

I can't open the link, anyone else have problems?