I am tempted to grow my main crop under black plastic this year

[Scottishnewbie]

I am full on up to my eyes in it - newlambs being born; ducklings hatching; new chicks & kids off school so hardly have time to turn round....

i want to plant my tatties but the raised beds my husband has built me are full to the top and if i try and earth up all that's likely to happen is the soil is going to fall all over the place.

so i'm thinking of planting through black plastic which i already have over the bed to warm it up.

has anyone done this and how much of a problem are slugs?

[Jeanied]

Yes I've done it for a couple of years - cardboard first - well watered, manure second, black plastic over the top. Cross cut for spuds - slice through the cardboard which should be soggy by now and then plant underneath. Tbh the slug eggs started being laid big time but then for me the slow worms moved in and I had numerous families of them being raised alongside the maincrops!

[Scottishnewbie]

Yes I've done it for a couple of years - cardboard first - well watered, manure second, black plastic over the top. Cross cut for spuds - slice through the cardboard which should be soggy by now and then plant underneath. Tbh the slug eggs started being laid big time but then for me the slow worms moved in and I had numerous families of them being raised alongside the maincrops!

so I'm not sure if I should or not - how do i get slow worms to join the party? is it worth it or will i lose too many of my spuds do you think?

[taff]

sloworms will gatecrash any party if it's warm

[Jeanied]

I think it is a tried and tested method, SN. Yes, you may get slug damage but there are no guarantees with anything you grow yourself. I didn't notice any damage to mine - for reasons outlined above - but I also noticed slugs under the plastic when I turned it back (gingerly, because I kept finding slow worm babies everywhere!!).

[Alison]

I didn't use plastic but did use card last year, no problems with slugs either.

[Scottishnewbie]

might give it a go with some of them and then compare the results......

thanks folks

[pukka.tukka]

Hi

I am growing my potatoes this year in tyres. Found some at the side of the road, so did my bit for cleaning up the countryside.