couch grass and potato

[Pottypotter]

could I plant my potato where there are loads of couch grass roots, otherwise I don't think I am going to get them in.

[Waffler]

Might make it easy to kill 2 birds with 1 stone when you come to dig up the spuds - dig up some couch grass along with it. Don't 'they' advise using potatoes as a way of clearing ground?
Only trouble you might have is when you actually plant the spuds- you may find you end up having to digg out a lot of grass anyway, or if you're not too careful with your digigng you may find you break up a lot of the roots, thus exacerbating the situation.
In theory I guess it's probably fine to plant them there.

[rustylady]

Go for it! The potato foliage should help shade out the couch grass, and you may as well make as much use of the plot as you can. Potatoes are supposed to be good for breaking up the ground, though I think a lot of that is to do with the earthing up etc. LJ, you can ruin spuds by putting a fork through them when harvesting, so couch grass shoots shouldn't be too much problem. By the way, does anyone know if there is a use for couch grass?

[terrier]

/// By the way, does anyone know if there is a use for couch grass? ///

For keeping couch potatoes comfortable!

[Paulottie]

What about using a sheet of black plastic or better still mypex(water goes through)to plant your potatoes under? I find that weeds are considerably weakened and easier to dig out afterwards. Whilst if you had time it would be great to dig as much out as you could first; you might still be able to manage a crop without. I'm not saying that this will give best yields ever but it makes some use of ground you are clearing.

Method 1. Cut holes when and where bumps appear makes it a lot easier or
Method 2. Cut holes first and use bulb planter.

[Nicos]

We had a very poor crop during a drought year as the grass roots homed in on the spuds as a source of water.
They also didn't store well either.
Still- I'd give it a go!

As for a use for couch grass....to start a bonfire?????

[Pottypotter]

Thanks for all the replies, the ground was covered with plastic so I didn't realise how bad it was, it has been dug but there are loads of roots still. someone did post an interesting article about couch grass a couple of weeks ago apparently it is more valuable than carrots. not to me though

[Paulottie]

In what way valuable PP? Riddle it out and stick it on e-bay! Somebody said that they had heard you might be able to make a fertilizer tea with it....or perhaps a wholesome greul for the kids!

You are just going to have to rake as much as poss out and go for it. I still think replace placcy and plant through it.

[Pottypotter]

Despite its antisocial tendency in the garden, couch is a very useful herbal medicine and Culpepper is said to have stated that half an acre of couch was worth five acres of carrots twice over[4].

if you want to read more hears the link

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants....ytrigia+repens

[Nicos]

Good link pottypotter!
Like this bit...

"This species is a pernicious weed and will not require assistance in spreading itself."

I'll say!!

BUT.... it doesn't say for it's habitat that it homes in on allotments!!!!!

[Flummery]

I had roots go through spuds in search of water on my old, couch-riddled lottie. It was in a drought year though. I reckon if you can keep your spuds well watered (or nature does it for you) you shouldn't lose too many to thirsty grass roots.

[chickenjane]

In my experience a few couch grass roots going through potatoes is no great problem-quite amusing in an invasive-vegtable sort of way.just means that the penetrated tubours won't keep.
Dig em up & eat 'em.

someone asked what 's couch grass good for.(loved the anmswer from terrier)
but mine enjoys being composted.as long as it's fully rotted down it's fine.