Spuds

[anthonyjb]

Can you earth up spuds using grass cuttings

Ths
Anthonyjb

[Veggielot]

One of the reasons for earthing up if not the main One is to protect the spuds from sunlight to stop them going green. So can't seeds why grass cuttings wouldn't work. I do rember reading grass cuttings are high in nitrogen but don't know if that would be a problem. I am sure someone will be along soon who can say.

[Greenleaves]

Would'nt high nitrogen encourage excessive top growth?

[Guykp57]

Found out last year that using grass cutting turned into liquid fertiliser them used to feed potatoes produced great foliage but made no difference to size of spuds. Earthing up is the better way but no doubt someone will differ.


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[Kristen]

I used grass clippings when we had a particularly cold frost in May one year, and spuds were already fully earthed up and a foot above that. I had no green spuds that year, and it kept the frost off the plants.

Don't use grass clippings if you have used Weed & Feed or a selective weed killer on your lawn.

I don't think the clippings are likely to be thick enough to actually get into putrid decomposition, as its only a layer a foot or so thick (when applied to keep a late frost off), and that settles down to only a few inches after a bit,.

[iGrow]

I earth up my spuds with grass clippings gradually so as not to get "sludge". If applied too thickly then this can cause burning of the leaves. The grass keeps the soil warm and deters frost damage. It is also supposed to assist against scab because of the rise in acid but as the soil I grow on is slightly alkaline this is not a problem. Anybody growing in acidic soil may find that using grass clippings causes an overload. The other benefits are that harvesting is easier and you are feeding the soil at the same time. As Kirsten mentioned, do not use clippings that have been treated.

[messygarden]

Very clever idea to earth up with the grass clippings, thanks i just put them in the compost but it will make earthing up spuds a bit easier and if its good for them too is a bonus

[Two_Sheds]

I use grass clippings to mulch everything, including spuds. For spuds I first mulch them with wet newspapers to block the light (and prevent green spuds), then top with only an inch or 2 at a time of grass (more will go slimy).

It works v.well, and you get lovely clean spuds with very little digging