10 replies to this topic

[freedhardwoods]

I have seen and heard countless examples of growing potatoes above ground using straw or hay. Straw costs me $4.00 a bale. I can get 20 cu yds of sawdust for $5.00.

 

Has anyone ever used sawdust?

[KC9KAS]

Would sawdust hold moisture better? Would it hold too much moisture and cause your potatoes to rot?

I don't know....just throwing the question out there.

[shorty]

This is a new one for me. It sounds like an interesting way to do it. Curious to hear more about it.

[Alc]

I've tried making the furror, putting some compost where the potato seed was going ,,coveing it wtih thin layer a dirt then topped with wood chips . I can't say if it was worth the extra work but having the wood chips on top made it easy for picking a few potatoes for dinner before the whole pants where ready to be pulled .

[freedhardwoods]

I've tried making the furror, putting some compost where the potato seed was going ,,coveing it wtih thin layer a dirt then topped with wood chips . I can't say if it was worth the extra work but having the wood chips on top made it easy for picking a few potatoes for dinner before the whole pants where ready to be pulled .

You say it was extra work. I thought it would save work by not having to fight weeds all summer. You don't think so?

[Alc]

I didn't use enough wood chips as mulch , just a few shovel fulls on top of each seed potato , I wish I had enough to use the chips as mulch , if your after weed control this past year I planted some in sorgram mulch rows that where made up the year before . That seem to work OK This is an old thread that I made , I'll post some pictures when I get home of what it looks like now . 2  rows about 80' mulched with winter rye growing between

http://gardentractor...sses-for-mulch/

[JD DANNELS]

I have seen and heard countless examples of growing potatoes above ground using straw or hay. Straw costs me $4.00 a bale. I can get 20 cu yds of sawdust for $5.00.

 

Has anyone ever used sawdust?

I hope GrnSpot will weigh in on this. He is the King of Sawdust gardening. I know he plants his potatoes in sawdust.

In fact mulches the whole garden in sawdust. You might look through the archives for some of his posts.

 

BTW I wish I could buy straw for $4.00 a bale, around here it's going for $6.75 a bale.

Edited by JD DANNELS, November 05, 2013 - 09:05 AM.

[KC9KAS]

Just an idea...what about pine needles for "mulch" on your potatoes?

[freedhardwoods]

Just an idea...what about pine needles for "mulch" on your potatoes?

That might work for someone that lives where pine trees grow.

[grnspot110]

I press my seed potatoes into the dirt a couple inches, then cover them with sawdust, adding more sawdust as they grow.  Totaling 3-4" of cover.  After the plants sprout, if a frost is comming, just cover them with more sawdust.

 

 

Need to add that the sawdust I use is aged, at least, one year!  I get it from local Amish sawmills.

 

 

Usually free for the hauling, maybe a small loading fee.   ~~  Lowell

Edited by grnspot110, November 06, 2013 - 07:37 AM.

[freedhardwoods]

I press my seed potatoes into the dirt a couple inches, then cover them with sawdust, adding more sawdust as they grow.  Totaling 3-4" of cover.  After the plants sprout, if a frost is coming, just cover them with more sawdust.  ~~  Lowell

That sounds good to me.