No dig potatoes

[Mr Fallowfield]

Hi , this is my first post , so hello to everybody !.
Does anyone have a good method for no dig potatoes ?.

[Stephen]

Hi Mr Fallowfield (is that a "Beyond our Ken" reference? should I call you Arthur?)
Welcome.
I would put your spuds in like one plants bulbs, rather than digging a trench. I have done this, usually because of pressure of time. They still grow well. Manure over the top and the job is done. Earthing up is pretty much optional, if you grow "determinate" types.

[Mr Fallowfield]

Hi Stephen , Ahh , yes , the answer lies in the soil !!.
My allotment is on thick clay and l am trying to avoid breaking my back digging it . My fellow plot holders rotavate each season and struggle to keep crops hydrated.
I am mulching as much as l can and find that by not digging , the crops are finding water and don’t need much apart from when first planted.
I guess l am aiming to grow spuds without disturbing the soil unduly , so planting as a bulb sounds perfect , and your point re. determinate varieties is much appreciated !.

[Colin2016]

Interesting article on spuds in the December issue.

[larson12]

Hello Mr. Fallowfield!
First of all you should Hoe off the specific area the water the area well. Then plant the potatoes on the surface and just cover it.
and remember that potatos need earthing up as they grow.

[Colin2016]

"remember that potatos need earthing up as they grow"

Earthing up is not always necessary, I have grown spuds without earthing up.

Check out Charles Dowding How to grow potatoes without digging

[Stephen]

A good point Colin.
Charles Downing is interesting, I have been to one of his days. What I lack compared with Charles is the sheer size of his heaps of manure, mushrom compost and such.

[Colin2016]

Have you tried making your own compost?

Yes first year you need lots 6 inches but following years only an inch is needed.

[Stephen]

Yes, plenty of compost (3 bins) but far too little off an allotment for what I need.