Kitchen Garden Forum

We have used weed control fabric extensively on our plot this year and it has been very successful.

We've used a variety of ways of planting through the fabric suited to different crops - for instance cutting long slits folded back into which to sow seeds and cross slits to plant transplants through. Once the crops are harvested the fabric is removed to prepare the bed for the next crop and the fabric is moved in a rotation so it is always used for the same type of crop. As well as keeping the weeds down we find the soil is warmed up through the black fabric and also it cuts down on evaporation when in is windy.

Next year we want to extend its use to potatoes. Has anyone used weed control fabric when growing potatoes and if so how have you used it. I know we won't be able to earth up so how are young shoots protected from frost. Covering with straw?

Hello gla
I haven't ever used weed fabric for growing potatoes but I have used straw. I have a large cold frame and plant it with about 16 tubers (in 2 rows) as soon as I can get hold of the seed potatoes. When the foliage is about 6 in high I cover the soil with a thick layer of straw - plenty of slug pellets underneath -no earthing up - and the foliage grows on through this.
Its quite a lot of effort but most years it will give us new potaoes very early in the season so it is worthwhile. Its easy to get the crop out by just scrabbling around just under the straw to pull out what we need.
The straw used this way doesn't give give any frost protection to the foliage so in cold frosty weather I will stuff the frame with fleece.
Temperatures below about 3 -4°C are the real problem otherwise cold weather doesn't do any damage.
Hope this helps
John

I'd be wary as any hole will let light in and the fabric I have isn't light proof, green spuds.

Have been using this method for growing potatoes for many years with no problems. No more green potatoes than when earthing up. I cut my cross-slits first and use a dibber to make a hole for each potato and push it down to the bottom. Fill up hole. You may have to help the shoots find the hole when they emerge from the soil.