I'm using the build as you grow bins (mentioned in two very long threads here in the veggie forum) and I'm using mostly unfinished "clean" compost (leaves, dried grass and dandelions) to fill them, with an occasional shovelful of dirt spread over it. No one has told me this is a good idea, but my grandfather always grew potatoes on the ground, allowed to spread and mulched with plain straw, so I figured I could do some cool composting while the spuds grew. The plants are doing fantastically - above the ground, anyway.

I find dirt to be best, but when I run our of soil I use straw for potato mulch - when I can get straw. Use hay otherwise with no problems. I would be concerned that fresh grass clippings might burn the plants since you have to have them right up against the base of the plant. Well dried should pose no problems.

Dave

I tried the sherdded paper trick many years ago figuring it would also keep the ground cooler. The spuds did fine but oh what a mess when the wind came up. NEVER again! Straw of soil have both worked well for me. This year for the 1st time I ran the tiller down both sides of the row about 1" deep and hilled with the loose soil, it was easy and worked great.

don't know how well the potatoes will produce but my plants sure do like my sawdust. They are growing like weeds. i have no soil at all in my potatoes.

I have nearly a foot of pine needles hilled up and the plants are growing great. I am about out of free pine needles from my yard so will probably start using grass clippings or just leave it.

John

on those grass clippings wouldn't those need time to sit before you use them i would assume they go through a heat like hay does. wouldn't it be to hot for the plants and kill them?

I sent my hubby to the store for mulch for my potatos and he came back with dark, soft, slightly moist wood mulch. Can I use this on the plants, or will this kill them? Also, the plants are now as a result of my dithering more than a foot high -- is it too late to mulch them anyway?

Fresh grass clippings up to 6" thick will not harm plants in my experience. I have used it for years. I mulch right up to the plant stems in most cases - just finished mulching my potatoes a couple of weeks ago. Do not use clippings from a lawn that has had weed 'n feed fertilizer or other 2,4-D applied widely (like from a hose-end sprayer) for at least 6 weeks, however.