[AT] potato planting

[Ron Cook]

Ralph,
     I roto till between the rows, too.  For weed control and also to 
get some loose soil for hilling.  My concern about the mulch idea is for 
a good home for insects that I don't want.  Especially with using straw. 
   I have a problem with grubs getting to the tubers and with stalk 
borers above ground getting in the plants.  The stalk borers, of course, 
are coming from the grass areas around the place.  I just never seem to 
get things sprayed at the right time to fix that problem and I really 
don't know what to do about the grubs.
Ron Cook
Salix, IA
On 4/17/2013 1:25 PM, Ralph Goff wrote:
> On 4/17/2013 9:31 AM, Ron Cook wrote:
>> Ralph,
>>        Raining here with some sleet and supposed to snow tonight. Western
>> Iowa.  Sioux City area.  My potatoes won't get planted until May,
>> either, the way it looks.
>>        I have always used your method of planting and hilling.
> Ron, I have to admit I like the idea of "mulching" between the rows
> after reading about it recently. Cover the ground between the rows with
> either plastic or chopped straw and it preserves moisture and prevents
> weed growth. I do a lot of roto tilling mine before the plants get too
> big. Mulching might eliminate that job. And maybe hilling too?
> Sunshine and blue sky in Sask. , just not quite warm enough to melt much
> snow.
>
> Ralph in Sask.
>