Topic: Potato boo-boo?

[caroline7758]

You may remember I got a load of spent hops recently. I used them in my maincrop potato trenches, placing the potatoes either direct on top or on shredded paper on top of the hops. I have since read that, as a mulch, wet hops can scorch stems, and I'm worried that they may have burnt the tubers. I planted them nearly 3 weeks ago and have only seen a few shoots so far. Does anyone have any knowledge/experience of this?

[Tee Gee]

I planted them nearly 3 weeks ago and have only seen a few shoots so far.

I wouldn't worry too much this is about par for the course i.e. 3-4 weeks.

[allaboutliverpool]

As a lad I used to help on a farm and the farmer dug a trench into which he chucked fresh manure, cow, horse pig or chicken (yes it was that long ago) and he placed the potatoes on the manure and covered it with soil for perfect results.

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments1_homepage

[caroline7758]

Thanks for the reassurance, both of you. All this rain should have cooled things down, anyway!

[cornykev]

They will be flying up before you know it.  ;D ;D ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

I once took a load of fresh goat manure, filled a series of trenches with it, added a couple of inches of soil on top, and grew the biggest onions I've ever had. i don't doubt it'll cause some things to rot though.

[caroline7758]

Will let you know!

[caroline7758]

Thought you might be interested to read the reply I got from the RHS advisory service:
"To be honest I have no idea. "  ;D To be fair it did continue...

"It is possible that the hops will heat up slightly as they decompose but it will depend how thickly you put them in the trench and how close they are to the tubers. Soil is a very poor conductor of heat so if there is soil between the tubers and the hops I suspect the tubers will be fine. Even if the tubers are in direct contact with the hops I can't see there being a big problem."