I usually don’t do more than one post a day, but there have been exceptions to that…this being one of those times. We sheet mulched and planted potatoes today.
The process is quite simple…
- Lay out manure on the ground and wet well.
- Lay cardboard on top of manure and water well.
- Add well aged compost to the top of the cardboard.
- Put seed potatoes in place on top of the compost.
- Cover potatoes with lots of straw.
- Add a layer of compost on top of the straw.
- Add some blood and bone meal
- Water well
- Add another layer of straw and repeat the process a few more times.
- After the potatoes start coming up, add more layers of straw and POOF! Potato heaven.
Here are photos of our process:
Awesome! The only thing I have left to do is to lace the straw down. I’ve had to do that for all the straw that I’ve laid around my veggies. The wind is so strong here that it will blow all the straw away for sure. I am taking a chance today in not lacing it up, but tomorrow will be the dead line for securing the straw.
I also live in a windy area just outside of Santa Fe and want to try sheet mulching this year. How do you ‘lace down’ the straw? Mine blows away too.
Hi!We use landscape staples. I tack the landscape staples in on the edge of each side of the garden bed, leaving about 3 inches sticking up out of the ground, and then take twine and lace it up like you would sneakers. It usually takes two people if you have beds larger than 3 feet wide. Our straw has stayed put through some of the most crazy wind storms, with only small spots needing more straw added to it.
I also find that with finely chopped straw, it stays better in place. You can chop the straw by placing half a bale in a large garbage can and putting a weed whacker in the garbage can to chop up the bale. (make sure to wear a mask when chopping it up)