The Stout Method for Planting Potatoes
The Stout method originated in the 1930s when Ruth Stout decided she no longer wanted to garden the old-fashioned backbreaking way. Stout started growing all her vegetables, including potatoes, on top of the soil, by covering them with a very thick layer of mulch. Does this Spark an idea?
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Method
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The Stout method involves no digging, cultivating, hoeing, weeding or additional fertilizing. Seed potatoes are placed on the ground, and a thick layer measuring at least 8 inches of spoiled hay, grass clippings, dried leaves or kitchen garbage is spread on top of the seeds.
Function
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Potato shoots will grow up through the mulch; as they grow, more hay can be added which replaces the hilling up process that is performed on potatoes grown in the soil. More hay can also be added to choke off any weeds that appear or if the mulch becomes too compacted.
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Considerations
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The Stout method for growing potatoes works best on soil that has already been enriched by previous additions of organic materials, as it takes a while for the thick first layer of mulch to decompose enough. Mulch can be put down any time of year in a new area or on an area that has been recently used.
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References
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