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Frosted garden
[QUOTE=hardwood;170796] A couple days before the frost I put grass clipings mulch around just a few potatoes about the same depth as the taters were tall till I ran out of clippings.
Guess which taters froze, the mulched ones of course, the others just standing out in the cold didn't.
Someone here surely knows why, I dont. [/QUOTE]
Frank, I suspect it wasn't frost that killed off your 'taters, but the grass clippings themselves.
If the grass clippings were fresh, not dried out, they would have done two things almost certain to kill tender young plants. First, a day or two in the sun will certainly cause fresh clippings to heat well above the point the seedlings can endure. Secondly the fresh grass in even a little sun would have given off enough gas (mostly nitrogen) by the decomposition process to either burn or just oxygen deprive the plants.
We use something "row hoops" to protect stuff in the garden from frost. It is basically just long thin pieces of stiff wire that is bent in a hoop shape over the rows, then covered with light clear plastic. It's really quick and easy to install and then you have the choice of flipping it up over the plants, or pull it back so it doesn't get too hot.
It also helps in that the dew or (if it's cold enough) frost that settles does so on the plastic which then directs the water into the soil of each row once the sun gets on the plastic and warms it.
They also speed up the growing enough that you get about the equivalent of being one full USDA Zone warmer.
That means 'taters sooner!!
Bring on the salt & butter!!! 
Best of luck.
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I was kind of proud of myself by actually justifing the grass catcher thing for the mower to the Mrs.
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Frank, there's still time to make yourself look good in front of the Boss, fear not.
You just need to spread the clippings out for a day in the hot sun to bake them mostly dry, then re-bag them and spread them out as mulch. On a hot sunny day a thin layer will dry out in just a few hours.
You just missed a step is all.
Best of luck.
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Frank, I am not much of a boil Irish potato fan .......
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I'm guessing you wouldn't turn down a good pot of Low Country Boil though Kenny.
Or is 'taters ok when they're boiled down with all the other good stuff?
Best of luck.
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