potatoes.

hello all,
ii have a few potatoes growing. and i want to use straw to cover them instead of using compost, now do i have to use a specific straw or, plus what do i need to look out for, with which straw i use.
the reason i ask, is i went to buy some today. but the chap said it was treated with an antibacterial what ever it was. so wasnt sure if it would be any good.
thanks

 

acording to some you can. with great success. as long as its covered with atleast 6 to 10 inches of straw, heres a link of one of the articals. How does one grow potatoes in straw? | Kitchen Gardeners International.
but they dont mention what straw to use.

 

I wouldn't have thought Barley or Wheat straw would have made any difference.

Stuff you get from a pet shop, for bedding, may have been treated so I would get a bale direct from a farmer.

EDIT: Sorry I meant that I don't think there would be any difference between Barley and Wheat straw for this job, so choose either.

 

never thought about the slugs. , anyway to help prevent slugs ,
and thanks for responces.

 

Pellets are the usual way, trouble is, the little black slugs that nibble the tubers are burrowing ones, don't think the pellets would help there.

I grew some spuds under 6 inches of wood chippings last year & did get a fair bit of slug damage, but it also protected the spuds from the awfull cold & snow.