More 'earthing up' questions....

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Spuds growing rapidly!



How high do they need to be before I earth up? How wide do the mounds need to be when I earth up? And how tall will they eventually be?

[FionaH]

I started earthing mine up as soon as they showed, no idea if this is correct though. I have found I cant earth up higher than about 6 inches cos the soil simply wont pile any higher than that

[jacob marley]

The thing to do is earth them up a bit at a time then the seedling weeds get burried each time. that is how potato's clean the ground plenty of hoeing and moving the soil about.
The higher that you want to earth them up depends on how far apart the rows of spuds are if they are to close together then you can't get them to high...jacob

[mythyme]

I don't understand why a perfectly planted straight row of potatoes comes up like a dog's hind leg? my spuds have sprouted out sideways????:

[jacob marley]

I don't understand why a perfectly planted straight row of potatoes comes up like a dog's hind leg? my spuds have sprouted out sideways????:

It is because you earthed them up as soon as you planted them .
When the spud grows it grows to the light and 3 inches of soil on the side of the ridge is easier to grow through than 6 inches heaped on top it aint rocket science but it took me a long while to work it out....jacob

[FionaH]

It is because you earthed them up as soon as you planted them .
When the spud grows it grows to the light and 3 inches of soil on the side of the ridge is easier to grow through than 6 inches heaped on top it aint rocket science but it took me a long while to work it out....jacob

LOL that explains a lot!

[Mchanen]

LOL, i earthed mine up the other day and they are popping through the soil already- is it me or do they grow quite rapidly when they get going?

Mine are in a large veg basket/bag type thing so plenty of room for soil yet- bit more difficult to earth them up when they are in the ground though isn't it!

My other halfs mum had to earth hers up constantly over a few nights until it got to the point where the buckets they were growing in were full to the rim with soil.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Do the mounds only need to be as wide as the haulms/leaves?

[cwipnip]

in rows should i use a draw hoe to draw up the soil into a mound?

[jacob marley]

Do the mounds only need to be as wide as the haulms/leaves?

The mounds you make them bigger as the top's grow bigger

in rows should i use a draw hoe to draw up the soil into a mound?

You can use a draw hoe just the job i use a five tined fork with the tine's bent over at right angles i call it my no 1 firkeling tool no2 is made out of a ladies gardening fork.
Good luck with your tater growing i hope they come good....jacob

[jacob marley]

Just to prove i practice what i preach if i can load the picture taken this morning the spuds was planted on the 14 march 8 inches deep.
the ones behind cover are earlys and i am hoping to dig in 2-3 weeks time .
and notice no big ridges ....jacob