earth up

[anthonyjb]

I have 5 spuds in my barrel 4 are through the same amount but 1 is through twice as much, now do I earth the 1 or leave it for the others to catch up .sorry if this a daft question but I new to planting spuds in tubs etc many thanks
regards

Anthony

[User Removed]

Anthony, Earth them up now, it doesn't matter really when you do it as I do mine when I first plant them and they work fine.

[anthonyjb]

Thanks Adam, are you saying earth up even if they are only just through
regards

Anthony

[User Removed]

Yep I am

[anthonyjb]

many thanks

[dexterdoglancashire]

thanks for that Adam - have done just that. the only thing that worried me was due to all the dry and then very wet weather (do you think i'm becoming obsessed with the weather? i wonder why!) the tops of the tatties have suddenly shot up - have earthed up as far as I can in the pots and will keep my eyes on them. If the weather is OK this weekend (forecast not good though) will plant out my carlingfords. dexterdog

[sewer rat]

Hi DD
Earthing up of tatties, whether in pots buckets of traditional drills was the subject of much discussion earlier in the year with the outcome being that there is no right way and no wrong way. Some of us, myself and LJ included, earth up at planting and then leave well alone whilst others prefer to eartg up as they go along. The way I looked at it (coming from a large seed potato growing area and working for an agri-contractor) is that if earting up at planting is good enough for the gutys growing 1000 acres plus, then it's good enough for me. Had good tatties in buckets and in drills, so the way I see it is that timing of earthing up makes no difference at all - whatever you wanna do is fine - but doingit at planting means one less job to do as the season progresses

[Nicos]

Rat...that's what we do aswell...and make sure that any neighbours of those already dug uphave a decent backfill of soil

[nick the grief]

.............Some of us, myself and LJ included, earth up at planting and then leave well alone whilst others prefer to eartg up as they go along. ................... but doingit at planting means one less job to do as the season progresses

I earthed up half mine at planting this year just to see. As Rat say's I can't see any difference. The second point is an important one in my book.

Unfortunately I have to work for a living so I can only get to the lottie at weekends usually.

Invariably it is Pi**ing it down on a saturday & sunday for weeks at a time so getting ahead of the game at the start means I end up on time if you see what I mean.

[Nicos]

and your book is..... ?nick???
RAIN>>>>>OH boy!!!!
( actually rather pleased about it!! hummmm....)

[Lesley Jay]

And you all thought I was mad when I told you I earthed up the spuds when I planted them!

[sewer rat]

We didn't think you were mad - we had it on good authority from reliable sources - and I for one never doubted you - if you don't believe me, find the original thread -see, on your side all along - and you even managed to convert Nick, which as we all know ain't an easy task...........

[pickledtink]

Wot?

Don't flame me please. This is a genuine question and maybe I'm just very, very thick.
I thought earthing up was topping up the soil or even padding with straw to get more pots producing off the stems or getting the results due to blocking out exposure to sun.
I have leeks and pots. Usually only grow leafy greens and toms etc.
Was about to happily heap more dirt on but do not understand how you can earth up when you first plant!
Explain!?! *throws rattle out of pram*

[nick the grief]

Your right PT.

It does protect the tubers from the light, & it can increase yeild.

What LJ & Rat were saying was that you don't have to wait till the haulms are 6" tall you can plant you spuds & then earth them up straight away (they have the benefit of the soil being a tad warmer (due to drainage of the ridges) and the extra layer of soil gives them a bit more protection against any frost.

They will grow thru the ridges anyway so the amount & timing of earthing up doesn't really matter just so long as you do it.

[Earthbabe]

I create ridges as I plant so I suppose I do earth up as I go. Also have put membrane down. I also back fill as I dig up, well with news anyway. Am considering planting under plastic next year but not sure how to go about this one. It's the method they use to get things going early back home (jersey). Anyone tried it here? Otherwise I shall plant through the membrane again. It has definitely kept the weeds down on the mains.