earth up

[Snadger]

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.

Put me down for a copy of your book nick Lol

[Snadger]

Always earth mine up later.....If earthing up at begimming I presume tatties are still planted at say 6" (from top of ridge) or do you plant a bit deeper?

I always asumed it worked in a similar fashion to the potato barrel where regular earthing up eventually filled the barrel?

So it appears that my earthing up in three stages is giving no added benefit according to nicks trial? Well I never!!!

Ahhh well, earth up from the beginning next year

[Earthbabe]

I am planting deeper than 6". One of the other plotholders as a homemade gadget like a giant dibber, so I dig a drill probably about 4-5" deep and dib from there. They are probably about 8-10" deep by the time I have finished.

[anthonyjb]

ladies & gents
Are you all saying fill my barrel at the start and sit back and wait,with a pint of course
regards
anthony

[pickledtink]

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.

So just bury them up to the neck as it were?

[Snadger]

Just out of interest, nick tried earthing before they were up and earthing after. ...same result

Anyone trialled earthing and not earthing at all?

[nick the grief]

Anyone trialled earthing and not earthing at all?

Yes I've fone that as well & you don't get such a good yeild & the spuds are apt to come to the surface & go green.

I planted my spuds around 6" down & then earth up so there was probably 18" of soil above them. Then I planted some fast matureing lettuce in the bottom of the ridges (in the shade as it were) till the tops covered them over.

[Earthbabe]

That sound like a great use of space ntg. Will add that to my list of things to try next year once I have re-cleared the first lottie and manured the bits that need it.