Taylors Potato Growing Kit

[Parsleythelion]

Earlier this year, on implulse, I bought the Taylor's Potato Growing Kit (please note I am a newbie to most veg growing but a total spud virgin).

The kit contained three packs of chitted seeds (three seeds in each) and three thick plactic bags (about two to three feet high and two feet accross - about 33ltrs). The seeds were Maris Piper, Duke of York and Carlingford and were well sporuted.

I followed the instructions "fill the black bags to 2/3s full with MPC and place the seeds in the centre, fill the bag to the top"

I did that for Maris and Duke but ran out of MPC so didn't plant the Carlingfords for another fortnight. Reading various strings and other info, earthing up seems to be a constant phrase.

All the plants have grown and Maris and Duke are about 1.5 to 2ft tall and look very healthy. I have tried to earth up but as there is little room left in the bags so I have been putting handfuls of MPC around the base of the stems as best I can, but I running out of room

Has anyone else used Taylors Potato kits? Did I make a schoolboy error and not read the instructions properly because in hindsight it does seem a little strange to fill the bags to the top?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. I will try and get some photos over the weekend.....

[Shadylane]

What you're supposed to do is put a few inches of compost on top of them and then wait until the first shoots appear. If it's frosty you cover the shoots to protect them - if not let them grow a few inches then top up with soil. You keep doing this gradually until the bag is full.

Basically what you've done is earth up in one go but it doesn't seem to have bothered them much. It's not that different from what some do to avoid earthing up and simply plant the spuds deeper in the ground.

I read somewhere once that the plant only forms new potatoes near the surface which is why you're supposed to earth up gradually. (Dunno if this is true) Every time you put more soil on top the plant produces more roots and more spuds (supposedly). However there are so many differing opinions on earthing and whether it actually increases yield it's pretty clear that there's no real proof either way.

[Bigmallly]

I don't think there is a right or wrong way, just different ways. I have used both this year & both methods are showing.

[cazp]

Goood luck with your spud growing Parsley - I am new to this too and have my first batch on the go in sacks - nowhere near as advanced as yours though.

Can I throw a question in here please - in case any potato experts are reading? My potato sacks have holes in the sides about and inch up... but none in the bottom - is there a reason for having none at the bottom? I only noticed today when moving the sacks and I feel tempted to put a knife through to allow drainage in case the potatoes drown!

[Sanjo]

It will be to act as a sort of reservoir so that there is always a supply of water available. Just don't have the spuds to close to the water or they'll rot.

[Two_Sheds]

Earthing up is done to protect the plants from any frost, and to protect the tubers from the light (otherwise they turn green and poisonous). I don't earth up at all: but I do mulch with wet newspapers and grass clippings.

Don't worry too much, you'll get spuds