Earthing up potatoes

[Laura Hillier]

Hi everyone,

It is getting to that glorious time in the garden again! Spuds are currently chitting on every suitable surface, so we were wondering, do you earth up your potatoes? Or do you use any different growing methods?

Answers may be edited and printed in the May issue of Grow Your Own


Laura

[sowitgrowit]

My first year, last year, I was late getting my plot so spuds went into 8"-ish trenches, unchitted, and were earthed up immediately so I could focus on the rest of the plot without worrying about them.

They were under perhaps 18" of earth from day one and I had a great harvest. This isn't the conventional method, I know, but it was alright for me!

This year I shall earth up in stages.

[Mikey]

My spuds aren't chitting, most are in the ground covered by mini polytunnels.

I do earth up once there is some decent growth through, I really do hate the thought of losing my hard earned potatoes to the sun just because I haven't earthed up enough. I use whatever is to hand, surrounding soil, grass clippings, spare compost or well rotted manure. I'm not fussy, what goes on top.

Its what's already in the soil that matters to me. My best spud results come from a high ash content, I share far less of these with the resident slugs and wireworms.

[arronb]

Hi Laura

What I do is dig out a 4inch trench, line the bottom with grass, place the chitted potato on top then create a 6-8 inch ridge on top of that. I personally find it a lot easier that way and it also helps protect against the frosts we get during April. I can then literally forget about them, just water them if we have no rain.

[chris]

I just poke a deep whole (not sure, maybe around 2') and drop them in, cover with earth and move on.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Growing in containers, buckets, dustbins etc I have to reuse my compost in order to save a little money.

I started preparing today by changing over the compost from my spud bins and and brassica containers.

The compost from the brassica containers is sweeten up with concentrated farmyard manure and specialist potato fertiliser. The seed tubers are placed into about 6" of compost and then earthed up with the remainder as they grow. Frost is not a problem, if its forecast I just pop the bin lids on till its passed.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

I plant them as deeply as I can in holes made with a bulb planter. Then pile straw, leaves and grass cuttings over them. I top that up with more grass cuttings throughout the growing season and when its time, furtle around looking for hidden treasure - the first new potatoes of the year. Is there anything more exciting?

[Two_Sheds]

I dig a 5" deep hole with a trowel, and drop the spud in. Cover it with soil, no earthing up. As the foliage emerges, I mulch around it with my newspaper papier mache, and as grass clippings become available, they go on top of the paper.

[Bren In Pots]

I grow mine in redundant recycling boxes the potatoes have around 4inch of soil/leaf mould under them then they are earthed up with a mixture of leaf mould, grass and shredded paper.

[binley100]

Last year I tried growing some under straw with brilliant results , just kept piling more straw and grass on top. Came out very clean.
This year I've made a lasagne beds topped off with cardboard. I shall just cut holes in the cardboard and plant through. Hopefully there'll be no need for earthing up .

[Linzy]

i always earth up my spuds, i find if you keep them just covered in soil then you dont need to worry about frost damage as much and it definatly increases yeild.

[Verinda]

I always earth up my spuds, but find it difficult in raised borders, I have to just dig a wheelbarrow of soil and pile it around the plants. Preferably I'd have them in rows and make ridges but there isn't enough room in a raised border.

[kathyd]

I tried growing them a couple of years ago under several inches of straw, and this worked well on first earlies planted around easter, but less well on the second earlies. Last year I tried the same thing again on first earlies, but planted in February or early March. It didn't work at all well - I suspect because the soil was too cold, and the straw just kept it cold even after the weather warmed up a bit. This year I'm going to use compost and leafmold on a few in the polytunnel, and try earthing up properly on the ones in beds in the garden.

[solway cropper]

All mine are now grown in containers...much easier than messing about on the plot and waiting for the right conditions. The first of the first earlies in the greenhouse have their shoots poking above the compost already.

[binley100]

I tried growing them a couple of years ago under several inches of straw, and this worked well on first earlies planted around easter, but less well on the second earlies. Last year I tried the same thing again on first earlies, but planted in February or early March. It didn't work at all well - I suspect because the soil was too cold, and the straw just kept it cold even after the weather warmed up a bit. This year I'm going to use compost and leafmold on a few in the polytunnel, and try earthing up properly on the ones in beds in the garden.

I grew pentland javelin (1st) and Kestrel (2) so much rain last year I thought the slugs would have a field day but they didn't even though there was a lot in there . I think the grass clippings helped with the warmth factor.