How high do you earth potatoes

[Benacre]

For many years I earth mine up right up to harvest, how far do you earth up?

Colin.

[shirlthegirl43]

Up to the top of the bucket - haven't worked out how to go higher

[Flummery]

If not in buckets - I earth up about 3 times. Still got one to do - this weekend - on my earlies. However, you need to ask yourself why you're doing it. If you have planted VERY deep you might not need to do it at all (you might still be looking for your shoots!) You earth up to protect from frost - therefore you can stop once frost season is over. You earth up to allow more roots (with their little spud nodules) to grow from the stem - so you want more stem covered with soil. You earth up to protect the little tatties from light so they don't go green and poisonous. To be honest, it's a balancing act only you can do. Only you know your original planting depth. I find it's not critical and certainly not worth getting stressed over. You do need to allow them to grow some top growth and eventually you run out of soil between the rows that you can scrape over! Farmers do it once at planting time and they get great crops. Panic not!!

[Matt.]

Can you plant them too deep with the added depth earthing up causes? I planted mine late and earthed up at the same time. There is probably 12" of soil before the stem will reach light. Is this too much and should I de-earth until I see the plant or is it fine to leave as is like the farmer method?

[Two_Sheds]

I don't earth up, instead I mulch them with grass clippings. Keeps out the light, conserves moisture, recycles the mowings, prevents scab...

[Benacre]

An increase in nitrogen ie grass clippings around the stem may actually cause more scab as the rough grass blades and grit could rub the stems

[SuzieP]

Although I've only recently got a plot, I've been growing spuds for years in the garden and have always put grass clippings in the bottom of the trench (trick my dad taught me) when I've planted the potatoes - have never had scab.

[rustylady]

Only trouble with planting deep and earthing up at the same time is it leaves the poor little shoots an awful long way to grow through to the light. Remember the leaves (when they reach the surface) produce food through photosynthesis to feed the plant in order to produce the potatoes we eat. I usually plant mine five or six inches deep, wait until the shoots are through, and then earth up. I earth up once more when the shoots are about six inches high and that's it. If you are worried about green spuds, you could lay black weed suppressant fabric between the rows (as long as it is porous)

[Grandpadragon]

6" of well rotted horse manure underneath 6" on top at planting will top up in about 6" layers for a further 2'-6" until I reach the top of the dustbin I'm growing them in. Never done such a deep container before but was given the dustbin and the manure is free so though it worth trying as if the Charlotte do well this year might try a main crop next year.