Sowing potatoes

[RaptorUK]

I've never grown potatoes, this is my first year with an Allotment

I am planning to plant 1/4 of my International Kidney tubers at the end of the week and it occurred to me that rather than simply putting them 4" deep I could dig a deeper trench, maybe 8", and backfill with 4" of soil, leaving the trench still half empty, then for the first earthing up I wouldn't have to earth up so high and would have less soil to find for earthing up.

Thoughts ?

[rustylady]

Well, you could do it that way - no reason why not. As for finding soil for earthing up, you simply use a rake to draw the soil from between the rows up around the plants.

Or you could bank them up with grass clippings or home-made compost.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

I find they take up far too much ground! So last year made a "conscious" decision to grow em in bag's! Never done it before, Worked really well, n got an excellent crop!



Will be doing exactly the same this year! Worked for me!

Another "Charlotte" lover here!

[Mudge]

I find its a little easier to dig the spuds up that have been earthed up to form a ridge, rather than having to dig down if the ground is level.
Also check the temperature of the soil at that level, as it may be colder down there.
Sorry, last thing. Whats the condition of your soil at 8 inches deep?

[RaptorUK]

I find its a little easier to dig the spuds up that have been earthed up to form a ridge, rather than having to dig down if the ground is level.
Also check the temperature of the soil at that level, as it may be colder down there.
Sorry, last thing. Whats the condition of your soil at 8 inches deep?

Soil at 8" deep should be good, I dug a trench about a month ago and filled it with compost from the compost heap then filled back in over the top with soil. Will check the temperature at various depths on Wednesday and report back

[Alison]

I always plant mine deep, gives extra protection from late frosts too.

[Veggielot]

I go with a trench partly to put some home made compost in the bottom and partly to save One earthing up. I also find I spend a little less time earthing up.

[cptncrackoff]

I've actually gone the other way and planted mine more shallow this year with an intention of earthing up more..I found far too many potato's whilst winter digging even though when I was harvesting I was absolutely sure I had got pretty much all of them!

[Kristen]

Just a reminder not to leave the trench "open" in readiness for planting ... it will get cold overnight, as will the soil piled alongside, and when all that is put back in with the Spuds it will trap the cold in. If preparing a trench fill it in, and then plant into it - or open it back up just for planting.

I did that one Spring, it was incredibly dry, and when I planted my spuds they took over a month, and the next sustained rain, before the got under way.

[Martin H]

Raptor, I do my potatoes in a trench, it gives more room to earth up as they grow. Also it's easier to cover them up if there's a frost forecast when they are still small. It's worked fine for me.

[Bigmallly]

I've never earthed my tatties, I can't be phaffed if I'm honest. I simply dig a hole 8" deep with bulb planter, throw a few chicken pellets in, drop the tattie in & cover up. The last frosts are well past before they raise their heads.

[Knight of Albion]

I find they take up far too much ground! So last year made a "conscious" decision to grow em in bag's! Never done it before, Worked really well, n got an excellent crop!

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Will be doing exactly the same this year! Worked for me!

Another "Charlotte" lover here!

That's very interesting.

What do you mean by 'bags'?

The potatoes must have been fairly shallow beneath the soil though, did you not have a problem with greening?

[Bigmallly]

What do you mean by 'bags'?

If you have a look at the attachment Knight, you can see all the sacks against the fence. The seeds are planted around 4" deep and earthed up as needed or can be planted deep & fill the bags up straight away.

[Knight of Albion]

If you have a look at the attachment Knight, you can see all the sacks against the fence. The seeds are planted around 4" deep and earthed up as needed or can be planted deep & fill the bags up straight away.

Thank you. I see it. I'll have to try that.

Have resolved to grow my own (organic) potatoes this year. Potatoes are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, or at least they are if you eat them with the skins on, which is where most of the goodness is.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Thank you. I see it. I'll have to try that.

Have resolved to grow my own (organic) potatoes this year. Potatoes are one of the most nutritious foods you can eat, or at least they are if you eat them with the skins on, which is where most of the goodness is.

I think BM more or less covered the answer!

Sorry "Raptor" was gunna try post a few "Piccies" of the first year on "Lottie" when I did em in open ground! Just to show you how they developed, n just how much ground they took! Like most others have said, I did em in a trench, bottom filled with well rotted manure! But can't seem to find em!

Old "Lappy" on it's last legs! Thought I'd transferred most of em over! obviously not!