Spud Again!

[Lumpy]

Sorry about this and I know the answer is on here somewhere but....

Rather than dig a trench for the spuds I want to just make a hole and shove them in. So how deep should the hole be?

I don't wish to offend any spd growers and I know many people will use the trench method but this is the first year we will not have to grow them in pots and bags.

[rustylady]

About 6 inches or the depth of your trowel

[veggiechicken]

Get yourself one of those long handled bulb planters, s'easy then.
Take out a plug of soil, drop your spud and put the soil plug back over it.

[Lumpy]

Thank you Rustylady and VC thats just what I wanted to know.

[Bill HH]

rustylady,I have never grown spuds in the ground but why do I place spuds in a container in the lower part then build up with 12 to 14 inches of compost when all you say they need is 6 inches? Or are you assuming a fair amount of ridging up above ground level?

[21up]

rustylady,I have never grown spuds in the ground but why do I place spuds in a container in the lower part then build up with 12 to 14 inches of compost when all you say they need is 6 inches? Or are you assuming a fair amount of ridging up above ground level?

Good question Bill hh.

[rustylady]

rustylady,I have never grown spuds in the ground but why do I place spuds in a container in the lower part then build up with 12 to 14 inches of compost when all you say they need is 6 inches? Or are you assuming a fair amount of ridging up above ground level?

I am assuming earthing up will take place once the shoots have shown above ground. This can be either ridging with earth, covering with compost, or covering with any material that excludes light to stop the new spuds turning green

[Bigmallly]

I use a long handled bulb planter to around 9"-12" deep but I do not earth up unless a frost is forecast.

[Greenleaves]

I plant deep and just earth up once

[Snadger]

Another one for deep planting-no earthing!

[crannman]

i use a bulb planter then earth up when they start showing had good results

[lottie dolly]

I dig a hole and put it at other end of the row,pop in a seed,the next hole i cover up the first spud,i then give a light ridge,so i know where they are,also,ridging up using the chillington hoe later in the season is,it helps with the weeds,

[Lumpy]

Thanks all for the help. I was put off the trench idea when the 'expert' on Allotment Challenge was going on about planting spuds.

[starloc]

I only get a layer of potatoes in line with the original tuber, about 3 to 4 inch thick layer, never get any from the stems like in gardening book pictures, Does everyone else get them in the earthing up?

[Potstubsdustbins]

Yes but of course I grow in containers which I believe makes a difference. When your seed is in the bottom 8 inches of a dustbin you have quite a lot of haulm to cover. I quite often find a few spuds just below the surface but still the main part of the harvest if lower, just above the original seed as you say.