Stoopid potato planting question

[Muppet194]

Ok having only grown potatoes in bags before, I have a (probably daft) question. When using the trench method, do I pop the potato at bottom of the trench, say a foot deep, then fill trench completely leaving surface of bed smooth, or do I just chuck a bit of soil back into trench at this point leaving what will look like a shallow trench? I know to earth up etc, but if the potato's at the bottom of a trench wont the rain fill the trench and rot it before it has chance to grow and need earthing up? Help!!

[Martin H]

There will be lots of opinions on this one.

Personally I plant at the bottom of a trench and only part-fill it to begin with. In time, earthing-up turns the trench into a ridge.

[rary]

Why dont you try both methods, I simply push a plastic pipe into the ground about 1ft. deep pull out the plug drop the potato into the hole then push the soil out the pipe again to fill the hole, (much the same way as using a bulb planter) and I always have good results, where I stay we get a lot of rain and you may think that making a hole like that would act as a sump but I have never had any rotting potatoes yet

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

I have done it with a bulb planter the last two years. I don't think I did mine deep enough though. Interested to read more opinion before I do mine this year.....

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Not a daft question BTW, not at all.

[KevinM67]

First thing I would say is - it's not a stupid question, it's actually quite an interesting one which I'm keen to see the replies.

Personally, I plant the spuds about a spade length deep and then level the soil - and as the foilage comes up, I regularly earth up.

Each year I've had mixed results - some good, some so so, and some absolutely dreadful.

I've always seemed to find some sort of excuse for their performance - however, as I've never recorded things then I
forget what has went well, what went bad, conditions, date of planting, etc.

As I've learned on here, it's time to keep an 'allotment/growing diary' - which I've started this year (eventually).

[Muppet194]

Hmmm, thanks everyone, food for thought. I'm leaning towards part filling the trench to begin with, as per Martin. May chuck a bit of fleece over to protect them from too much rain? Perhaps that knowledgeable tattieman will come along in a bit.

[Alison]

I plant mine with bulb planters so ending p with flat soil. I then add a mulch to he whole surface of home made compost. I don't earth up at all as I'm lazy and don't find it makes hat much difference.

[veggiechicken]

Bulb planter here too, a sprinkling of chicken manure pellets in the bottom of the hole, then the spud and replace the plug of soil.
No earthing up and no digging of trenches to start.

[KevinM67]

Hmmm, thanks everyone, food for thought. I'm leaning towards part filling the trench to begin with, as per Martin. May chuck a bit of fleece over to protect them from too much rain? Perhaps that knowledgeable tattieman will come along in a bit.

When are you planning on planting them ?

[KevinM67]

Bulb planter here too, a sprinkling of chicken manure pellets in the bottom of the hole, then the spud and replace the plug of soil.
No earthing up and no digging of trenches to start.

You see, Alison and your replies are quite interesting.

I 'earth up' due to that one frosty night we usually get in late May, and to ensure that those spuds that invariably rise to the top are not exposed to the light.

However, with my resultant ridges - when we get prolonged periods of dry weather, I feel like trying to water them is is a pointless exercise.

[Martin H]

You see, Alison and your replies are quite interesting.

I 'earth up' due to that one frosty night we usually get in late May, and to ensure that those spuds that invariably rise to the top are not exposed to the light.

Same here. But it's important to recognise that this is two different processes.

I will cover the foliage with soil in May if I have to, to protect them from frost. I hate doing this because plants need light to grow, but if I haven't got enough fleece or newspaper (and I usually don't) then I'll cover with soil. They will grow through it in a few days and any setback is thus only temporary.

The real "earthing up" happens later, to cover the lower part of the potato stems with soil and encourage them to produce tubers higher up. If your rows run East-West it has another advantage: the sun warms up the ridges much more than it would flat ground, which the plants like. Earthing up in this way doesn't hide any significant amount of foliage.

However, with my resultant ridges - when we get prolonged periods of dry weather, I feel like trying to water them is is a pointless exercise.

I find it easier. I block the ends of the ditches between the earthed-up rows and flood the ditches. A full bucket of water carried in each hand, empty into the ditch, job's a good un. The water soaks through sideways to where it's needed.

[veggiechicken]

You see, Alison and your replies are quite interesting.

You sound surprised, Kelvin

[TrysHard]

Top Tip using a bulb planter anything to save digging.

OP I for one an glad you asked the question.

[KevinM67]

You sound surprised, Kelvin

Did I type that ??

Also, thanks Martin - your post was 'quite interesting'.