When do potatoes break through the soil surface?

[DWSmith]

I don't expect to see anything popping through for a while but about how long after planting will potatoes break through the surface if they have about 3" to 4" of soil on them? How tall should the sprouts be before I put the other half of the soil on them? (I don't suppose I want to completely cover them again.)

Thanks!

[damian1225]

around three weeks (ish), I put my 2nd earlies in on 28/4/17 and noticed them showing last week, now this week they are all up so three to four weeks and then earth them up again from there...

[mothhawk]

How long is a piece of string? It depends on how warm it is, how wet it is, whether the potatoes were chitted first etc. They've got to start into growth, and grow 4" before they reach the surface. My earlies took 12 days - they were chitted, it's been fairly mild but dry and they were planted mid April. They are about a foot high now, after being earthed up once with maybe 6" of soil over them.

[damian1225]

Just to add to your second question, when you do cover them I personally will be adding about another 7-8 inches of soil on top again in the next few days and they will then break through that again later

[DWSmith]

Okay, so you don't have to leave part of the plant sticking out of the soil when you add soil. Thanks for the information.

I suppose it's easy to tell that this is my first time planting potatoes.

[Jungle Jane]

I earth up the soil around the leaves,letting the leaves carry on with their work,I don't cover the leaves.

[BUFFS]

I topped up mine in April,completely covering them by 3-4ins and when we got back to the garden 3 weeks later they were 18ins out of the compost, that just shows what a decent bit of sun can do, and we missed it..

[Bren In Pots]

I plant my Charlottes deep to start of with then once the toms break the surface I mulch with grass clippings this way seems to work for me.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The only time I completely cover the haulm is as a frost protection, leaves are there for a purpose.

[Martin H]

I'm like Jane and Pots, I don't cover up the leaves, just add soil or compost around the stems as the plants grow. How's it going to capture the sun's energy and make lovely spuds if it can't see the sun?

Adding soil might encourage more tubers or roots to grow but in any event it will help stop the light getting to the swelling tubers. Both good things.

[Snoop Puss]

I cover most of the leaves, but I do leave a few poking through for a bit of energy.

[BUFFS]

The only time I completely cover the haulm is as a frost protection, leaves are there for a purpose.

We were going away so I buried them deep, just as well as that was when everyone had really frosty nights, so for once I was smarter than the average bear..

[Dalrimple]

I planted mine deep ,a 9 inch trench with compost and grow more and slug pellets, then back filled and earth up to about 18 inch above ground level on the day of planting ,well it works for the farmers in Linconshire so I figure it will work for me ! it did last year and it's looking good so far this year. atb Dal

[Snoop Puss]

Crumbs, Dalrimple. Your potatoes are really determined!

[Bigmallly]

I plant my Charlottes deep to start of with then once the toms break the surface I mulch with grass clippings.

I want some tatties that grow toms.....................