Earthing up spuds

[Julian123]

Hi All,

Newcomer here!

So I have finally got my first allotment and all is going well.

I understand the need to earth up spuds as they grow but I have a question....
Some people earth up before they plant the seed potatoes and then they put the spuds into the already earthed up soil. What is the purpose of this?

Many thanks.

Julian

[Bren In Pots]

Hello and welcome to the vine Julian

Everyone has their own ideas on what to do with potatoes have a read at these older threads hopefully they should answer your question.

What else are you growing apart for potatoes we're a nosy lot here on the vine


https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ing_89080.html

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...ess_96512.html

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...oes_71838.html

[Julian123]

Ok thanks, I will have a look.
Also growing.....
Onions, Carrots, Beetroot, Chard, Spring Onions, Snips, Sprouts, French beans, Peas, Sweetcorn and Strawberrys.

[Bren In Pots]

You're growing a good selection I'm hoping my strawberries will soon be ready.

[Julian123]

Its a steep learning curve. The plot was 4 feet tall in weeds (mainly cooch grass). But after a year its pretty good and this is my first growing season. I don't expect everything to work!

[veggiechicken]

Hi Julian and welcome.
Can't help with yours spuds question - I use a bulb planter and put a spud in the bottom of the hole, fill the hole in and that's it. No earthing up - most of them are planted in pots anyway.
Don't forget to take some photos of your plot so you can look back and see how much you've achieved. Makes all the hard work so much more worthwhile.

[Julian123]

Hi Julian and welcome.
Can't help with yours spuds question - I use a bulb planter and put a spud in the bottom of the hole, fill the hole in and that's it. No earthing up - most of them are planted in pots anyway.
Don't forget to take some photos of your plot so you can look back and see how much you've achieved. Makes all the hard work so much more worthwhile.

Will do - so I need to upload them to photobucket or something similar and then post a link to it using the picture icon?

[veggiechicken]

You may have to wait a while before you can post on here - its a new member privileges thing!
Then you'll be able to post your photos, rather than a link to a host site.

[Julian123]

Update

Update: Earthed them up a little. So far have done really well. Loads of tasty spuds. I planted a few varieties and the King Edwards have done the worst. I don't think they like the drought. The plants have died off and the spuds are tiny. The Desiree and Maris Pipers have done far better.

[Mark_Riga]

I earthed mine up a little when they were threatened by a frost and intended to go back and earth them up some more but got too busy with other things and when I did have time, they were too big in the rows for me to get in to earth them up properly. Some potatoes are now poking through the surface and will have green patches on when harvested. So it is best to earth them up early in the year and not leave it too late.

[Cadalot]

I plant them through planting membrane, no earthing up and no green potatoes Alans Allotment: Spuds Under Membrane

[Jay-ell]

I've got a mulch of grass and straw over my beds so no earthing up

[bikermike]

don't you get slug issues with non-rotted mulch?

[Jay-ell]

Not yet, I'll see when I harvest them to see iv they've been slugged.

The worst slug damage I've had this year was on a non mulched brassica bed. The mulched brassica bed was fine. I've noticed lot of centipedes under the mulch, thrushes rooting through it, frogs hopping about it so they all seem to like it as much as the slugs.

[Squingy]

If the soil is clayey and prone to waterlogging planting in a mound helps drain the water away if that makes sense.
Good luck!