[Broadhaven]

My small veg plot is in my garden. This is my second year of growing. Last year my spuds were there primarily to improve the soil, and this year I have moved them into 2 raised beds (also to try and improve the soil). My potential problem is that I have earthed up once and the leaves are sprouting again rapidly. I don't think I will have enough soil around them all to earth up. Has anyone got any suggestions what I can do, or would I be ok to leave them without earthing them.

The variety is Sante and yukon gold

[Ruby Red]

You could always use straw. Anything would do as long as it stays in situ. Its just to stop the light getting to the shoots which helps the tubers underneath.

[Lardman]

Last year my spuds were there primarily to improve the soil, and this year I have moved them into 2 raised beds (also to try and improve the soil).

Growing spuds doesn't improve your soil in any way.  Any benefit is from you digging to plant and harvest them.

If you want to earth them up some more (all this does is improve the yield) you can cover them with, soil, compost, straw or even shredded paper.  I plant in mine in a trench which gives me 2 levels of earthing up, the first to level the ground and then a mound on the plant.

Can you bring soil from another part of the garden?

[Trillium]

Almost true, Lardman. Potatoes don't add anything to the soil but they do help break up hard soil very well which is why some folk plant them. I knew people who moved into a newly built house and put in spuds as their 'front lawn' hardpan for a year, and then seeded grass the following year for a much nicer growing.

Yukon Golds don't keep sending out potatoes along their growing shoot as other varieties do, so you'll probably find what you've hilled is enough. If you do find the odd one sticking out, as suggested, use damp straw or old leaves to cover, or a piece of black weed suppresant. If you've got more frost coming, then fleece.

[Lardman]

....  but they do help break up hard soil very well which is why some folk plant them.

Im going to have to respectfully disagree    But I am open to scientific proof, wheres Iain when you want him? 

[DD.]

I think it's the action of planting, hilling up and harvesting that breaks up the soil, rather than anything the spuds do. i.e. - all the back breaking work you put in yourself!