[newby]

Hi folks; new to gardening, I put some very earlies and earlies in the ground in march. My neighbours said that was too ealry and they would diw of frost. Good news..they are doing fine. But when do I "earth them up". They are quite obvious above ground now, plenty of leaves etc. Also, my wife says when I earthe them up I should cover them totally. I though you waiting until they were about a foot tall and just coverted stalks . Any help ?

[Ice]

I'm going to cover mine totally today.  A frost will kill the leaves and thus the plant.

[peapod]

To be on the safe side, cover the whole foliage...and quick! frosts are forecast in a lot of places this weekend

[newby]

ok...being a bit simple here..I can see that covering them all with earth will protect from fost..but what is the downside?

[Ice]

ok...being a bit simple here..I can see that covering them all with earth will protect from fost..but what is the downside?

None at all, they will just reappear later.

[newby]

erm, ok then...why stop earthing them up...I can't figure...surely the elaves provide teh energy to make the potatoes?

[peapod]

I stop earthing up when I run out of soil 

[peapod]

erm, ok then...why stop earthing them up...I can't figure...surely the elaves provide teh energy to make the potatoes?

you need to earth up stop the spuds getting light and growing green, thats why some earth up the stem but not the leaves. You only have to earth over the leaves when there is a frost as it will kill them

[Sweet Pea 2]

How do the potatoes grow if you have covered all the leaves with soil?

[DD.]

Errr- have a look at the previous post!

[newby]

oooh! I feel liek a worried mum ! lol. So covering the elaves won't hurt them ?

[Ice]

oooh! I feel liek a worried mum ! lol. So covering the elaves won't hurt them ?

Not nearly as much as a frost will.

[peapod]

oooh! I feel liek a worried mum ! lol. So covering the elaves won't hurt them ?

We all feel like worried mums 

[newby]

yes..but it will hurt. OK I guess this is the point. If you were 100% sure that there would be no frost. what would be the impact of covering their leaves?

[DD.]

Not a lot, they'd re-appear in a day or two.