[bb_odiham]

A while back, I made my first post here (at these fantastic forums), and posted a photo of my prepped up spuds and a request for info:-


(Full size image.)
http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?p=193511&highlight=#193511


I'm happy to say, the prepared batch are coming on just fantastically:


(These are between 6 to 12cm high and I have about 30 plants - full size image)

I haven't put up any images of the "other" batch I planted, as they are a quarter of the size!

Needless to say, lots of work made all the difference. I shall no longer believe people who say "Just throw them in the ground, they'll be fine"

So what next?

I've read I need to earth them up, but to be honest, I've mostly just left them to do their own thing. I did cover them over for a week or two when the leaves first started showing. Probably more luck than planning that I did that just prior to the snow cover we had!

Do I just keep on putting soil around the base of each plant a few times a week?

As for my spud race, the final proof will be in the yield.
I'm 95% certain that my carefully planned potato beds will flourish in comparision to the ones just thrown in.

This has been great fun so far, if I only get a single tasty spud out of my exercise, I'll be happy

[DD.]

Yes - every few weeks, hill up the spuds, usually done with a drag hoe.

This is essential unless you want green spuds, (poisonous!).

[bb_odiham]

Ahh - thanks DD.
So I guess, when spuds are mass cultivated, they have machinery which does that?