[Fluff]

Being a newbie I didnt leave enough spare ground between to earth up. Am now struggling to find enough earth to keep them covered. However its getting to the stage that the mounds are now about 7" +.
Can i stop as its difficult find ing the earth and i am bringing it from other close beds.

[WG.]

Yes you can stop.  Watch out for any tubers which peek through since you don't want them to go green.

If you can be bothered, you could put a strip of black polythene between each row.  This will preserve moisture & improve the crop.   Lift once or twice to remove slugs.

[milkman]

or mulch them with any straw, grass clippings, compost etc that you can lay your hands on.

[Fluff]

Yes you can stop.  Watch out for any tubers which peek through since you don't want them to go green.

If you can be bothered, you could put a strip of black polythene between each row.  This will preserve moisture & improve the crop.   Lift once or twice to remove slugs.

Thanks for the tip

[WG.]

Welcome, I'm sure.   Milkman's suggestion is a good one too but do it soon before the shaws close the drills.

[VickyR]

Hi

Just out of interest could you mulch with manure?  I was wondering if this might lead to all tops and no bottoms, so to speak!

I have four tons of manure and not much compost at present.

Out of interest (again!) can you eat the leafy bits of potatoes or are they poisonous to humans?

[milkman]

If the manure is well rotted mulch away with it - now we've had some rain at last it'll be good to lock the moisture into the soil with a thick mulch where the spuds can make use of it.

Wouldn't advise eating the leaves, and definately not the little round toms that form after the flowers as these are poisonous.

[WG.]

Just out of interest could you mulch with manure?  I was wondering if this might lead to all tops and no bottoms, so to speak!

I have four tons of manure and not much compost at present.

I don't see a problem with this (we are talking horse / cow / goat manure & not poultry?).

Even fairly fresh manure won't cause any over-feeding if it is left on the surface.   It might be tricky to apply & you might find increased slug activity.

I'd advise against eating any part of the potato except underground tubers.  Don't know for sure but I'd imagine the foliage contains solanine : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine