Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes

  • 7 Replies
  • 2665 Views
*

Fluff

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Moulton Northamptonshire
  • 138
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« on: May 09, 2007, 13:43 »
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.
NOT ARF !

*

WG.

  • Guest
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2007, 13:49 »
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

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Hampshire
  • 1260
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2007, 14:15 »
or mulch them with any straw, grass clippings, compost etc that you can lay your hands on.
Gardening organically on chalky, stony soil.

*

Fluff

  • Experienced Member
  • ***
  • Location: Moulton Northamptonshire
  • 138
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2007, 16:11 »
Quote from: "whisky_golf"
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.

  • Guest
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2007, 16:13 »
Welcome, I'm sure.   Milkman's suggestion is a good one too but do it soon before the shaws close the drills.

*

VickyR

  • New Member
  • *
  • Location: Crookes Sheffield
  • 32
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« Reply #5 on: May 10, 2007, 13:57 »
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

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Location: Hampshire
  • 1260
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« Reply #6 on: May 10, 2007, 16:16 »
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.

  • Guest
Earthing up lady cristi early potatoes
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2007, 18:56 »
Quote from: "VickyR"
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


xx
Earthing Up Potatoes

Started by PembsPanther on Grow Your Own

9 Replies
3572 Views
Last post May 14, 2012, 01:25
by Paul Plots
xx
Earthing up potatoes

Started by Martin on Grow Your Own

11 Replies
5583 Views
Last post May 15, 2006, 15:51
by Ian_P
xx
Earthing up Potatoes - how!?

Started by jaffa_cakes on Grow Your Own

4 Replies
2553 Views
Last post April 30, 2009, 08:42
by Oliver
xx
Earthing potatoes

Started by Remy on Grow Your Own

7 Replies
2040 Views
Last post May 29, 2009, 20:14
by DavidT
 

Page created in 0.809 seconds with 38 queries.

Powered by SMFPacks Social Login Mod
Powered by SMFPacks SEO Pro Mod |