[gavinjconway]

I was speaking to my father in law and he says he has always earthed up his potatoes at planting time and has done for donkeys years.. He digs a 10" trench, puts some food in, plants his spuds and earth up about a 14" above ground level slightly dished on top to catch rain ..  BTW he does grow a good crop of spuds and is self sufficient every year.. Does anyone else do this?   

[sarajane]

I've earthed my spuds up at planting time for as long as I care to remember.  I now don't even trench, just put a spade into the earth, partially fill with well rotted manure, cover with soil and then earth up.  I do however do a bit of a raking up of the 'earths' when the weeds appear but then leave them to their own devices.  Have several bags of spuds in the garage still for the winter.  It works for me but then we all have our own way of delaing with our lovely spuds.

[Trillium]

My mother and I don't bother with much earthing up at planting time as the spuds seem prone to wanting to move to higher levels at the beginning.

When we know they're growing, we then start earthing up, which also helps weeding. We can also quickly spot any possible problems early and pull that potato plant out if needed. We'll hill up another two times which isn't difficult since again it helps weeding and we can spot any pest or fungal problems. The frequent cultivation also helps loosen the soil for better rain absorption.

[bazh]

Plenty of people do it that way Gavin my Dad used to as well, I don't think one way is best to be honest it's just how people choose to grow them, personally I earth up as they grow don't know why just the way I always have.

A few pros and cons for each way up to you really.

[Growster...]

We always earth up at the start, and keep doing it through the season.

It also pays to space the rows properly, as continual earthing beyond the angle of repose of the soil, may just expose the top spuds, and they'll go green...

I made that mistake this year on a few plants, so will give them a bit more room in the spring.

[arugula]

If you do a search on the grow your own board, you'll find many people's thoughts on earthing up.

[Salmo]

One problem with earthing up at the start is that the potatoes often emerge through the sides of the baulk rather than the top.

The weed control element is an important consideration.

I plant my potatoes in a shallow trench and just cover them with enough earth to show me where they are. As they emerge I gradually increase the baulk to cover them and protect them from frost. Mine is light soil and I can do it this way.

My feeling is that potatoes earthed up at planting will stay colder than if earthed up gradually.

[gavinjconway]

Hi Guys - thanks for all the replies... I will do it this year and see how it works out.. It does make for less work by the looks of things.

[LeeR]

When earthing up I use well manure (must be well rotted or you might burn the potato plants) rather than soil.  As peas and beans follow potatoes in my rotation plan I get to kill two birds with one stone.  Saves me a job latter in the year.