[Rexmundi]

Planted 63 potatoes yesterday, the weather was glorious with sunshine for a good 2-3 hours. They are a mixture of earlies and main crop and I sprinkled a little BFB.

Yesterday I reckon the air temp must have been around 15 degrees in the sun and 12 in cloud.

Is there any danger of planting potatoes too deep?  Some must be 8 to 10" deep.

[Paul Plots]

Planted 63 potatoes yesterday, ............................ They are a mixture of earlies and main crop
Is there any danger of planting potatoes too deep?  Some must be 8 to 10" deep.

I guess it is possible to plant too deep but you should be ok with 8 to 10 inches. The deeper they are the longer they take to reach the surface.

Too deep is when they don't appear at all. Australia? 

[Rexmundi]

Planted 63 potatoes yesterday, ............................ They are a mixture of earlies and main crop
Is there any danger of planting potatoes too deep?  Some must be 8 to 10" deep.

I guess it is possible to plant too deep but you should be ok with 8 to 10 inches. The deeper they are the longer they take to reach the surface.

Too deep is when they don't appear at all. Australia? 

I had read or heard advice that you're supposed to 'earth' up a little mound after planting, is the earthing up included in the recommended depth to plant? I haven't earthed up a mound yet and I'm assuming I can do this after they appear on the surface?

Cheers

[mumofstig]

Wait til the leaves appear and then earth up the stems to stop the forming potatoes going green.

I found that when I mounded up a ridge at planting time the potato shoots grew towards the light - by growing out of the sides of the mounds 

[Paul Plots]

Depth of planting may depend upon the variety but I tend to stick them in around 5" to 8" deep from ground / soil level. I don't measure - just guesstimate.

The earth-up mound goes on top of this so isn't counted in the overall initial planting depth.... well it isn't when I plant potatoes.


I usually earth mine up a little straight after planting while I have the time. When they burst through they get another lot of soild dragged up on top of the first layer.

At the first sign of front I cover the shoots with grass mowings as they are free and seem to protect new growth pretty well. Later the grass decays and adds to the humus in the soil.

[Plot74]

What is the best way to feed potatoes as they grow.
The ground was well dug with well rotted compost prior to planting . I have put in just three rows of earlies with room for more as the weather improves and the soil warms up.

[Growster...]

What is the best way to feed potatoes as they grow.
The ground was well dug with well rotted compost prior to planting . I have put in just three rows of earlies with room for more as the weather improves and the soil warms up.

We feed spuds with a liquid manure made from soaking a bag of a strong 6x manure in about 25 gals of water, and generally using a watering canall over the rows. When it rains, it all sinks down further, and we had an excellent srop of Charlotte last year!

Liquid comfrey tea is also good for for spuds, but that hasn't grown enough yet - there may be enough in time for your main croppers!