[Beetroot queen]

Just a daft question when I earth up I do so as soon as the leaves poke through, the leaves still have that purplish look. Some old boys leave them till they have a good few inches showing and then earth up. Am I doing wrong.

We always have lovely crops so maybe it doesn't matter

[crh75]

The leaves make food for the plant, which it needs to grow and produce potatoes.  At the moment it is just gowing and still has lots of food in the seed potato so it can do with out much new food.  Leaving it will help the plant grow BUT if there is any risk of frost get them covered.  In the longer term the plant needs most engery when it is forming potatoes which is not for quite a while yet.

Short answer - earth them up if there is likely to be a frost or when you have time.

[JayG]

It doesn't hurt to let them grow a few inches before earthing up........UNLESS there is likely to be a frost (cue frantic earthing-up activity, in the semi-darkness if necessary!!)

[Beetroot queen]

Put the spuds back to bed, just incase although seriously is Somerset due a frost 

[jay001]

Put the spuds back to bed, just incase although seriously is Somerset due a frost 

we earth up every night last thing in our 6 containers . . . dosn,t harm as far as I know . . . .and remember  . . . micheal fish once said we were not going to get a hurricane 

[JayG]

An air temperature of around 4C or less combined with clear skies and little breeze can result in a ground frost, especially in sheltered and/or low-lying areas where the colder air sinks and collects.

[Beetroot queen]

Put the spuds back to bed, just incase although seriously is Somerset due a frost 

we earth up every night last thing in our 6 containers . . . dosn,t harm as far as I know . . . .and remember  . . . micheal fish once said we were not going to get a hurricane 

I used to think he was so weird looking as a kid, now I just think he looks like one of the old boys on our site.

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Ithought earthing up is to stop the emerging tubers from turning green and poisonous?

[JayG]

Ithought earthing up is to stop the emerging tubers from turning green and poisonous?

It is, but is also the easiest way to protect from frost.

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Ok, that's good to know.