Earthing up??

ck2day · « **on:** February 19, 2008, 11:52 »

Hi, as a very new beginner to this veggie growing lark I have a question that has perplexed me for a while. "Earthing up" potatoes, do you cover the shoots/plants completely or just keep the stem covered??

compostqueen · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2008, 11:57 »

cover the lot

ck2day · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:02 »

Until they get to what size?

compostqueen · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:08 »

you're supposed to keep earthing them up to protect from frost as they grow and to prevent the tubers from turning green (as they then become inedible). You can earth up with soil, or compost or straw etc. Soil blows about though

There's no hard and fast rule about how high the soil should be but they do need to be covered cos they can be damaged by frost, hence everyone seems to cover them right over. As risk of frost is over folks seem to stop bothering and let them grow on. By then they should be earthed up sufficient to keep em from frost and going green

Hope that helps.

ck2day · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:42 »

Thankyou very much, will give them a go this year and see how i get on

compostqueen · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2008, 14:57 »

oh I would, not too many though cos they're hard work, even no dig style. Easy to grow though and taste oh so lovely

Heifer73 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2008, 15:27 »

Hi

I cover the whole lot.

shaun · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2008, 16:57 »

THIS is how i earth mine up realy easy

(bottom of the 1st page)

Trillium · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2008, 20:49 »

Am I seeing correctly....is there only a single handle on the Howard?

richyrich7 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 19, 2008, 20:52 »

Quote from: "Trillium"

Am I seeing correctly....is there only a single handle on the Howard?

Must be the angle, have a look at the shadow

Trillium · « **Reply #10 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:04 »

Okay, see it now. Thanks Richy.

I really like the rake. What kind is it?

richyrich7 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:06 »

He's rather proud of his rake, he did tell me where it had come from once, looks like the kind they use on tarmac if you ask me

shaun · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:43 »

you leave that rake well alone its sacred

the make is a castex and they are the bestest rakes in the whole wide world

shaun · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:44 »

talking about spuds i drove past a farmer today and he was planting his

matron · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2008, 21:52 »

Quote from: "shaun"

talking about spuds i drove past a farmer today and he was planting his

Huh, he's lucky. I've just had an email from T&M to tell me that mine are still in Scotland and should be with me 'shortly'. Good job the ground is still frozen solid and it is currently -6c.

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