[green fingers]

The forecast is possibly for some more frost.  Quite a few of my potatoes are starting to show, but I am in a quandry - should I earth them up again, or will they be ok?

[digalotty]

if you can yes
it will protect them and also help your yield improve

[Missy1970]

I'm unable to earth some of mine up anymore so I popped some straw and fleece over them I may be being over cautious but this is my first year and I'm looking forward to my spuds so I'm not taking any chances

[digalotty]

that will be fine

[green fingers]

thanks all for the advice

[Siouxfly]

I earthed mine the day before yesterday and then again today as they were already inches above the new compost. 
Mine took ages to do anything but now they are growing so fast I can't keep up!

[Aunt Sally]

Don't earth them up too frequently if you can help it.  I try to leave them so that when I earth up there are still leaves above the ground.  They need their leaves for capturing light energy to grow.

If you earth over the leaves it is like burying  them at the bottom of a pre-made ridge and they would get no light until they made it to the top (if they have enough energy).  They wouldn't do very well like that would they.

[vegmandan]

Glad to see "Aunt Sally " being as patronising as ever .

With the quote  :"They wouldn't do very well like that would they."

Oooh smack bottom how could you be so silly !!!


Personally If frost is forecast I would always cover the leaves with soil for protection.
It's better for them to be excluded from the light than to be destroyed by frost if left uncovered ?
Or am I wrong Aunt Sally ?

[Manlea1]

I personally think aunt sally`s logic on the matter sound  :blink:  To a newbie you need advice to prevent mistakes  If you find it patronizing i guess your on the wrong forum? 

[Paul Plots]

Frosty - cover them... I agree but other than that let the little shoots see some daylight.

Aunty is never pattroniz  patronis having a go 

[Aunt Sally]

Glad to see "Aunt Sally " being as patronising as ever .

With the quote  :"They wouldn't do very well like that would they."

Oooh smack bottom how could you be so silly !!!


Personally If frost is forecast I would always cover the leaves with soil for protection.
It's better for them to be excluded from the light than to be destroyed by frost if left uncovered ?
Or am I wrong Aunt Sally ?

Hi there vegmandan.  It's a long time since you've been here.  

I thought we'd banned you.  Yes we did !  Why did we let you back ?  Oh I remember now, it was because some people missed you on the trivia quiz  (I think most of those have gone now too, as has the quiz)

[Timebandit]

surly it is better to cover the leaves if frost is due ? or risk loosing them ?

if you choose not to earth up i would pop a fleece over them just to be on the safe side

[Aunt Sally]

surly it is better to cover the leaves if frost is due ? or risk loosing them ?

if you choose not to earth up i would pop a fleece over them just to be on the safe side

Of course it's better to earth up if a frost if forcast Timebandit.  I did qualify my statement by saying:

Don't earth them up too frequently if you can help it. 

Some people think that they need to be earthed up as soon as they pop their leaves above the ground - they don't.

[Timebandit]

Aunt Sally , I was trying to answer green fingers question about possible frost damage.

The forecast is possibly for some more frost.  Quite a few of my potatoes are starting to show, but I am in a quandry - should I earth them up again, or will they be ok?

and was keeping on topic !

[Aunt Sally]

Oh, sorry timebandit.  You didn't include a quote but I should have looked further back to see what you were replying to.