The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: Audmum on May 11, 2009, 06:32:13 pm

Title: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: Audmum on May 11, 2009, 06:32:13 pm

Probably a silly question - but when you earth up spuds (mine are growing in bags) is it ok to cover the lower leaves with compost?
Many thanks
Auds x

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 11, 2009, 06:56:34 pm

I have just done mine (in bags and tubs) and totally cover everything , it took 4 wheel barrowfull to will all 20 lots of them lol
Linz

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 11, 2009, 08:16:21 pm

i tend to totally cover mine - as it means i have more time between having to repeat the process

some people like to leave the very tips out, some cover them totally

the plants don't seem to mind!

i have a couple of rogue spuds from last year that i didnt clear out, growing in the middle of my beetroot (and i've just had one pop up in the onions too!)

i'm not gonna bother eathing them up

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on May 11, 2009, 08:27:18 pm

Selickbhoy you could alway dig them up and put them where you want them,
I have done that as i was getting them come up where my lawn. Hubby just chucked em in to a pile and when he was sweeping up he made a pile and forgot about them they did accually group in to a small tatty lol

Linz

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: Audmum on May 12, 2009, 12:53:35 pm

Thanks guys - now off to smother my spuds ;D
Auds x

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: starcana on May 13, 2009, 12:18:39 am

Hi, I'm new to spuds too. Mine are doing wonderfully but by smothering, do you mean covering ALL the leaves or just the 'stalks'. All advice appreciated.

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: sellickbhoy on May 13, 2009, 07:31:24 am

you can cover them all, they'll pop back through

some folk like to leave the tips poking out

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: gallovidian on May 21, 2009, 08:33:21 pm

Mine are looking in need of topping up.... another job for the list!

Title: Re: Earthing up potatoes
Post by: northfifeduckling on May 21, 2009, 10:50:20 pm

just wrote the same on the other spud thread - one can overdo the earthing up in containers, maybe my soil was too heavy, the container too deep or it was just too much, but last year some didn't make it through after a while...:&>