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Author Topic: Earthing up potatoes  (Read 4294 times)

Audmum

  • Joined Apr 2009
Earthing up potatoes
« 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

Fluffywelshsheep

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Near Stirling, Central Scotland
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #1 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

sellickbhoy

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Muiravonside, near Linlithgow
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #2 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

Fluffywelshsheep

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Near Stirling, Central Scotland
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #3 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

Audmum

  • Joined Apr 2009
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2009, 12:53:35 pm »
Thanks guys - now off to smother my spuds ;D
Auds x

starcana

  • Joined Nov 2008
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #5 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.

sellickbhoy

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Muiravonside, near Linlithgow
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #6 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


gallovidian

  • Joined May 2009
  • S W Scotland
    • Idle Hour Holidays
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2009, 08:33:21 pm »
Mine are looking in need of topping up.... another job for the list!
Two blokes, 2 hounds and a rural retreat in Galloway

northfifeduckling

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Fife
    • North Fife Blog
Re: Earthing up potatoes
« Reply #8 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...:&>

 

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