When to earth up spuds?

[Digitalis]

My spuds are now coming up- do I need to earth them up yet, or do I wait a while? If so, how high should they be when I earth them up?

[Digitalis]

[delboy]

Earthing up can be anytime once they show above ground, but I would wait and see if any frosts are due, otherwise I would leave them to get to 6-9" before earthing them.

Spuds form on the haulms which have been covered as well as from the main stem, so earthing up does many good things - stops the spuddlies going green; gives us exercise; helps to work my clay soil...

[cornykev]

Now and every 4/5 inches of growth or as Delboy says cover if frosts are due.  ;D ;D ;D

[mick-64]

earthing up... ???

how do you do that?

[muddylou]

Earthing up can be anytime once they show above ground, but I would wait and see if any frosts are due, otherwise I would leave them to get to 6-9" before earthing them.

Spuds form on the haulms which have been covered as well as from the main stem, so earthing up does many good things - stops the spuddlies going green; gives us exercise; helps to work my clay soil...

Thanks for that, I now understand something people have been trying to explain to me for quite a while.. :)

[Digitalis]

How wide do the 'mounds' need to be?

My soil is covered with leaf mold, so I can't get to the it unless I disrupt the leaves.  ??? Can I earth up with loam?

[manicscousers]

we earth up with leaves  ;D

[Tee Gee]

Can I earth up with loam?

Yes! There is no need to move the leaves just place the loam on top of them.

[tim]

Soil covered with Leaf Mould.

Second Heaven??

[Digitalis]

Soil covered with Leaf Mould.

Second Heaven??

;D

I'm making progress.......thanks to you guys and gals!

[Digitalis]

Do the mounds only need to be as wide/high as the haulms/leaves?

[grannyjanny]

Our potatoes are on a bed of well rotted FYM, when we earth them up would it be of any benefit to sprinkle some chicken manure pellets on the soil.
Janet

[Robert_Brenchley]

Soil covered with Leaf Mould.

Second Heaven??

Hard work. All the barrowing and forking does my back in far worse than digging!

[Justy]

I have just earthed up my little babies. Should I do them again when they poke through again? When is it best to just let them get on and grow?

[artichoke]

I am throwing buckets of home made compost over my spuds. And cut grass, and nettles, and comfrey and old leaves and everything else I can think of.

Not only will the spuds like it, but I am expecting later veg to benefit too. Earthing up kills weeds, encourages potatoes, feeds later crops, improves the soil and is wholly beneficial.