Potato question?

[Mothy]

Today I have been to earth my earlies up again, and it seems I may have placed the rows too close together. I use a 3 proged cultivator to loosen the earth between the rows so I can earth up easily, but because the rows are only 2 feet apart the base of the ridge isn't wide enough. You can just make out the tops of some of the plants peeking above the ridges despite my best efforts at earthing up.

What can I do to protect my spuds against a frost? Would straw be enough?

Harder than I thought this gardening lark!!  ;D

[wardy]

Straw yeah - I did that today in my no dig spud beds.  It blew about a bit and looks terrible though but if it keeps the frost out ......   ;D   I used some grass clippings too as my OH was mowing our plot.  Lots of weeds you see which we mow and then it looks like a lawn so we can break out the picnic.  Who says having an allotment is hard work  ;D

[tim]

Or fleece, of course?

They look great!

[Mothy]

Tim!!!
Fleece!!, sometimes I am so thick I amaze even myself! My answer was staring at me in my photo  :-[

Is the fact my earlies are coming on so well I am struggling to earth them up a normal one? I can see from my main crop all risk of frost will have passed before they are at the same stage.

Thanks for the compliment on my 1st ever spuds, my newly germinated Early nantes carrots are in the fleece tunnel. I am thinking of making another for some Autumn King.

[Doris_Pinks]

Bought 10 meters of fleece from Focus do it all last week, .17p per meter.bargain round these parts where it can easily be 50p per meter!

[Mothy]

Hi Doris,

That sure sounds cheap. I bought a 2m x 50 m roll from www.lbsgardendirect.com for £8.99 + £3.95 delivery with a free stainless steel hand trowel thrown in. As you say it can cost a fortune.

[philcooper]

Grass cuttings are also good and don't tend to blow away as easily as straw.

If you have straw and grass, purt the straw down frist and cover with cuttings

Phil

[Mothy]

Thanks for the advice folks.  ;D