My King Edwards have started to flop over and as a result I noticed that a lot of potatoes had broken the surface and had gone green. I had followed 'instructions' and earthed them up a couple of times so was slightly miffed. They were planted about 12" deep and earthed up about 16".
Question is how do you gauge when they are earthed up enough for although only around 20 potatioes were green and binned, this seems like uneccesary waste.
Iain
Can't figure this one??
Even planted only 4" deep, & earthed up a couple of times, it is unusual to have more than a couple of greenish ones.
There's more to the story than you've said??
The only other thing I could think of was that heavy rain during the thunder we had a few weeks back washed soil down off the mounds but that feels a bit far fetched and I didn't notice any evidence of it. Also my Sharpes Express were not exposed and they have even less foliage to protect the soil.
I'm stumped!
It could be water washing away the soil because that's what has happened to mine when I've watered without having a rose on the end of my can. I've had to re-cover the exposed tubers again after watering.
I never, ever - I believe - water potatoes. You would need 100s of gallons - & we pay for it - to get through the foliage & down to the roots??
We're 'breaking concrete' to harvest our 2nd earlies, but we're getting 30+ per plant . Why bother??
Tim I was worried about NOT watering my spuds but I really couldn't face it what with me bad back an all so I thought they'd just have to go without. Anyway mine are on cow manure which goes rock hard but my first picking yesterday of Arran Pilot was very promising. I have watered the ones I've got in containers if they looked parched but I've not pulled any of those yet :)
Maybe that is it then. I did water to start with but then on advice of the other allotmenteers I stopped. Another lesson learned for my second year......
PS - This year, I only earthed up once - rather poorly. No problems.
I grow mine on the flat under a thick layer of compost, and by the time I come to lift the maincrops there are always a few greenies due to the worms eating their way through the compost. I just don't worry, they've never done us any harm.