While I was earthing up my spuds tonight my husband made the suggestion of putting black pots on top of the plants instead of earthing up. The black pots in question are those that you can buy from Morrisons that they sell flowers/bouquets in - 1ft high by 10 inches diameter. He said that you only earth up to keep them dark and frost free which these bins could adequately do. Is this a good idea or should I stick to earthing up the old fashioned way?
I'm currently visualising an upturned pot over the green leaf growth. If that is what you mean then it will not work.
It's the actual potatoes themselves that need to be hidden from daylight. If light gets to the tubers, it turns them green and inedible. If a frost is forecast, cover the green foliage with fleece if you have some, or plastic. A slight frost won't harm the spuds in the ground if they are well covered
Thanks for replies. I didn't think it would work but I wanted to know why it wouldn't so I can tell my husband.
Thanks again.
This is the way forward.(http://i475.photobucket.com/albums/rr111/gardentg44/alottmentphotos015.jpg)
Not easy though
I put six inches of grass cuttings or dead leaves on top. It's going very slowly at the moment because not many grass cuttings are being brought down yet, and I've planted an awful lot of spuds!