Start to Ridge up Potatoes

Posted by TopVeg - May 5th, 2008

The potatoes have started to grow as the temperature rises, and it is easy to start to ridge them up as they grow. The potato seed was planted shallowly, just covered with soil, so that it would come out quickly. When the shoots are about 12 cm above the ground, the base of the stalk is covered with soil. It does not matter if one or two of the bottom leaves are covered with soil, but the main shoot must remain uncovered.

potato-shoots

Weeds are also growing as well as the potato shoots. When the soil is drawn over the shoots, the weeds will be disturbed and will die. Soil will be pulled towards the shoots little and often, which will be good for the potato harvest and weed control.

earthed-up-potato

The potatoes in the photo above have been partly earthed up. They will grow a bit more, and then more soil will be pulled up over the shoots.

early-potatoes-ridged-partl

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Ridging up is also known as earthing up. The vegetable gardener should start to ridge the potatoes up as soon as the stems elongate.

Posted in potatoes

5 Comments »

  1. I just pile a load of earth on the top covering the lot. I do wonder if I’m going to break anything. Perhaps I’ve been lucky?

    Comment by adekun - May 6, 2008 9:23 pm

  2. Adekun
    That is interesting - because you always get a crop after doing that, don’t you! It must be all that superfood you give them!

    Comment by TopVeg - May 7, 2008 4:51 am

  3. For something that came from what smelt like a latrine I am quite chuffed.
    Am thinking I should be a little careful in the future with the soil especially as I will try to reduce the number of shoots to try to get bigger spuds.

    Comment by adekun - May 14, 2008 5:43 am

  4. Adekun
    An interesting experiment…
    Do you chit the seed? That is an accepted way to reduce the number of shoots - it will be useful to know if removing the shoots has the same effect.
    TopVeg

    Comment by TopVeg - May 14, 2008 6:38 am

  5. I read a something similar on a forum. A reply was if you ask two different gardens you get three answers…
    I think what I mean is the only way to know is to try because everyone has their own opinion. I try and chit earlies but don’t worry too much. The main normally goes straight in. I tend to get a mixed bag out of the ground. I might try rubbing to leave two or three??

    Comment by adekun - May 16, 2008 8:36 am

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