Why are potatoes ridged up with earth?

• Earthing up potatoes stops the light getting to the growing tubers. If potatoes catch light, they turn green and they should not be eaten.

• Earthing up potatoes into a ridge improves the yield of potatoes. Read More »
  new potatoes plant potatoes

How long should earthing up potatoes continue?

If the potato row is 30 inches wide, the ridge is usually about 6 inches above soil level. Any higher and the soil runs down as there is a natural angle of repose.

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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.

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Potato seed can be planted in ten easy steps, after marking out the plot. Chitted seed is sometimes used.

10 steps to Plant Potato Seed:

1. Early potato seed is planted at a distance of 30cm between the seed

Main crop potato seed is planted at a distance of 40cm between the seed Read More »

It is worth spending a little time to mark out the potato patch, before planting seed potatoes.
1. assemble tools - rake, canes, string, tape measure.

2. remove the cover from the bed to reveal dry soil Read More »

Potato seed is always ready to plant - but it should not be planted until the weather and soil conditions are favourable.

Potato seed is often chitted, so that it has started to grow before it is put in the ground. Read More »

It is often suggested that potatoes are the best vegetable for a new garden.

• Weeds will be reduced because:

Potatoes produce a mass of leaves which compete with all the weeds

The dense canopy of potato leaves shade all low growing weeds

• Soil structure will be improved by the mass of potato roots growing through the earth and drawing water up.

Potatoes are strong plants, and if they are fed well, the potatoes will grow vigorously, making it difficult for weeds to develop and at the same time, improving the soil.

A frequent question about potatoes being grown in tubs is:’ Should the container be covered?’

When spuds are planted in tubs, they are covered with soil, leaving enough room to “earth up”. The soil should be reasonably damp to allow the potatoes to grow, and the tubs must allow good drainage. The tubs need drainage holes in the bottom, and a stony layer for water to percolate through at the bottom.

The container with potatoes  may then be covered over for a week or two until the first leaves appear. If it rains a lot, the soil will get very cold and wet, which will not encourage the potatoes to grow and they may rot if too wet.

Click the link for more information on the eBook ‘How to Grow Potatoes’ which costs £2.99.

Urban gardeners with no space, and no wish to dig, can grow potatoes in simple containers:

• growing potatoes in a bag
• planting potatoes in pots
• buckets make ideal containers for growing potatoes

• or, buy  a kit to make  growing potatoes easy!
• and an ebook on how to grow potatoes

Some vegetable gardeners are concerned about their seed potatoes which are developing long chits.

Seed potatoes want to be put in as cool a place as possible with plenty of light. If the seed is on a windowsill, the sun may be coming through the window & heating the space up, or the room may be too dark.

If possible put the seed outside, under glass, in a light place. Bring them in at night if it looks like a frost.

They need a lot of light, but a very cool temperature!