When shall I start earthing up...

**Demeter** · 27-03-2009, 07:31 PM

How exciting. If it were me I would earth up now, just in case a frost might catch you out. (Earthing up will protect foliage from frost as it will be underground)
That might not be a risk for you - just noticed your location... if not worried about frost then you could leave them a little while longer without harm.

**adjohnson1971** · 27-03-2009, 07:53 PM

I was going to ask the same question. The instructions which came with the spud grow bags says to earth up as the shoots appear, however Dr D.G. Hessayon says to earth up when the haulms are 9" tall. Jamie Oliver says to start earthing up early as it will force the plants into producing more offshoots and thus more spuds.???

**Demeter** · 27-03-2009, 08:05 PM

Originally posted by adjohnson1971 View Post

I was going to ask the same question. The instructions which came with the spud grow bags says to earth up as the shoots appear, however Dr D.G. Hessayon says to earth up when the haulms are 9" tall. Jamie Oliver says to start earthing up early as it will force the plants into producing more offshoots and thus more spuds.???

Which just goes to show that there's no "right" answer

If mine appear before the may is out then I intend to earth them up immediately so as to avoid any frost risk. That would be my main concern!

**PAULW** · 27-03-2009, 08:44 PM

I earth mine up as soon as I have planted them if its good enough for the spud farmers its good enough for me.

**hawthorns** · 27-03-2009, 09:04 PM

i earthed mine up when i planted em

**Lazgaot** · 27-03-2009, 10:29 PM

How do you earth them up from seed? Do you just plant them then pile loads of soil over the top, like a mound?

**Gwyndy** · 27-03-2009, 11:47 PM

Lazgaot - plant row(s) of seed potatoes then draw soil from between rows using a rake so that you get a mound along the row. (I also earth up immediately I have planted.)

**PAULW** · 28-03-2009, 05:19 AM

Then after I have rowed up I cover the whole lot in secondhand straw this keeps the weeds down and holds in the moisture.

**gojiberry** · 28-03-2009, 07:25 AM

Unless a frost is forecast I always leave some green shoots showing so the plant can photosynthasise (sorry about the spelling) and make a stronger plant.

Ian

**Two_Sheds** · 28-03-2009, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by adjohnson1971 View Post

Jamie Oliver says to start earthing up early as it will force the plants into producing more offshoots and thus more spuds.

Jamie, bless him, isn't a gardener

Gardeners' Question Time last week said that earthing up does encourage more maincrop spuds to form, but as earlies don't grow for long enough, it makes no difference to them.

You should still be earthing up (or mulching, eg with grass clippings) to protect against frost and sunlight (to prevent green spuds)

**Hole Digger** · 28-03-2009, 05:50 PM

Originally posted by PAULW View Post

Then after I have rowed up I cover the whole lot in secondhand straw this keeps the weeds down and holds in the moisture.

And creates the perfect enviroment for slugs

**lyndap** · 28-03-2009, 08:15 PM

Frost threatened tonight so added another layer of soil over my container grown spuds as green shoots above soil again!

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