Chitting potatoes - is it necessary?

[jayjaybee]

I too chit my spuds, but tell me this.... why are we instructed to form a slight ridge after planting. Why don't we just plant them deeper?

[Martin H]

I too chit my spuds, but tell me this.... why are we instructed to form a slight ridge after planting. Why don't we just plant them deeper?

I've stopped doing the ridge thing at planting time, in fact I plant at the bottom of shallow trenches. With the earlies I start forming the ridges when the plants show above ground, covering with loose soil to keep the frost off. I then carry on earthing up gradually until the ridges won't go any higher.

I found that if I ridged them up at planting time I'd get quite a few shoots out of the sides of the ridges, which made them harder to manage.

[jayjaybee]

Much the same as I do, but thanks for the advice.