Plants root deeply into this no dig soil. However the potato tubers we eat develop mostly near the surface.
As they become numerous, they push upwards and into the light, which makes them green with solanine, which is slightly poisonous.
That is the reason for what is called earthing up. You pull surrounding soil over the tops and around the stems.
Another way is what I show you here, using compost to cover the developing potatoes. This has extra value in feeding soil for the next planting, which in this case will be leeks in July.
These potatoes are Charlotte, a second early variety which comes ready to harvest by the middle of July. You can see them already they are flowering this is 6th June, after fewer late frosts than usual.
I made a mistake in this video and called the 20 L bucket I’m using, a 30 L bucket. I’m using 20 L to cover eight plants, so it’s about 2.5 L per plant, or half a gallon. The Compost is from our local recycling facility and it’s one year since I bought it.
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I used lots of grass clippings last year which worked well, so I'm doing the same this year.
Going to be busy soon, as the town council clerk just told me there are two allotments coming up for rent & I get first pick…
I'm finding this year that my main crop looks like they are going to be ready before my second earlies! Very odd.
You’ve taught me more about growing food through YouTube than I learned in two years getting my horticulture degree. Thank you.
Any opinion about mulching tatties with old shredded leaves ( compost being in short supply)?
That works well however I'm surprised you leave the flowers on. I have read and heard leaving flowers reduces the tuber production. It maybe more important on later varieties.
Жаль нет субтитров на русском….
I hill up with grass clippings. Its more available than compost.
Just got your book! I'm going to look up leaving flowers on. Myth regarding de-blooming?
How do you make such dry compost? Could you tell us?
Just pulled up my potatoes and they did exactly what you said they'd do in no dig, they was all in the compost at the top which lifted up like a mat, I broke off all the roots that was holding the compost got all the potatoes and then just spread the compost back on the beds. It was a low yeild this year but I suspect that's because the strawberries that was in before the potatoes had some kind of infection which effected the potato leaves. I planted brussel sprouts in their place. I've never had any luck with sprouts but I'm hoping the position I've put them in this year will help (it's the only bed that gets sunlight into winter, the rest are shaded by a house from around autumn but get plenty of light during the summer when the sun is higher)
Can you comment on determinate and indeterminate potatoes? I am finding a lot of contradictory information. Are indeterminate potatoes a myth?
Good to see you here and I will add more compost for my potatoes. Thanks
That's a lovely looking garden. The squirrels keep steeling mine. So you have to keep burying them?
Wheat staw is the bestway to mound up
They did a study at Washington state university 30 years ago
Can you say why you don’t remove the flowers so that more energy goes to the potatoes below the soil? Thank you so much!
Keep the beard
Love Charles Dowding!
What about potatoes grown in pots?
I heard that your supposed to cut off the majority of the plant that grows from the top. Is that true? Thank you!!!
Briliant idea. !
If u did it right, u would have hilled them earlier
Hi Charles…any reason you do not cut off the flowers on the potato plants?