Plant potatoes and earth them up

When to do it

Within Potato’s local window, when soil is workable.

What you need

• Certified seed potatoes
• Spade or suitable large container
• Loose soil or container mix

How to do it

1. Use healthy certified seed potatoes. Choose a prepared bed or a draining container with room for the crop.
2. Plant roughly 10–15 cm deep, sprouts upward, about 30 cm apart for smaller varieties or wider for maincrop types, with access between rows.
3. As shoots grow, draw loose soil around their bases, leaving growing tips exposed. In a container, add mix gradually while retaining leaf growth.
4. Keep developing tubers covered from light and check moisture. Do not strip soil from neighbouring roots while earthing up.
5. Harvest according to variety and intended use. Keep tubers dark afterwards; do not eat green, badly sprouted or bitter potatoes.

What success looks like

• Plants grow strongly and developing tubers remain covered.

Watch out for

• Using garden tubers of unknown disease status.
• Assuming green potato skin is only a cosmetic issue.

Plant guides using this technique

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