Growing Tips

Earthing-up

When the potatoes have emerged a few inches, earth up the drills with a rake or hoe. This gives the plant a better volume of soil to grow in, it improves drainage and it improves ventilation around the base of the plant. Above all, it is a quick and effective way of controlling weeds. Repeat the process as required, until the foliage is too big to allow you to continue.

Blight

Watch out for blight, which is a fungus; Phytophthora infestans. It needs very high humidity and mild temperatures, day and night, to grow on the potato plants.

For further information look in Pests and Diseases. Help us by joining the “Fight Against Blight”, a campaign initiated by The Potato Council to help gardeners avoid the disappointment of blight. Get all the latest information from www.potato.org.uk/blight

Back to Tips & Guides