Potatoes

[1888andybhoy]

Hi all i have my potatoes chitting in my greenhouse and have had for 2 weeks now nothing seems to be happening is this usually the case? and also do i need to earth up potatoes whats the use of earthing them up ?
Many thanks
Andrew.

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Andrew, as it is already April I would give the seed potatoes a couple more weeks and then plant them. You don't have to chit potatoes - people have tried growing both chitted and un-chitted potatoes with the same results. Earthing up is done to stop the light getting at the tubers and turning them green, which are then poisonous. It also helps to prevent blight spores reaching the tubers. It doesn't stop blight affecting the tubers through the plant. I earth up the spuds when I plant them by about 9 inches rather than a little at a time when the plants are growing.

[DavidT]

Too add one more thing to Lesleys` advice. Potatoes grow on the plant stem, so by earthing up you are encouraging longer stems, therefore getting a bigger crop.