Earth to spuds…

Want to boost the health, taste, and size of your potatoes? Earthing up can make all the difference, as Bob explains

- Bob

ONE thing that intrigues many gardeners is what earthing up spuds actually involves, why do we do it, and when? Earthing up is drawing soil from around each plant and mounding it around the stem, or haulm as it’s called.

The reasons are many. Firstly, the soil mound supports the haulm, which is less likely to blow over and snap. Next, if we earth up regularly from soon after the haulm emerges, we protect much of it from light frosts, with only tips getting burnt.