Caring for growing potatoes

AG editor Garry explains how to cultivate a healthy crop

- Garry Coward-Williams

IN the April 23 issue I explained how I planted this year’s crop of seed potatoes in my border after enriching the soil with a mixture of leaf mould, well-rotted manure, wood ash and topsoil. I did this to replenish nutrients as they would be have been depleted after last year’s crop and I wanted to give the soil a boost.

The good news is that this mixture of treatments appears to have done the job and many young leaves have poked their heads through the soil and are looking strong and healthy.

Of course, growing potatoes does not end with soil prep and planting – there is still earthing-up, feeding and watering to be done.

 Other jobs for crop growers

1 Pinch out the little side shoots on your tomato plants.