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lack of soil

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Rainjustlearning (U12861332) on Friday, 21st May 2010

  I'm rapidly running out of soil to earth up my potatoes, is there anything else I can use instead ?
  
  Rain

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Ian W (U8604472) on Friday, 21st May 2010

  I have a similar problem but over the years I've found this trend to continually earth up as the stems grow unnecessary. Earthing up is a means to keep sunlight from the tubers and there is no need to cover the top growth up. If you've a couple of inches on the normal soil level I would say they'll be fine - I've not had problems with only a small amount of earthing up.

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by treechange (U14126469) on Saturday, 22nd May 2010

  Hi Rain,
  Ian is in principle correct, but earthing up can also give a greater yield as well. If you have run out of soil then mulching them with something else will help keep in the moisture in and encourage the potatoes to grow further into the soil that you have earthed up around them. It also helps to cut down on weeding.
  
  What to use: well I use hedge trimmings (soft leaves and young twigs, not woody stuff) mixed with grass clippings. I think I've seen straw mentioned on GW, but this costs money and above I have in barrowloads.
  At harvest time this all gets dug in ready for next year.
  
  It's probably another of my slightly unorthodox methods, that someone will jump on me for having, but I've found it works - for stopping green potatoes and weeds for certain,
  I usually get a very good crop of potatoes, but that may be down to the fertilizer

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