Seed Potato Tubers

[Don Foley]

When planting seed potatoes the usual mantra is to plant 6″ deep.
Does this mean that the tip of the sprouted stem should be 6″ below soil level?
I ask this because some of my seed potatoes are quiet large, circa 3″. I’m inclined to think it is the depth at which the base from which the sprouted stem is emerging?
I am also wondering about earthing up. I read somewhere that if you want to avoid/reduce the need to earth up, you should plant deeper initially. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Don.

[bluebell]

Don I don’t think the potatoes can tell 😉 The only risk is with them turning green as far as I can tell, last year I planted in a small scrape on the surface and covered with a pile of compost, got a few green ones but that is not unusual and they were much easier to find and harvest.

[Don Foley]

Hi bluebell,

I asked the question more out of curiosity than anything else.
The tubers that were delivered to me are of widely different sizes, varying from small egg size to large Orange size.
I will probably cut the larger ones depending on the number of sprouts appear during the chitting process which will address the problem of these being planted too shallow.
Any thoughts on the earthing up process I mentioned in my original post?

Don.

[bluebell]

Don I didn’t comment on earthing up as I am very lazy and only bung a bit more on top if they are showing through and there is a hard frost forecast.

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