You'll know you have mature potatoes that are ready to be harvested when the vines die off. We all know that potatoes grow underground. A critical part of growing potatoes is to not let their tubers (i.e., the potato crop) be exposed to sunlight for too long. I started hilling our potatoes with soil, then we invested in straw a few weeks ago so I’ve been using that … Covering potato plants with fresh, rich loose organic material like this can continue until the hill is as tall as you can or want to make it. Do not let it dry. I read that when they flower, you can begin to harvest little "new potato… Once the stolons (stems) grow between 6 and 8 inches, it’s time to hill your potatoes. But do not let it soak either! tall. Seed potatoes can rot if planted too early in cold water-logged soil. You normally hill twice, maybe at the most 3 time. Potatoes develop their tubers along the underground part of the stem. Hill about halfway up the stem. So, start the hilling. Increased interest in new gourmet varieties has added purple, blue, orange, yellow, and other colors to the inventory. The hilling process helps keep all of your potatoes well-underneath the soil to avoid exposure to light. My question is when do you stop hilling them. As the plant continues to grow, repeat the process every time it reaches 10-15cm (4-6 inches) of new growth above ground. so far i have them mounded up to about 12 inches. One method is to grow potatoes in old tires. If potatoes are grown in the ground, in rows, you simply use a hoe or shovel to hill the surrounding soil up around the plants. Quick science corner, what makes a potato green is just the process of photosynthesis happening, the process required for our plants to grow. This addition of organic material encourages the potato tubers to grow deep and wide and allows new potatoes to form on top of maturing potatoes. Green potatoes. Joined: May 10, 2002 Location: Kitsap Co, WA. Hilling potatoes. any tips from fellow gardeners would be appreciated. Some farmers use bricks or wire mesh as walls to hold up the hills and prevent erosion. When … The hilling process also protects the potatoes from exposure to sunlight; sun causes potatoes to turn green, indicating the presence of solanine, which is poisonous. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. Many potato growers have come up with new methods of growing deep, erosion free potato hills. If potatoes are grown in the ground, in rows, you simply use a hoe or shovel to hill the surrounding soil up around the plants. snoozy Well-Known Member Supporter. Hilling is simply covering the stems with soil or straw. The potato plants typically grow fairly quickly, so keep an eye on them. Tips For How To Grow Potatoes . * Hilling helps to keep the potatoes from poking through the soil and becoming "green" from the sun. But if you grow your tubers in a raised bed, as I do, hilling generally stops when the top of the bed is reached. Now that we know how to hill up potatoes, you may be wondering why it is important to do. When the potato vines again reach 6-8 inches (15-20 cm.) The seed potato is planted in the bottom in a layer of loose soil about a foot deep. And the bigger the potato, the more likely to be poking up through the soil. Proper drainage is essential to successful potato growing, as too much water can cause tubers and potatoes to rot. Due to this process, photosynthesis is more intense. The first weeks after planting, don’t be too harsh on watering. Then when it is time to harvest potatoes, the tires are simply removed, one by one, exposing the potatoes for harvest. Learn how to hill potatoes in this free video on home gardening. But what lots of people don’t know is that potatoes have to STAY underground in order for us to be able to eat them. You should stop hilling your potatoes when you’ve formed a hill about six or eight inches tall. In early spring, Mother Nature may do much of the watering. The hardest part of hilling potatoes repeatedly is having enough soil on hand, especially if you garden in raised beds using intensive growing methods. Keep an eye on your potatoes over the coming weeks in case the earth has been washed away by heavy rain. When the potato vines grow to about 6-8 inches (15-20 cm.) The more you can hill the potato plants, the more potatoes they will produce. At this time they are ready to be hilled again. She has been editing since 1989 and began writing in 2009. As the plant continues to grow, repeat the process every time it reaches 10-15cm (4-6 inches) of new growth above ground. Without the hilling up, all the spuds exposed to light were patched with green. my new plants are huge, bushy and flowering. ), more soil is gently added to cover all but the tips of the potato plant. 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