How to Earth Up Potatoes

Last Updated: September 17, 2021 Approved

If you're growing potatoes, earthing them up will help protect the tubers from turning green and poisonous, and it may help the plants be more productive. Even better, the process is really simple!

Steps

1
Earth up the potatoes at the right time. Do it before the tubers turn green, because once they have turned green, they become poisonous and inedible. Begin earthing up once the shoots of your plant reached approximately 20 cm (8 inches).^{[1]
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2
Using your hoe, draw the gathered soil into mounds around the stems of your potato plants. Use enough soil so that just 5cm (2 inches) of stem are left visible above the mound. This will ensure enough foliage is left to allow the plant to carry on growing strongly, but will starve the developing tubers of light so that they are prevented from turning green and poisonous. Whilst doing this, take the opportunity to remove any weeds or debris that have returned since planting.^{[2]
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3
Maintain the mounds. Keep an eye on your potatoes over the coming weeks in case the earth has been washed away by heavy rain. To avoid this occurring, do not make the mounds too steep. As the plant continues to grow, repeat the process every time it reaches 10-15cm (4-6 inches) of new growth above ground. This could mean repeating the process 3 or 4 times per season.^{[3]
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Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants
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Community Q&A

Question

Can I just grow sweet potato vines inside in the winter?

Sherrie Crowell

Community Answer

Yes, you can. Use a potato with good eyes, cut a piece of the potato off, put toothpicks around it to keep it from falling into your glass or container of water, let half set in the water, eyes up. Set it in a window, I prefer the kitchen, and let it grow. Changing the water a couple times a week is good. It might take a while, but you will soon have a vine.
Question

How can I do this in a grow bag?

Community Answer

Open the bag at one end and half empty it, saving the compost. Stand it up on its end and roll down the bag to just above soil level. Plant the potato about six inches deep (one per bag should be enough), water, and put in the sun. When foliage emerges and is six inches tall, roll the bag up slightly and add enough saved compost to bag so the stem is two inches above compost level. Repeat every week or so till the bag is full, then leave til the foliage dies, and empty out the potatoes.
Question

Can I use grass clippings to earth up potatoes?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as there isn't weed killer or herbicides in the grass clippings; those could kill the potato plants.