Hey everyone! I'm a newbie vegetable gardener and this year I've decided to try growing potatoes and tomatoes. My potato plants are getting quite tall, and I heard that I should add more dirt around them. Is it alright if I cover some of the small leaves at the bottom?
2 Answers
Absolutely! You can cover the lower leaves as the plants grow. If you’re planting in the ground, hilling is ideal since it encourages the potatoes to develop well and prevents them from turning green. Personally, I grow in pots for convenience. I start with a tall pot, fill it partially with soil, and keep adding dirt as the plants grow, leaving a few leaves exposed. It works well, and I can manage the mess easily!
Hilling your potatoes is a common practice, and it can be pretty beneficial. When you hill, you're essentially adding more soil around the base of the plants. This helps promote root growth and keeps the potatoes from getting sunlight, which can turn them green. While some folks say hilling might not always yield better results, it’s worth trying if you're aiming for more tubers! Just remember, everyone’s growing conditions are different, so don’t stress too much over the method you choose!