Potato Hills

Question

How do you hill potatoes? What is the depth that you plant and what is height of the hill? Is this the best way to plant potatoes or is this a myth?

Answer 1

Hilling potatoes has many benefits. Whether it is the best method is up for debate as it is really a personal choice.

When you are hilling potatoes, you are essentially taking greater advantage of the production potential of the stems on potatoes. The more of the stem of a potato is covered, the more area it has to produce roots and tubers (what we eat) on the plant.

How high is really up to you. Commonly, the seed potato is placed either on the flat ground or in a shallow hole and a small hill is built over it. As the potato plant grows, the soil is heaped up around the plant to that only the top few inches are visible at any time. Sometimes this hilling is augmented by tires or frames. When the hill has reached the gardeners desired height or when the potato leaves start to yellow, hilling stops until harvest time. Then the hill is removed.