Potatoes do not require special care. Compared to other vegetables, they grow almost on their own. The only mandatory procedures are weed and pest control, as well as hilling.
Many gardeners try to ignore the last procedure, and in vain - the harvest depends on it.
We will tell you why, how and how many times during the summer you need to hill up potatoes to get a good harvest.
How to hill
The first thing you need to do is weed the plantings. The first procedure after planting is carried out as soon as the bushes rise to a height of 7-10 cm.
The second hilling is carried out when the bushes grow to 20 centimeters – closer to the end of June.
When hilling, simply rake a mound of earth up to 10-20 cm high around the tops.
Many gardeners manage to carry out a third and even fourth hilling. But the first two procedures cannot be skipped.
When to hill
If everything is clear with the timing, then it remains to decide when it is best to do this. And the best is after rain or on cloudy days. If the summer is hot and rain is not expected, then in the evening and after watering.
Experience suggests that root crops grow best in loose soil, so the more often you carry out this procedure, the greater the chance of getting a rich harvest.
