when to hill potatoes?

[Luremaker]

Several years back I read where some organic gardeners wanting to get away from harsh chemicals were mixing I believe 1 TBS of dish washing detergent/soap, to 1 gallon of water. Seems some prefer Ivory brand.

I just Googled it again, and this spray is mostly a direct contact bug killer. Theories why it kills them is either it cuts through their waxy exoskeleton, or neurlogical breakdown.

Haven't tried it myself, but once I have time to care for a garden again, I'm definitely going to try it.

I heard the same on a radio call in show last week. Add 1 part dish soap to 99 parts water. Spray directly on beetles. Must make contact to kill so only spray if you actually see the beetles. Most years I walk up the potatoe rows and hand pick all the bugs I can find.

 

[Oaktree]

You cna pick them off by hand every day if you can be there it doesn't take that long.

Maybe the first couple years, but after that it gets to be kind of a PITA to squish potato bugs a couple times a day. I read somewhere that if you delay planting a couple weeks, by the time the potatoes sprout the bugs will have gone elsewhere. Anyone had any luck with this? Gonna try it this year (normal planting here in northern N.H. is Memorial Day weekend...figure I'll wait til mid-June & plant the potatoes then.

 

[Duffster]

Maybe the first couple years, but after that it gets to be kind of a PITA to squish potato bugs a couple times a day. I read somewhere that if you delay planting a couple weeks, by the time the potatoes sprout the bugs will have gone elsewhere. Anyone had any luck with this? Gonna try it this year (normal planting here in northern N.H. is Memorial Day weekend...figure I'll wait til mid-June & plant the potatoes then.

Planting later only makes it worse.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

I'm in a heavy soil. I till the soil deep and dig a 6" deep trench and plant my eyes. I cover them up so the trench is maybe 1/2 full. When they break through I fill again. I hill them up as they grow and then I use hay or straw to cover the earth around them. I got my best potatoes ever with the straw. Holds moisture plus protects them from greening in the sun. With my heavy soil it can often crack and let light in so the hay really helps this.