There is an essential step in growing potatoes that will make sure they are healthy and strong. Garden Centre Manager at Jackson Nurseries, Hayden Salt, has shared his top potato growing tip and he says that it is a "vital" step that cannot be skipped. Potatoes are a relatively common crop for UK gardeners and they can be quite easy to grow. Plus, they are a staple for so many classic British dishes. 

Whether you are growing potatoes to make homemade chips, roast potatoes or shepherd's pie, you will want them to become the best spuds they can be and that means taking all of the necessary steps to make sure their growth is supported. While potatoes are easy to grow, they do take a bit of care, especially when they are planted and when they are young. Salt explains why this one step is so essential and why it's hugely beneficial for your potato plants. 

He explains why 'mounding up' is important, saying that it is important for potatoes that you put soil and compost around the base of the plant. He explaiend: "Potatoes grown from seed, either in the ground or in bags, will be starting to shoot now.

"Mounding up means covering the shoots with compost around the base of the plant to encourage growth. It also serves to protect young plants from a late frost.

"Another important element is to stop potatoes being exposed to light which can turn them green. Green tubers can be poisonous. You won’t harm the growth by covering up, so don’t worry about that. I usually leave around two inches of foliage above the soil to allow them to continue to grow effectively."

"Depending on how productive the plant is you might want to do this again in a few weeks," he added. This method is also important for other vegetables in your garden, especially ones you are transferring from indoor pots to the ground around this time of year. 

Salt explained: "One of the most common mistakes we see in early May is planting out young vegetables without providing any frost protection. People assume because the days are warm, the nights will be too - but that’s not always the case. You should always keep an eye on the temperatures and take action if you start to see them dip.

"The last thing you want is to ruin all your hard work because of the unpredictable British weather."