Farmall Cub

Its my first year to grow potatoes they're coming up nicely out of the ground about the size of your fist right now. When can I hill them? Do they need to come up or do I hill over and keep covering them? Will they come back through or would it kill the leaves? Is the idea just to keep dirt around them or ? I spotted a potato beetle or two should I use seven or something else on them?

Yes, you need to hill them. I do not completely cover them. I leave a few leaves at the top uncovered. Have you fertilized them? If you did when you planted them you need to do it again. I use 10-10-10 with my soil type. You might wait a week after you have hilled them and come back with the fertilizer. Make sure they are getting the proper amount of water. As the plants get taller throw more dirt to them. I do mine every 10 to 12 days. I am already getting some potatoes and mine will be finished here in the next couple of weeks. Good luck.

There is an organic pestacide called "BT". it is deadly to potato bug larva, and safe for you.