My neighbour piles fresh soil over his potato rows in the middle of August, and it’s not to help them grow

My neighbour piles fresh soil over his potato rows in the middle of August, and it's not to help them grow

That August soil pile isn’t about growth—it’s about survival. As rain settles potato hills and summer heat cracks the soil, dangerous tuber moths find their way to your crop. Your neighbor knows a two-inch buffer is all that stands between a clean harvest and tunneled, rotting potatoes.