Hilling

Hilling, earthing up or ridging is the technique in agriculture and horticulture of piling soil up around the base of a plant.

Hilling buries the normally above-ground part of the plant, promoting desired growth.

The tubers grow just below the surface, and can produce chlorophyll and solanine if exposed to light (green potatoes).

Solanine is toxic in large doses, and can result in nausea, headache, and in rare cases, death.

By hilling one or more times during the growing season – effectively, burying the potatoes in an additional few inches of soil – yield is improved, and the harvest remains edible.