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IrPOWERranger-
Those bags were started 8th April and by the time they were showing there were no hard frosts * to burn the tops (thats what knocks them back).
I don't know why people keep planting in March - they always cop a bit of frost damage.*this is high up in southeast London and we've not had any late frosts recently.
not4sale
I haven't grown potatoes in trenches or earthed up for years now - a traditional method and that is about it.
I use these 40 litre potato bags filled with a 50/50 mix of composted horse/farmyard manure (Wickes actually) and multi purpose compost. Filled up to halfway - 2 chitted seed tubers - then enough to cover them. As the haulm grows up I top up with more mix.
Its a lot of compost but when they are finished it can be tipped back onto the soil to enrich/improve the soil structure below.
Don't let the bags dry out though.
If you grow your spuds using the no-dig method they can be grown at close spacing. The haulms/top growth create a light excluding canopy which prevents 'greening' (thats what I did this year with the 'Ratte' #1341).