They are growing well after a couple weeks of solid rain. Time to mound up dirt around them.
Some sources said to pretty much cover the plant. Others said cover only half or even a third of the plant. I sort of compromised: I covered the bottom quarter to third with soil, then mounded up dead leaves as mulch up to a height of half to three quarters of the plant. I figure that will shade the stems and then as the plant grows more I will later more soil then leaves – if nothing else it will be a good lasagna garden base.
We will see what happens!