planting potatoes

[nannynet]

I have had my lotty for three weeks now and soil is very hard claywhich I have been digging over adding lots of course sand.The clay is very wet and in large clumps.My question is this,how finely broken up does the soil have to be in order to plant potatoes ? I am asking this because a lotty neighbour kindly gave me some and told me to bung them in as they would help to break up the soil ,but will they grow in great clumps of clay or will they rot?sorry to be so long winded

[frozenthunderbolt]

NOt sure bout whether they will rot or not, but i would sugest adding crushed gypsum and as much of ANY kind of organic matter (compost or fine bark foir preferance) as you can when digging over clay.
I know just how backbreaking that is so there is no point doing it more than you have to
both of these aditives will help breakdown the clay.