How To Plant Potatoes

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The taste of potatoes is known not only to every summer resident, but also to an ordinary person. This root vegetable is grown in most vegetable gardens and orchards. However, it takes a lot of effort and patience to produce a large harvest, even during planting. For some, the whole planting procedure may seem simple and easy, but it is better to learn about the rules and features when you independently carry out this process

Of course, the main factor required for a good planting is the use of certain potato seeds. But their manufacture falls on the autumn period of the last season. It is autumn that is considered the ideal time for seed preparation. They take material for planting from bushes, where the best and highest yield was observed. Here, the dimensions of the tubers should reach at least four to five centimeters.

Many summer residents, by the way, plant potatoes cut into pieces or cut eyes. In fact, after lightly drying in the sun and dusting with ash, chopped potatoes can provide a good harvest. But in this case, the weather needs to be humid and warm. However, during coolness and rains, most often such cut potatoes simply rot, not sprouting at all or creating miniature sprouts.

How to prepare the soil for planting potatoes?

Sandy loam, light to medium loam, is the best soil option for growing potatoes. Dry peat bogs and forest soils are also suitable. Not very long ago, it was believed that potatoes feel great in high acidity of the soil, but now scientists have proven that potatoes growing in such types of land are most exposed to various troubles in the form of diseases and insect pests. Also, potatoes really need nutritional components, especially during the period of tuber formation.

The beginning of soil preparation for planting potatoes for the next year is necessary already during the present summer season. When digging, fertilizer must be applied to the soil.

Preparing seed potatoes for planting

Seed potato tubers for planting must be selected in advance. You also need to carry out their landscaping in a place specially designated for the process. This is best done under awnings or under shade from trees. Thus, a poison called corned beef is formed inside the fruit, which is necessary to ensure the potatoes have a long shelf life. However, care must be taken that the scorching rays of the sun do not hit the potatoes in a straight path.

Potatoes should be germinated another two or three dozen days before planting. But before that, the tubers should be washed with a manganese solution. The planting material then needs to be laid out in one or two layers in boxes. The germination temperature should be about twenty-two degrees. The place should be bright, but direct and hot rays of the sun can negatively affect the material for planting, so it is better to avoid them. As a rule, the potatoes are first placed in a rather dark place, which gives rise to weakened and long sprouts, but during planting they are very easy to damage. It is best if the first shoots are strong and have a green color. The optimal length is one and a half centimeters. After two or three weeks, such boxes will have to be placed in a cooler zone, where the temperature will vary between ten and fourteen degrees. A glazed balcony or loggia would be an excellent option.

Also, during the germination process, it is required to constantly turn over and spray the potatoes to give them moisture. This procedure is carried out once every two days. For this operation, you can use plain water, a solution of mineral fertilizers or ash. Thus, the risk of most diseases of potatoes is reduced, and its growth from this becomes more intense. But the spray solution must always be freshly prepared.

It is great if there is an opportunity to germinate potatoes in a greenhouse. Here, the tubers will need to be placed on a bed of straw, after which they are covered with a polyethylene film. This will help create the desired indicators of light, humidity and heat.