2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Potatoes are a traditional product of Russian cuisine. It has been cultivated in Russia since the end of the 17th century. It is appreciated for its ability to tone up the functionality of the heart, kidneys, urinary system, block the development of malignant tumors, for its high content of vitamin "C". Today potatoes are grown everywhere, including the northern regions. Novice gardeners actively cultivate this vegetable on their land, but they often find it difficult to determine the timing of harvesting, they do not know how to dig potatoes correctly. Competent actions when harvesting potatoes allow you to get high-quality root crops in the largest volumes
Determining the timing of digging up potatoes
There are no specific dates for harvesting potatoes - the time is determined by the state of the fruits and tops. Optimal terms: the last decade of August - mid-September. Improper readiness control actions lead to the loss of vitamins, organic acids, mineral salts, and also reduce storage.
The most popular way to determine the readiness of tubers is the condition of the skin. If you rub your finger over a potato and the skin comes off easily, this is a sign of immaturity. Such specimens did not gain full mass, did not increase the density of the shell, and therefore are not subject to long-term use.
Complete drying of the aerial part is an indicator of ripening. In this state, the tubers no longer grow and are ready for digging. Sometimes early frosts occur, which have a detrimental effect on the tops, leading to its premature wilting. This phenomenon is deceiving for gardeners, since the potatoes are not yet fully ripe. In such cases, you need to dig up a couple of bushes and determine the condition: large fruits, dense skin - the potatoes are ready to be harvested.
Preparing to dig up potatoes
A common method is preliminary mowing of the tops. Firstly, this technique allows you to prevent the development of diseases and lesions of the peel with infections that can come from withering stems. Secondly, it promotes the accumulation of nutrients, which are transferred from the remaining tips to the roots. When mowing, it is recommended to leave the tops of at least 10 cm high. The method has a positive effect on the quality and keeping quality of potatoes. Preparation for harvesting in the form of "mowing" begins 10-14 days before digging.
Harvesting potatoes
It is better to harvest potatoes in dry weather: the soil is light, crumbly and easily separates from the tubers. In such a land, you can choose everything without a trace. The inventory depends on the size of the plantation and financial capabilities (potato digger, walk-behind tractor). Small areas can be processed using traditional tools: shovel, pitchfork.
The best way to dig up potatoes is with a pitchfork, they do no damage and encourage a close inspection of the ground. A bayonet shovel needs to be taken narrow so that it only lifts the layer with a potato nest and causes less cuts. Cleaning comes down to manual picking from the ground and placing it in a bucket. Try to cause less mechanical stress, do not throw or knock.
Having finished digging, it is necessary to remove the remnants of the selected tops and weeds from the treated area. This procedure is especially relevant for annual cultivation in the same place. If this is not done, then the abandoned vegetation will serve the progression of fungal, viral, bacterial infections that will affect the next crop. Weeds will take root and multiply - in the new season they will complicate field work. For disposal, the collected waste must be dried and incinerated.
Under favorable conditions, the harvested tubers should be spread out to dry in the field or indoors. If the weather has failed, the work took place in mud and dampness - do not clean the stuck earth from the fruits. Leave to ventilate and only after complete drying remove the remaining soil. Moreover, the dry skin itself "dumps" the remnants of the earth.
Dried potatoes are sorted into bags or left in a shaft, the height of which does not exceed 50 cm. A quarantine stay is maintained for two weeks to detect diseases, after which sorting begins. Damaged or diseased specimens are selected for immediate use, all healthy ones are laid for long-term storage.
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