Preplant Preparation Of Potatoes

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

Some 150 years ago, the cultivation of potatoes for the peasant was a novelty, but today it is called the second bread. If in the 19th century they even feared it, calling it a damn apple, now they treat culture with respect, and many are looking forward to an early harvest to feast on fragrant boiled young tubers. And although it is still winter outside, it is time to prepare the planting material for the spring harvest

What does the size of the tuber matter?

Not everyone knows that tubers of different sizes should be selected to obtain early and late potatoes. It is best to use potatoes weighing 50-80 g as planting material. But for an early harvest, it is recommended to plant tubers weighing 70-100 g. And for late harvesting, a good result will be obtained when planting from 30 to 50 gram tubers.

Sometimes we see such a picture when some of the potato bushes in the beds are already dry and ready for harvesting, and nearby the foliage of the same varieties planted at the same time is still green. Preparing tubers for planting will help to get aligned shoots and a relatively equal ripening period. There are many effective ways to do this:

• vernalization of potatoes;

• germination in a humid environment;

• heating tubers.

Vernalization of potatoes

Vernalization is the germination of potatoes in the light. For this, early-ripening varieties are placed in boxes in 1-2 layers and left for germination in daylight or artificial light under conditions of + 12 … + 15 ° C of air temperature.

The tubers can wilt. To prevent this, they are sprayed with water from a spray bottle every 5 days. In this case, good ventilation is important, otherwise the potatoes will begin to rot from moisture.

With good lighting and the right temperature, healthy, thick green sprouts will not keep you waiting. And the planting material will be ready for use in no more than 30 days, or even earlier.

Germination in a humid environment

For this preparation method, you will need boxes and sawdust. Potatoes with wood shavings are laid out in layers in boxes. The upper and lower layers of sawdust are made about 5 cm thick. After that, the contents of the boxes are watered with water at a temperature of about + 16 … + 18 ° С.

The boxes are kept in a dark room. Optimal conditions for germination are air temperature around + 12 … + 15 ° С, humidity at 70%.

Tubers are considered ready for planting when thick shoots and roots about 2-3 cm long have formed on them. If the temperature is maintained at + 15 ° C, this will take about 2 weeks. If the thermometer rises to + 20 ° С, preparation will be completed in 12 days. Well, when the weather does not create conditions for planting, the development of sprouts and roots can be delayed by lowering the room temperature to + 5 ° С. An alternative way is to pour cold water over the crates. The sprouts should not be allowed to grow strongly, otherwise they will get confused and break off.

Heating tubers

This clever trick not only speeds up the emergence of seedlings by a week, but also increases the resistance of potatoes to dry weather. To fulfill it, potatoes are kept at a temperature of about + 25 … + 27 ° C for about 5-6 days. This process can be accelerated by heating the tubers for 2-3 days at a temperature of + 30 … + 35 ° C.

Such an effect on the planting material activates the enzymatic activity of the plant, which is why the nutrients take easily digestible forms. In turn, this has a positive effect on the rate of emergence of seedlings. In addition to the positive effect on the yield, it has been noticed that heating improves the presentation of the product. The procedure is carried out by placing the tubers in trellis boxes, which are left in a heated room.