It is not for nothing that potatoes are called second bread. After the flour product, it is the next most popular one found on our table. And finally, he was planted. Many amateur gardeners stop at this, hoping for "maybe" and "give a year" in anticipation of a good harvest. In fact, everything is in our hands, and now the potato needs care no less than during the preparation for planting. But far from all gardeners know how to care for potatoes after planting. Proper care of the vegetable throughout the growing season is simply necessary to obtain abundant crops.
Rykhlim - fighting the main enemy of the planted potato
Care for potatoes after planting should begin with loosening trampled during the initial process of beds. This procedure will also make it possible to destroy the first enemy of potatoes that have not yet sprouted - weed, which always and everywhere, under any weather conditions, emerges first.
Still not rooted
weeds in this period are easily removed, while the root part, if it remains in the ground, dies. An important role is played in this procedure and terms. After all, if you tighten and wait for friendly weed seedlings and then proceed to harrow, then most likely the weed grass will not die, and will soon turn green again.
It is advisable to carry out the first - pre-emergence - harrowing within a week after the tubers are planted in the soil. Loosening can be done with a harrow or heavy rake. It is necessary to hold the tool and till the soil diagonally to the beds to avoid the accidental release of potato tubers to the surface.
Such care for potatoes after planting, but before the first sprouts, not only helps to control weeds, but also improves soil aeration, helps to maintain moisture reserves in it.
We protect the first shoots from repeated frosts
In many regions of the country, the return of frost in early May and even in the middle of it is quite a common thing. By this time, tubers are usually already planted, and the care of potatoes after planting in the ground in this case will include procedures that can protect the plant from such misfortune.
In order to prevent frost damage the crops, you should cover the first shoots with loose earth. The layer should be from 3 to 5 centimeters. If this is not done, the crops, of course, will not die, the uterine tubers will subsequently be able to give new shoots, but the yield will noticeably decrease.
Hilling as a way to strengthen bushes
Hilling as potato care after planting is necessary not only to protect the bushes from frost, but also so that the bushes bent under the weight of the earth begin to sprout in different directions. This will make the bush more spreading, on young stems underground shoots will begin to grow more intensively, on which an additional crop will subsequently be formed. Hilling will protect young bushes from defeat by the overwintered Colorado potato beetle. The first clutches of eggs of this potato eater will die in the soil.
Spud should be several times a season, even early and early varieties. It will never hurt. But do not be zealous with sprinkling bushes for the formation of additional stolons during the cultivation of early and medium early varieties. Such a technique for increasing the amount of yield is acceptable exclusively for medium-late or late-ripening varieties. Otherwise, the bushes will spend all their energy on the formation of tops and do not form a sufficient number of tubers.
The tubers of the plant will not encounter such a problem as landscaping and the accumulation of corned beef, if the potatoes are spudded in time after planting. Care should be carried out at the beginning of budding. In this case, the soil should be moist, otherwise the procedure will not bring any benefit.
Potato flowering period and care
The first buds should be a sign that with the earthing up of the soil it is worth finishing. During this period, it is already undesirable, since the coarsened stalk loses its ability to form stolons. Plants are now able to protect themselves from weeds on their own, because by this time the bushes are already closing in the aisle and in rows.
So the care of potatoes after planting during flowering will be a good mulching. For these purposes, you can use humus, rotted sawdust or needles. Mulch protect the soil from overheating and excessive evaporation of moisture.
“Chemical” wisely
Of course, it will not work to completely protect the plant from chemical treatment, but it is possible to reduce the amount of chemical “pressure” if fungicidal agents, insecticides and growth regulators are correctly combined in a solution. Together with pesticides in one container, you can dilute mineral fertilizers for foliar feeding.
Foliar top dressing is carried out twice a month. About 30 days before harvesting, such potato care after planting (after flowering) should be completed by spraying with superphosphate infusion, which will help ripen the tubers, improve their quality, starchiness and keeping quality.
It’s worth it to be careful and selective about the growth regulators advertised today. It is worth initially choosing one drug and using it only during periods difficult for potatoes, or rather, before planting in the ground, during seedlings and immediately before flowering. We should not forget that the use of stimulants will require additional enhanced nutrition.
Feeding, we provide a good harvest
Caring for potatoes after planting in the open ground involves root dressing of the bushes. During the growing season, the procedure is performed three times. This is best done on wet ground. The first top dressing is done during the period of growth of the tops, if the bushes do not develop well enough or the leaves are pale in color. The second basal top dressing occurs during the period of bud formation. This will speed up flowering. The third basal top dressing will accelerate the process of tuber formation.
It is advisable to use fertilizer solutions if the potato plantation is not very large. And how to care for potatoes after planting and how to fertilize it if the plantation is more than 100 m²? If the dimensions have exceeded one hundred square meters, then it is better to use dry fertilizers, placing them under each bush.
Watering potatoes
Caring for potatoes after planting for the first time excludes watering. Since this can damage the proper formation of a good root system. Waterlogged soil will lead to the fact that the roots are not deep enough, and subsequently it will be more difficult for the bush to get moisture and grow normally. The first watering is timed to coincide with the first emergence of seedlings. Watering should be moderate. During the formation of the bush, the need for water will increase. If the lower leaves on the bushes begin to fade, this is the first sign of a lack of moisture.
Most of the moisture in the potato bushes is necessary during the formation of buds and during flowering. Insufficient amount of fluid during this period will negatively affect yield.
Water the potatoes with warm sunshine. This is best done early in the morning or evening.
Accurate with watering
How to properly care for potatoes after planting and how to properly water should not be told to all gardeners. These simple rules for people seeking a good harvest are well known. However, one unwritten rule is still worth recalling: wetting the leaves of the plant will only lead to the development of late blight of the green mass. So, the water stream must be directed from below and so that it does not erode the ridges resulting from the earthing up, but in the aisles.
Do not forget that you should water before the next hilling procedure.
This completes the article on how to properly care for potatoes after planting. The tips presented above will help to understand the timing, sequence and nuances of all processes. And this, in turn, will translate into a bountiful harvest.