Potato is a favorite root crop for everyone. From this vegetable you can cook a wide variety of dishes. The question of when to plant potatoes in the Moscow region worries many experienced gardeners. In each region, the timing of planting root crops is different.
When planted correctly, potatoes can be harvested in 3, or even 4 times more crops from a single bucket in the fall. To do this, you need to know some rules and nuances.
Choose a month to plant
The final result depends on when to plant potatoes in the suburbs. It is necessary to take into account the climatic features of the region. Experienced gardeners know that planting potatoes should be carried out in the warm season, when the air temperature is above 15 degrees. Plant in the soil to a depth of 10-15 cm. In this case, the temperature of the soil should be 7-10 degrees. Given the temperate continental climate, we can confidently say that such a temperature regime is established in the suburbs in early May.
Omens
People say that the best time for planting potato tubers comes when the birch buds are completely open and small leaves are already visible, which are no larger than a penny coin in size.
Considering the question of when to plant potatoes in the Moscow Region, many gardeners focus on lunar calendars. Every year, astronomers make notes about the phases of the moon, which must be paid attention to. It is best to land on a waning moon.
Orthodox holidays are also worth considering. Ancestors believed that there are certain dates that contribute to better ripening of the crop. So, for example, on Clean Thursday there was no talk of any work in the garden. But pre-Easter Saturday was considered an ideal day for planting potatoes.
You cannot be late for planting tubers. This may result in a yield loss of 20-30%. The timing of planting potatoes in the suburbs may be different, it all depends on natural conditions. As a rule, the optimum temperature occurs after May 15.
How to prepare tubers for planting
Before you ask yourself how to plant potatoes correctly, you need to go through preparatory processes. First you need to choose the optimal size of the tubers: they should be no more than a chicken egg. Small potatoes may not give good sprouts, so the shoots themselves will be frail. Larger root crops will not give an increase in yield, you simply use up twice as much material for planting.
It is better to select tubers for planting in the fall. The big mistake is to immediately remove the potatoes into the basement or cellar. To begin with, you need to pour it in an even layer under a canopy so that the tubers turn green (this will enable the root crop to germinate better in spring).
A month before the proposed landing, it is necessary to go through the vernalization process. There are several ways:
- Tubers should be placed in a bright room with a temperature regime of not more than 20 degrees. Put tubers in several layers (no more than 3). Change layers every 2 weeks so that root crops receive the same amount of light.
- If there is no cool room, the air temperature reaches 25-30 degrees, the layers of potatoes must be mixed once every 1.5 weeks.
- If a garage with a temperature of not more than 10 degrees is used as a storage place, the drying process must be carried out for a month.
Potato Planting Technique
When the tubers sprouted, the question arises: how to plant potatoes? The first thing to know is the gaps between the rows. They should be at least 90 cm. The depth should be 10 cm.
Potatoes need to be planted in well-plowed, fertilized soil so that the tubers take root and take strong roots. Experienced gardeners advise digging a hole for each tuber and fertilizing it with humus or ash, after that put a few potatoes, cover it with earth. After completion of the whole process, smooth the area with a rake.
What kind of potato is better to choose for Moscow region
It is very important to choose the right kind of potato for the Moscow region. They should be divided into the following categories:
- The early ones.
- Mid early.
- Mid-season.
Late early potatoes will not have time to ripen at the right time, so this variety is not worth choosing.
It is also important that the varieties be regionalized for the Moscow Region (they must be resistant to diseases, unpretentious to climate changes, sprout only with vernalization).
Experts recommend such early ripening varieties for this area:
- Spring. Tubers are light pink in color, the flesh is white. Great for salads, frying. Do not crumble. As a rule, eat as early potatoes.
- Zhukovsky early. The tubers are pinkish in color. Eyes almost never occur. If there is - shallow and shallow. It boils quickly. Good for frying.
- Timo hankkyan. Tubers, like the pulp itself, have a yellowish tint. Resistant to droughts, waterlogging of the soil. When cooking poorly digested.
Choosing from mid-early and mid-season, it is better to dwell on the varieties:
- Nevsky. One of the most popular varieties of potatoes in Russia. The tubers are yellowish in color, the flesh is white, and does not darken for a long time. Moderate starch content.
- Lugovskoy. The tubers are pinkish in color. Crumbly, ideal for mashed potatoes.
It is very important when answering the question of when to plant potatoes in the Moscow Region, take into account the climate, and know the average temperature of air and soil in this area.