In many countries, potatoes are considered the most common crop. It is part of many dishes, provides our body with the necessary trace elements and vitamins. The main task of many summer residents is to increase the yield of potatoes. For this, it is important not only to choose the right variety, but also to choose the right planting method. Also of great importance is the region in which direct cultivation takes place. Of course, do not forget about the proper care of the plant.
Proper organization of work is the key to obtaining a rich and high-quality crop.
Landing Features
In early May, they begin to plant potatoes in central Russia. By this time, the ground should warm up well (above 10 ° C). Potato is a member of the nightshade family. Experienced agronomists do not recommend planting it in places where bell peppers, tomatoes and eggplant previously grew. The ideal predecessors are cucumbers, cabbage, greens, legumes, beets, green manure.
Potato grows well on chernozem, loamy and sandy soil. Clay soil is too heavy, so potatoes will not grow well on it.
The area on which the potatoes will grow should be sunny, well protected from the wind.
The soil must be prepared in the autumn. They plow the earth, make fertilizers. It is recommended to sow siderates (rye or mustard). In spring, the land is re-plowed together with green manure.
Planting potatoes can be carried out in various ways. It is necessary to consider not only the type of soil, variety, but also the location of the site.
Preparation for landing
Growing potatoes from seeds requires preparation from the fall. Planting material must be taken immediately after harvesting. Ideal tubers weigh 70-100 grams with a diameter of 4-5 cm. In the autumn, it is better to green potatoes. It is enough to hold the tubers in the sun for several days. Such potatoes will not spoil the rodents, which means they will be better preserved.
Germinate seed material a month before planting. To do this, the tubers are poured into low boxes and placed in 1-2 layers. Boxes are left in a warm, lit place. After a certain time, sprouts appear. They should reach 1-2 cm in height. If the weather is still cold by this time, boxes with sprouted potatoes should be sent to a dark place.
Before planting, tubers are sometimes treated with a growth stimulant. For this, they often use Zircon or Epin. Acquired planting stock on the market is best treated additionally against infections. For this, the tubers are placed for 30 minutes in warm water or in a solution of boric acid (0.1%).
Experts recommend that you take into account the areas of growing potatoes. Indeed, for arid regions a more acceptable one way, and for the middle lane - another. In addition, you should choose the right kind of potato. It should not only be resistant to many diseases, unpretentious in care, but also be adapted to certain climatic conditions.
Cultivation methods
There are several methods for growing potatoes from seeds. Attention should be paid to both common and rather rare options. All of them have their advantages and disadvantages. Each summer resident should choose a suitable option for themselves. Experts recommend allocating a small plot of land on which a new method of growing potatoes will be tested.
Potato in a barrel
Among summer residents, the technology of growing potatoes in a barrel is popular. To do this, you need to prepare an old barrel. The bottom may be leaky, or it may not be at all. 20-25 cm of drainage is placed in a barrel, after which 30 cm of fertile soil is poured. If the site is heavy soil, it must be mixed with 1/3 of the sand. Potatoes are laid on the soil and covered with soil 20 cm high. Once the potatoes have sprouted, they need to be covered with soil to the edge of the barrel.
This cultivation method is suitable for regions with a cold climate.
The advantages of this method include:
- saving space on a personal plot;
- lack of weeds;
- pest protection;
- early ripening.
The disadvantages include:
- waterlogging of the soil is possible, which can lead to rotting of tubers;
- can not be used in regions with a hot climate;
- laborious way of growing.
Potatoes in a bucket
Growing potatoes in a bucket is very similar to the previous method. The only difference is that holes must be made in the bottom of the bucket to remove excess moisture. Plant in a bucket you need only 1 tuber.
This method allows you to create a mobile bed in the greenhouse. So ripening will accelerate, and soon it will be possible to get an early harvest.
Potatoes in boxes
This method of growing potatoes is suitable for summer residents who have a small garden area. This method has much in common with the previous ones. First you need to make a bottom from the boards, and nail stakes 1.5 m high on the sides. The bottom is optional, you can just drive the bars into the ground.
After you need to build walls from several boards. The height of the structure must be selected, taking into account the amount of content. Be sure to fit 2 layers of earth 30 cm in height. Between these layers you need to place tubers.
As soon as the potatoes sprout, it is necessary to nail additional boards and re-sprinkle the ground. If the tubers were planted in mid-May, then the sprinkling of land should be stopped in mid-June. At this time, the plant should bloom.
At the end of September, you need to cut the tops and leave the plant alone for a week. During this time, the potatoes will ripen. After the box is removed and the tubers are removed from the ground.
This technology of growing potatoes allows you to collect from 1 m 2 about a bag of potatoes.
Potatoes in a bag
The cultivation of potatoes in bags is slightly different from the above methods. In this case, drainage is poured into an ordinary bag. After spread the tubers. After the first sprouts appear, the potatoes must be sprinkled with earth mixed with compost. The soil must be sprinkled as the tops grow. Remember that this method requires regular watering of the plant.
This method of growing does not require significant physical labor. In addition, you can save space on your personal plot.
Growing on beds and ridges
For growing potatoes on a large scale, a ridge planting is used. After all, this is the method that special equipment provides. Planting takes place with the help of a potato planter, and hilling is done with the help of a hoe. Growing potatoes in the field in this way minimizes the use of human labor.
This method of planting is characterized by a distance between rows of more than 60 cm, and between holes - 30 cm. As soon as the tops are growing, the plant is spudded, forming a comb. This method has proven itself when grown on wet soils.
This method also allows you to prepare the soil for planting in the fall. And in the spring, without re-digging, you can begin to plant tubers.
Some summer residents use this method of growing potatoes. Many people think that growing on beds helps increase yields. In this case, the tubers are staggered. Planting material is covered with earth, forming beds. During the season, the plant must be spud 3 times. When the tops reach 5 cm in height, carry out the first hilling. The plant is completely buried. The second time they plant a plant when it reaches 15 cm in height, the third - before flowering.
Potatoes under the film
This method allows you to get a good potato crop in arid regions. This method of planting potatoes involves the use of a black film. First you need to mark the territory and cover with a film, digging in its edges. Make sure that there are no sharp objects in the area.
After that, at the tuber planting sites, it is necessary to make incisions 30 cm long on the film crosswise. At the same time, there should be a minimum distance of 25 cm between the bushes, and 40 cm between the rows. Now you can make holes and plant potatoes.
Advantages of this landing method:
- no dry crust will form on the surface;
- helps get rid of weeds;
- Ideal for growing in arid regions.
Disadvantages:
- need to purchase a film;
- poor soil ventilation;
- the film can be easily damaged;
- difficult to organize watering.
Potatoes in the hay
One popular way is to grow potatoes under a straw. This is an easy way to get a good harvest, with little or no effort. In this case, there is no need to loosen and dig the soil. You can grow potatoes even on an untouched site with perennial grass. This method is ideal for growing potatoes on heavy soil.
The tubers can be laid simply on the ground or made small holes. A layer of straw is laid on top. As the tops grow, a layer of straw is added. For this purpose, you can use mowed grass or chopped weeds. In autumn, you only need to collect clean tubers.
Growing potatoes under the straw also has its drawbacks:
- it is necessary to prepare a sufficient amount of dry grass or straw;
- mice may be wound;
- straw poorly retains moisture, which means you need to water the plant more often.
How to get early potatoes?
Growing early potatoes allows not only to feast on fresh vegetables, but also to make a profit. To get a good harvest, you should follow these rules:
- use early grades;
- the soil must be fertilized;
- necessarily grow tubers;
- planting material should be healthy, tubers - medium size.
To get early potatoes, planting must take place in early April. Often at this time the soil is not ready for planting in open ground. Therefore, it is better to plant tubers in peat pots, planting seedlings. To protect young shoots from frost, the plot can be covered with agrofiber.
Technology from Holland
The cultivation of Dutch potatoes provides for the formation of wide aisles. Tubers are planted in ridges and pay special attention to good soil adhesion. This method involves strict growing rules. After all, only high-quality tubers should be used, fertilizers and the processing of tops with herbicides should be carried out in a timely manner.
Between the ridges there should be a distance of 75-100 cm, between the tubers - 30 cm. In the summer, planting is watered 3 times, and the earthing takes place by filling the ridges with earth from the aisles. This method allows you to collect from 1 bush to 2 kg of selected crops.
Gulich Method
This method involves planting potatoes in squares of 1 x 1 m. In this case, the tubers are laid eyes down. After germination, the earth is brought into the center of the bush. As soon as the first leaves appear, the soil is re-sprinkled. Add the earth until the bush is time to grow stronger. With high-quality and timely care, the yield from 1 bush can be 15 kg.
How to grow potatoes in the suburbs?
In this region, favorable days for planting tubers begin in early May. A popular sign says that potatoes need to be planted at a time when the first leaves on birch trees have reached the size of a penny.
The planting method is selected based on soil quality. For example, on chernozem, you can use the row, smooth and ridge methods.
For growing potatoes in this region, it is better to give preference to mid-early varieties:
- Son;
- Tuleevsky;
- Anniversary of Zhukov;
- Cast iron.
How to grow potatoes in Siberia?
The conditions for growing potatoes depend primarily on the plant variety. In Siberia, it is difficult to grow a large number of potatoes due to the short summer. Already at the end of March, they begin to prepare tubers for planting. They are placed in germination boxes. Planting material is planted in ridges or rows in May. At the first hilling, the plants fall asleep completely.
Harvested early varieties in mid-August, late - in early October. Once the tops are getting dark, it needs to be mowed. And after 7 days you can begin to harvest.
Fertilize the soil in the fall.
Varieties that are planted in Siberia:
- Adretta;
- Prior
- Agatha;
- Jelly
How to grow potatoes in the Urals?
In the Urals, the weather is unpredictable. Here and in June, frosts can occur.
Since the fall, you should prepare for planting the site. It is covered with mowed grass or straw. The process of decay is accompanied by the release of heat, which means that in May it will be possible to plant tubers. Top planting material is covered with straw.
Experts recommend planting potatoes in this region in early June. The plus temperature will favorably affect the growth of the tops, and the late planting period will protect the plants from the invasion of the Colorado potato beetle.
In this region, it is better to plant the following varieties:
- The effect;
- Bullfinch;
- Bezhitsky;
- Governor
- White spring.
How to grow potatoes in Belarus?
Many consider Belarus the homeland of potatoes. In this country, this vegetable is called "second bread." The country is located in 3 climatic zones, so you can use various methods of planting tubers. Common varieties that are grown in Belarus include:
- Lapis lazuli;
- Dolphin;
- Uladar
- Scarb;
- Vesnyanka.
Germinated tubers are planted when the soil warms up to 10 ° C. After planting the tubers in cold ground, the first seedlings can be seen much later.
How to grow potatoes in the Donbass?
This region is characterized by arid and hot summers. Therefore, the ideal way to plant potatoes is to plant under the film. It is advisable to pre-conduct deep plowing. Bushes should be located at a distance of 50 cm from each other. The width of the beds is 70 cm.
It is better to give preference to early varieties, because planting material must be planted as early as possible. So the tubers have time to capture the spring water before the onset of heat. Ideal grades are:
- Bellarose;
- Lark;
- Alyona;
- Gull.
Early potato varieties can be harvested as early as mid-June.
Conclusion
To get a good potato crop, you need to not only choose the right variety of plants. It is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of the region, choosing the right landing method. Do not forget that a competent approach to care also allows you to increase the yield of the plant.
Taking into account all the above recommendations, you will be able to organize the work correctly, which means that soon you will get a rich harvest of potatoes.