Growing potatoes may seem easy, but the results can vary a lot, with some getting tiny potatoes and others getting big ones. Here are seven tips to help you get a lot of potatoes and make the most of your bucket:
Plant at the Right Time: Plant potatoes when the weather is right, not just on a certain date. Potatoes don’t like very cold weather, so when the soil 10 cm deep is about seven degrees, it’s time to plant. Nine degrees is even better.
Don’t Break Off the Sprouts: Don’t snap off the first sprouts when you get the potatoes ready for planting. Instead, think about using growth boosters, as some kinds of potatoes may not grow after breaking.
Don’t Cut Too Soon: You may want to use less seed, but cutting big tubers into pieces can make them rot in cold, wet soil. If you need to cut them, do it at least ten days before planting, and let the pieces dry and form a skin.
Don’t Plant Too Deep: Potatoes need air, so don’t bury them too deep. In heavy soil, put tubers about 5 cm deep, or up to 8 cm in lighter soil. Planting deeper makes them grow slower, affecting the harvest. For wet areas, put tubers on soft soil, and cover them with 5-7 cm of peat mixed with ash.
Make the Soil Warmer: Put black film over the planting beds to heat the soil, and change it to clear film when the shoots come out. This can make you get a harvest three weeks sooner than usual.
Plant with Other Plants: Plant beans or peas in the same hole with potatoes. These plants use potato stems to climb, and the bumps on their roots make the soil richer in nitrogen, helping potato growth. This lets you grow more plants on one plot without using up the soil.
Water and Feed Well: Potatoes need a lot of water, but you need to water in the groove, not right on the plant. Give the right mineral fertilizers—nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium—and use potassium fertilizers without chlorine for better flavor. Change planting places often to avoid lower yields after the fourth or fifth year in the same place.
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