How to properly dig up potatoes

Harvesting is a crucial time. Determining how and when to dig potatoes requires taking into account many nuances to ensure the right harvest. It is not enough to simply dig up the tubers; it is important that they are ripe and tasty.

When to dig potatoes?

It's important to pay attention to details and some tricks. The main signs of a ripe potato are as follows:

1. Top death. If the tops have dried out, there's no point in keeping the tubers in the ground. In this case, don't delay harvesting. The crop should be collected and stored within three weeks.
2. Early frosts. If frost has arrived and the tops are still green, don't delay harvesting.

What influences the ripening of tubers?

The following factors influence potato ripening:

1. Soil fertility. If the soil is rich in nutrients, the tubers can grow until autumn.
2. Soil moisture. Insufficient watering causes the tops to die off much faster. Therefore, it's important to ensure adequate soil moisture. Watering should be thorough and timely.
3. Fertilization. Excessive application of organic fertilizers can delay fruit ripening.

Weather conditions

While humans can sometimes influence the rate of fruit ripening, weather conditions dictate their own rules. Before planning your potato harvest, it's important to check the weather forecast:

• It is worth starting harvesting work immediately if forecasters predict heavy rains;
• the optimal temperature for harvesting tubers is 17 degrees;
• It is advisable to choose a dry day for harvesting;
• It is worth finishing harvesting work before the onset of frost.

How to dig potatoes correctly?

The organization of the harvesting process affects the shelf life of the harvest. To ensure the tubers last through the winter, the following conditions must be met:

1. It's advisable to use a shovel and pitchfork for this work. If the soil is loose, you'll have to pull the tops and harvest the crop. If necessary, you can dig up the bush. Each gardener chooses their own tool. Both a shovel and a pitchfork can damage the tubers. The main thing is to handle the tools carefully.
2. Harvesting potatoes by hand is time-consuming. If possible, consider using a walk-behind tractor. This will significantly save time and effort.
3. During harvest, potatoes should be sorted. Seeds and healthy tubers should be stored separately. Damaged specimens should be discarded immediately.
4. Before storing the harvest, the tubers need to be dried. To do this, they should be scattered on the ground and left to rest for a while.
5. Don't rush into storing tubers. Root vegetables should be quarantined for a month. To do this, place them in bags and store at a temperature of 13-18 degrees Celsius with 90-95% humidity. During this period, any diseases will become apparent.

After quarantine, the potatoes need to be sorted again. Damaged specimens will need to be discarded; they are not suitable for storage. Healthy tubers should be stored in the basement, maintaining a temperature of 2-5 degrees Celsius.

Potatoes are grown by all gardeners. They're an easy crop to grow, but they do have some unique characteristics. It might seem simpler than harvesting. However, if you follow the rules, you'll not only get healthy tubers but also preserve them throughout the winter.