How to Grow a Good Potato Crop: Various Methods and Techniques, Planting, and Care

New potato growing methods help produce excellent potato yields even in difficult soils. The use of low-tech equipment—small walk-behind tractors with mounted plows, harrows, and hillers—makes potato farmers' arduous work significantly easier. Effective organic and chemical treatments protect potato plantations from pests and diseases.

Methods of growing potatoes

Gardeners familiar with the challenges of growing potatoes are constantly inventing ways to reduce physical effort without sacrificing yield. They master existing methods, empirically identifying their advantages and disadvantages.

Traditional cultivation method

This simple method of growing potatoes has been mastered by many gardeners. In Russia, it has already become a tradition. The younger generation of gardeners is learning from their grandparents, learning the secrets of potato cultivation techniques.

Description of technology:

1. The plot of land is dug by hand or with a tractor (if the area is large), and harrowed with a rake or cultivator. Manure and mineral fertilizers are spread on the surface.
2. The planting method is determined: smooth planting, trench planting, or ridge planting. This depends on the soil structure and the site's location. Raised planting is advisable on heavy soils with a high water table. The distance between ridges should be approximately 0.7 m, and their height 15-20 cm. Potatoes are planted in trenches if the soil is light (sandy) to retain moisture longer near the tubers and prevent evaporation. Smooth planting is chosen for level areas with soil that drains well (chernozem).
3. The direction of the rows is determined. They should be arranged from south to north to ensure the entire field receives adequate sunlight.
4. Using a shovel, dig holes or trenches in the desired direction. You can add onion peelings (or other Colorado potato beetle repellent) to each planting site. Place the seed tubers in the holes or trenches at a distance of 30-40 cm and cover with soil.
5. The first time potatoes are hilled is after 5-6 leaves have grown. The height of the potato plant should be no more than 15 cm.

Further care for potatoes after planting includes hilling and weeding as the potato bushes and weeds grow, 1-2 times a month.

Pros:

• the traditional method does not require special soil preparation conditions;
• simple technology for growing potatoes is available for beginner potato growers;
• To grow potatoes, you don’t need any additional materials to set up the beds (boards, barrels, bags).

Cons:

• it is impossible to get a large harvest on a small area of ​​summer cottages;
• the area allocated for growing potatoes takes up a lot of space;
• The Colorado potato beetle can move to other crops planted near potato beds.

Summer residents who own small plots of land grow early potatoes and buy winter potato supplies at markets or stores.

Dutch method

The warm and mild climate of Holland (the Netherlands) allows for potato cultivation over vast areas. The harvest yields are sufficient to sell seed material abroad. These seeds are popular in Russia. However, not all varieties can be grown in the northeastern Urals and Siberia. Experienced potato growers recommend planting early and mid-season Dutch potato varieties in Crimea, Ukraine, and Moldova.

The main principle of Dutch technology is shallow planting of tubers (up to 15 cm) in long furrows that separate wide (up to 75 cm) row spacings.

Description:

1. The area for growing potatoes must be level, without slopes and completely cleared of weeds.
2. Prepare the soil in the fall or 1-2 months before planting the tubers. Dig up the field or garden plot, breaking up large clods of soil.
3. Organic and mineral fertilizers are spread.
4. Furrows are marked from south to north, leaving 75 cm wide spaces between rows.
5. Shallow trenches (up to 15 cm) are dug along the marked lines.
6. Sprouted tubers are placed in the furrow every 30 cm, shoots facing upward. The shoots are approximately 1-1.5 cm long.
7. The planting site is filled with soil taken from between the rows. A low mound is erected over the furrow.

Russian gardeners have long since mastered this method. They speak highly of it, achieving good yields even in small plots. They claim the yield is twice as high as the average yield from conventional planting.

Pros:

• When growing plants using this technology, potatoes grow even on heavy soils with high groundwater levels;
• prepared soil substrate and shallow planting of root crops contribute to good soil aeration and constant access of oxygen;
• potato bushes receive a lot of light and air due to the wide row spacing, so they rarely get sick;
• It is possible to grow potatoes in the country even on small plots;
• High yield if all conditions of the method and subsequent care are met, namely up to 400 kg from 100 square meters of beds.

Cons:

• the technology requires frequent watering or irrigation of plantings in dry weather;
• With sudden temperature changes, potato resistance to late blight decreases, and there is a risk that the plant will be susceptible to this disease.

Planting under straw

Planting potatoes This method is effective on heavy virgin soils. Digging the soil is unnecessary in this case; even weeds can't penetrate the straw layer. This method makes it easy to remove them.

Description:

1. The planting area is plowed with a tractor and harrowed with a cultivator. If equipment is unavailable, weeds are mowed by hand.
2. Seed tubers are laid out in the usual 50x50 cm pattern.
3. The surface is completely covered with straw to a depth of 10 cm.
4. Mineral fertilizers are scattered on top and rotted manure is laid out.
5. Cover the area again with 5 cm of straw.
6. As the tops grow, more straw is added.

Pros:

• physical effort is reduced to a minimum: there is no need to dig the soil, hill up the soil or remove weeds;
• easy to harvest;
• new tubers turn out large, without stuck dirt.

Cons:

• you will need a lot of straw, you need to think in advance where to get it;
• mice can breed in dry grass;
• In case of persistent drought, frequent watering will be required.

This technique of growing potatoes in grass helps eliminate weeds in a single season. After harvesting, the straw is incorporated into the soil. This improves the soil structure, loosens it, and fertilizes it.

In barrels or bags

This method of planting potatoes is used in garden plots where space is limited. The containers can be placed in any suitable area. During unexpected cold snaps, the barrels or bags are brought into greenhouses or other insulated buildings (sheds).

Description:

1. Bags and barrels are filled with fertilized soil or compost to 1/3 of their capacity.
2. Place 2 root tubers in each container and sprinkle with substrate.
3. Water with a small amount of water, seal tightly, leaving an “air cushion” of 10-15 cm on top.
4. After the first shoots appear, the bags are opened and compost and fertilizers are gradually added.

The advantages of this method are obvious:

• ideal conditions for growing early potatoes are created;
• the plantings are easy to care for and harvesting does not pose any particular problems;
• You can quickly and without losses propagate varietal potatoes.

There's one small drawback: you need to gather the required number of sacks, buckets, or barrels. This problem can be solved by collecting used sugar and flour sacks. A few old buckets and barrels will make up for the shortage of containers.

In the burial mounds

The mound-based potato planting method is used to grow and propagate valuable root crop varieties. This cultivation technique requires a certain amount of effort during planting and care. Potatoes in raised beds grow quickly, but require constant watering.

https://youtu.be/c_hINsRXH8k

Description:

1. Select a flat square or round piece of land measuring 150x150 cm, or about 2 meters in diameter.
2. The soil is dug up, fertilizer is added, holes are dug around the perimeter of the mound at a distance of 30 cm from each other, seeds are laid out in them and covered with earth.
3. As the tops grow, the side stems are spread out across the bed during hilling, leaving the tops exposed. Soil from the space between the rows is added around them.
4. In the center of the mound, make a small depression (8-10 cm) for watering.

Gardeners rarely use this method due to the difficulties involved in caring for the plants. It's not very effective, but it can sometimes be a lifesaver for vegetable growers when other methods are not feasible.

Mittlider method

Growing potatoes using this method is almost no different from the usual method.

The main advantage of growing potatoes according to the Mittlider method — There's no need to hill up potatoes. Also, wide row spacing is required, which is a drawback of this method. Gardeners don't always have the luxury of leaving empty plots when they could be used for planting other vegetables.

Gülich's method

The square-nested planting method isn't very popular among gardeners due to the lack of planting space. However, some gardeners use it to quickly propagate elite potato varieties.

Description:

1. The plot of land is marked out into squares measuring 1 x 1 m.
2. Organic matter (manure, compost) is spread out in a “roller” in the center.
3. Dig holes up to 10 cm deep.
4. Large tubers are planted in the holes and covered with soil.
5. After the first green shoots appear, spread them out to the sides, leaving a 5 cm (2 in) top, and add soil. As new shoots grow, repeat this process several times.

As a result, roots grow on the buried shoots, forming an additional layer of tubers. This creates a "nest" of several rows (layers). The yield per bush doubles, producing at least 20 tubers.

Seedlings from seeds

Root crop propagation by seed is used to preserve and multiply varietal tubers for further cultivation. This process is lengthy, labor-intensive, and not always worth the effort.

Potato seeds are harvested after the green berries have ripened. They are harvested when the tops have yellowed and are lying on the ground. The berries are soaked in water for 2-3 days, lightly pressed, and the juice containing the small seeds is squeezed out. The seeds are washed, cleaned of the juice, and dried. They are stored in dry paper bags for up to 2 years.

Before planting, dry seeds are soaked in an aqueous solution of growth stimulants for 5-7 days. Once sprouts appear, they are planted in prepared substrate. Caring for seedlings is no different from growing other nightshade crops.

In early May, seedlings are planted in open ground or greenhouses. Full-grown, ripe tubers are harvested in the fall. Only the following spring are they planted for a commercial potato harvest.

Potatoes: How to Grow in a Greenhouse

Growing potatoes in greenhouses is expensive and labor-intensive, so gardeners prefer to plant seedlings in open ground. They allocate a small area in heated greenhouses to harvest new potatoes during the winter.

Tubers are planted in late September to harvest by the New Year. To grow new potatoes in May or June, a second planting is done in late March. The technology for this method is identical to conventional methods and depends on the method chosen.

Under the film

Using black film or non-woven material is effective for planting early potatoes in regions with short, cool summers. This method is successfully used in the Urals, Siberia, and even in the Moscow region.

Description:

1. The soil in the potato plot is prepared in the fall or 1-2 months before planting. The entire area is dug over, fertilized, and covered with plastic.
2. Mark out the rows and holes. Cut the material crosswise at the marked locations, fold the ends upward, and scoop out the soil.
3. The root crop is placed into the holes and covered with the removed soil.
4. Watering and fertilizing are combined, solutions are introduced into the holes made.

Under the film, a natural microclimate is maintained for a long time, which helps increase the yield by 15-25 percent.

The only drawback is the high cost of covering material, but this is offset by the lack of labor-intensive hilling and weeding processes.

The main stages of potato growing

The use of various methods and techniques is based on the same basic tasks, which are common to all technologies with rare exceptions. In summer cottages and smallholdings, these tasks are performed manually or with limited mechanization.

When planting and growing potatoes, certain conditions and rules must be observed to ensure normal plant growth and a good harvest.

Protection from diseases and pests

Preventative measures in the fall and spring help protect potato crops from fungal diseases and pest infestations. Various methods are available for this protection, including organic (folk remedies) and chemicals.

Colorado potato beetles and other insects are controlled using decoctions and infusions of herbal ingredients. More effective chemical pesticides are also used, such as Komandor, Molniya, Iskra, Aktara, and Sonet.

Fitosporin, Revus, and HOM will protect potato plantings from fungal and infectious diseases. These potent preparations are used to combat established diseases. They should be used no more than 1-2 times during the growing season.

Harvesting and storage

The best time for potato growing is harvesting. Depending on the weather, it begins in late August and ends in October. At large agricultural companies and in their production fields, potato harvesters are in operation during this time. Gardeners, however, dig up the potatoes by hand with entrenching tools. Few gardeners can afford small harvesters due to their high prices.

However, DIYers can assemble such a machine from a walk-behind tractor and available tools. It makes the arduous task of potato harvesting effortless, cutting the time by 2-4 times.

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After harvesting, the potatoes are sorted and stored in cellars, basements, insulated sheds, or barns. Tubers intended for spring planting are dried in the shade and stored in boxes with holes for aeration. The potatoes will keep until the following spring or until the next harvest, provided storage instructions are followed.

New potato growing techniques aren't suitable for all situations, but gardeners have mastered some of them and appreciated their benefits. Potatoes occupy small plots in garden plots, and planting and tending them is relatively easy for gardeners. Using mechanization reduces labor costs and time. This work brings satisfaction and rewards hardworking gardeners with bountiful harvests.