When to dig potatoes: timing and readiness of new potatoes

If the potato harvesting deadlines are not met, the time and effort spent on growing the crop will be wasted. Root vegetables won't store well over winter, the flavor will deteriorate, and the flesh will become excessively dry or watery. Harvesting young tubers for eating should also be done according to certain rules. When calculating the right time dig up potatoes after flowering They take into account many factors and independently determine the degree of maturity of the root crop.

What influences potato ripening?

All sources indicate average values. potato harvesting timesFor example, in the Moscow region, this period is from the last ten days of summer until September, when the heat has passed and the rainy season has not yet arrived. The recommendations are very vague, and they should be followed with an eye to a number of factors that influence the crop's development, and therefore the timing of the harvest:

• characteristics of the variety;
• climate of the region;
• landing date;
• Excessive application of fertilizers promotes the formation of strong greenery, while root crops develop slowly;
• lack of nutrition causes the bush to slow down in growth and bloom late;
• Preparing the seed material – sprouted material produces its first shoots faster.

Another important point: if the summer is hot and dry, and artificial irrigation is not provided, the potatoes will ripen 7-15 days earlier, but will be small. If several different varieties with roughly the same growing season are planted simultaneously in adjacent beds, the time for digging potatoes should be calculated separately for each variety.

When to harvest young and mature potatoes

Before buds begin to form, the bushes develop foliage and roots; tubers form during budding and fill out during mass flowering. Young potatoes are harvested for food when the roots reach at least 5 cm in diameter, 20–25 days after flowering begins. This should coincide with the shedding of faded buds, the cessation of stem growth, and the beginning of berry formation.

The thin, translucent skin, easily peeled without cutting off the flesh, lasts for a month (from the beginning of flowering). Only one plant is dug up at a time. The taste of the tubers depends on the soil temperature and the intensity of watering. If the potatoes have a bland taste and watery flesh, postpone harvesting for 5-15 days. How to determine when they are fully ripe:

• the potatoes have finished flowering, the green mass has withered and begun to dry out;
• the potato skin does not come off when rubbed with your fingers;
• the soil around the bushes has risen into a mound and cracked (mature tubers push the soil apart).

The main sign of potato ripeness is the condition of the tops. If they begin to dry out, dig them up after 15–20 days. In some cases, the potato plants in a common bed may look different: some are completely dry, while others are still green. In this case, dig up several plants at varying degrees of dryness and inspect the tubers. If all the tubers have firm skins, the harvest is ready.

Experienced gardeners share other secrets for determining potato ripeness. Apply a drop of iodine alcohol solution to the cut surface of the potato; a light purple tint will indicate ripeness. When digging up a potato with yellowed tops, hold the stems with one hand and pluck the lower fruits with the other. If they come off easily, it's time to dig up the potatoes.

How to calculate the ripening period by date

With frequent rainfall, stems and leaves can remain succulent and green until mid-autumn. The green mass often dries out prematurely due to excess nitrogen. Confusion with potato digging can arise due to varietal differences; some varieties do not produce flower buds, and flowering and tuber formation are not always correlated. In such situations, calendar calculations are used exclusively.

Depending on the region, planting takes place in April or May. The first shoots appear in approximately 2-3 weeks, and the bushes will bloom after another 15-20 days. During this period, active root development begins. On average, new potatoes can be harvested 30-35 days after planting, and fully matured potatoes after 2-2.5 months. The latest varieties are harvested after approximately 80 days.

The influence of varietal characteristics on the ripening period

To harvest potatoes before the cold weather sets in and ensure a good harvest, varieties are selected based on the region's climate. For example, in the south, gardeners harvest two crops of early-ripening tubers or one crop of late-ripening tubers, while the latter don't have time to ripen over the summer in regions with long springs and early autumn frosts. The table below highlights the growing seasons of individual potato varieties.

The growing season is used to determine the region, but even with these indicators in mind, the approximate harvest period is determined by monitoring the weather, the quality of care, and the condition of the plants. Ultra-early varieties are usually adapted to cool weather and are more often grown in northern regions. Some are suitable for both fresh eating and storage.

Harvesting methods

To minimize the risk of mechanical damage to the tubers during digging, remove all weeds from the area and mow down the tops of the tops, leaving stems 10 cm tall. Cleared beds make the rows more clearly defined, making it easier to navigate the tubers. This procedure should only be performed in small areas or when digging only partially.

Potatoes are harvested before the rainy season begins, in dry, sunny weather with a constant temperature of 13–18°C. This is especially true when harvesting potatoes for storage. Before storing them in a cellar or basement, the tubers still need to dry in the fresh air; drying indoors takes longer. Here's how to dig up potatoes:

1. A walk-behind tractor or hand cultivator—the pointed part of the mechanism is inserted into the soil, and the user slowly follows the tool, keeping it within the boundaries of the bed. If this method of harvesting is planned, the row spacing during planting should be at least 50 cm. A walk-behind tractor is easier to use with two people; one person operates the mechanism while the other harvests the potatoes.
2. A bayonet-shovel or pitchfork is carefully inserted into the soil 20–25 cm from the bush, held at a 30-degree angle, and gently pressed on the "shoulder," lifting the tubers above the soil. Firmly grasping the bush by the tops, remove it from the ground. Overdried stems break easily; the plant is dug up from all sides, and the root ball is turned out.

Young tubers are dug up little by little; in some cases, only the larger ones are removed from the nest, while the smaller ones are refilled with soil and watered. A pitchfork or shovel is rarely used; if the soil is sufficiently loose, the potatoes are removed by hand (wearing gloves). The roots are located at a depth of 10 to 20 cm from the lower leaves; they are felt, pulled out, or lightly dug under the bush from all sides by hand, and turned out, including all the roots.

Fully ripened potatoes (for storage) are harvested in several ways. In small areas, the bushes are dug up with a shovel or pitchfork, while in larger areas, specialized equipment or machinery is used. The second option speeds up and simplifies the process, but increases the risk of mechanical damage to the potatoes. Combine harvesters are used only in large industrial farms, as the risk of damage is significantly higher.

Why is timely collection important?

Missing the harvesting time by even one to two weeks can result in the loss of part, or even the entire, harvest. If you dig up potatoes too early, they'll only be suitable for quick cooking. The skin is thin and susceptible to damage, so some of the harvest will lose marketability during harvesting, while others will be lost during transportation. Potatoes with scratches, dents, or cuts will quickly rot.

Delaying harvesting is also dangerous. Digging up the soggy soil and removing the tubers from the mud is difficult, drying them outdoors is impossible, and any damage to the skin will be invisible. If these specimens aren't selected and stored together, the entire harvest can rot within 1-2 months. If harvested late, the tops have time to rot, making it difficult to find the rows and carefully dig up the potatoes.

At temperatures above 10°C and consistent precipitation, the previously wilted tops renew their green leaves, and the tubers begin to sprout. Another drawback of late harvesting is autumn frosts: just one or two nights of light frost will reduce the potatoes' shelf life by 60 to 70%. They will begin to rot after being removed from the ground, and will develop a sweetish flavor during cooking.

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When is it possible? start digging potatoes - young ones After flowering (2-3 weeks), and for storage, once the tops have yellowed and dried out. If you have any doubts, dig up a couple of bushes and assess the tubers' readiness for use. The growing season can be extended if potatoes are grown in poor conditions, due to climate change, improper care, or untimely planting. Growing potatoes requires a responsible approach and attention to detail.