Potato planting according to the 2023 lunar calendar: a table by day and region

Potatoes grow well in central Russia, and gardeners often reap a bountiful harvest. However, this isn't always the case. A number of factors can negatively impact their growth. These include not following planting rules and timing. This can be prevented by knowing when and how to plant potatoes outdoors.

Favorable days for planting

Potatoes are planted in May, when the soil has already thawed slightly and warmed up after winter. The tubers will begin to actively sprout only after the soil temperature reaches 8-10 degrees Celsius (46-50 degrees Fahrenheit). The air temperature should be 12-16 degrees Celsius (55-60 degrees Fahrenheit) during the day and at least 5 degrees Celsius (41-43 degrees Fahrenheit) at night. The best time to plant the seeds also depends on the celestial positions, the planting region, the variety, and the intended use.

By the moon

Gardeners and astrologers recommend planting potatoes during the waning moon phase. This is believed to help them adapt to the soil more quickly and develop roots more quickly. According to the lunar calendar, the best days to plant potatoes in 2023 are:

In addition to favorable days for planting potatoes, the calendar also includes unfavorable periods during which it's best not to carry out any land work, including planting tubers and cultivating the soil. These include:

• April 6, 19, 20, 21
• May 5, 18, 19, 20
• June 4, 17, 18, 19

At best, the gardener's efforts will be neutral; at worst, the crop will be damaged.

By region

In addition to the potato planting dates, keep in mind that climates vary across regions. In some places, the soil warms up earlier, while in others, it warms up later. In central Russia and other regions, adhere to the following dates:

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In Ukraine and Belarus, potatoes are planted by region. Planting begins in the south, at the end of March, followed by mid-April in the southeast and southwest. In western Ukraine, the deadline for planting outdoors is early May.

By grade and purpose

Consider favorable planting dates for potatoes depending on the purpose you're using them for and when you plan to harvest them. This also affects the variety. Early tubers can be planted as early as early May if the soil has warmed to 8-10 degrees Celsius. Then, the first harvest can be harvested in late June or early July.

Mid-season potatoes can be planted in late May, while late-season potatoes should be planted outdoors in the last week of spring or the first two weeks of summer. These varieties are grown for long-term storage over the winter.

Planting and growing

Potatoes are always planted in spring or early summer. Choosing the right time to plant the seedlings in open ground is only part of the success of a good harvest. Equally important is following the proper planting and care guidelines for the tubers.

Preparation

The first stage of soil work is preparing the tubers for planting. This consists of several important steps:

1. Sorting. Only tubers weighing between 50 and 80 grams and having a perfectly smooth surface with no signs of damage are suitable for planting. Tubers affected by scab or cracks are unsuitable for this purpose; they will not germinate.
2. Germination. Two to three weeks before the expected planting date, move the tubers to a warm, bright room. Don't be alarmed if they turn slightly green. This indicates that they have accumulated solanine, which will prevent them from developing disease.
3. Treatment. Be sure to treat the planting material with a solution of boric acid and copper sulfate at a ratio of 1 g of active ingredient per 10 liters of water. This is necessary to disinfect the vegetables from diseases and pests. This procedure is carried out immediately before planting after germination. For 100 kg of tubers, 1.5-1.8 liters of solution is sufficient.

Before planting potatoes, inspect them again and sort out whole tubers from damaged ones. This vegetable thrives in bright light and warmth. Therefore, choose a sunny spot on your plot, away from tall buildings and trees that create shade.

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Soil preparation

Prepare the soil for planting in the fall or immediately before planting. After digging up the previous harvest, be sure to remove the tops, burn them, and move them to a location away from the plot. Failure to do so will cause insect larvae and harmful bacteria to migrate into the soil and infect the new crop.

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Before planting, clear the soil of weeds, dig it over, and loosen it. This is necessary to improve oxygen circulation and create the necessary moisture. It is recommended to use a pitchfork instead of a shovel for digging. Be sure to fertilize the soil at least once every three seasons. Use well-rotted manure or ash for this purpose.

Landing

Planting of tuber crops in open ground is carried out as follows:

1. Loosen the soil, making its surface level.
2. Dig furrows along the bed. The distance between them should be at least 60-70 cm. If you need them to be even, it's best to mark them out with string beforehand. Instead of furrows, you can make holes at the same distance from each other. The recommended planting depth for potatoes is 8-12 cm.
3. Distribute the tubers with the sprouts facing up so that the distance between them should be 10-15 cm.
4. Fill the furrows or holes with soil.

Gardeners believe the best time to plant tubers outdoors is on cloudy, windless days. If frost returns after this, cover the bed with thick plastic film to protect the planting material.

Care

Watering is an important part of potato care. If it rains regularly in the summer, there's no need for watering. In dry summers, be sure to water twice a season—after emergence and during flowering.

Another important part of care is hilling. This is necessary to prevent the tuber from shifting and to ensure the root system is firmly anchored in the soil. Hill the potatoes several times a season once the stems reach a height of 15-20 cm, after which you can cover the bush with soil a few more times as it grows.

Folk omens

Gardeners recommend following folk wisdom about potatoes to ensure a good harvest. There are several:

1. Favorable conditions for planting potatoes will be reached when the bird cherry and dandelion trees bloom, and the birch leaves have become the size of pennies. Early varieties of tubers can be planted when the coltsfoot blooms.
2. The most accurate way to determine if the soil is ready for fruit growing is to measure its temperature at a depth of 10-12 cm. It should reach 8-10 degrees Celsius. You can also test this by inserting a sharp pole into the dug soil; it shouldn't compress or crumble beneath the pole. Another reliable method is to take a clod of soil from a depth of 10-15 cm and drop it on the ground. If it only deforms slightly from the impact, it's too early to plant; if it breaks into several pieces, the soil is ready for planting.
3. Folk wisdom holds that the most unfavorable days for planting potatoes are Wednesday and Saturday. It's also not recommended on certain dates according to the church calendar, such as Palm Sunday.

Gardeners insist that if this rule is ignored, the tubers may begin to rot and become diseased. Consequently, gardeners can't expect a good harvest.

Possible errors

There are situations where potatoes were planted on a favorable date according to the lunar calendar, in favorable climate conditions for the region, and according to all the rules, but the harvest still turned out poor. This could only happen if one of the following mistakes was made during cultivation:

1. Planting too densely. The gardener's desire to plant as many root vegetables as possible in one bed results in insufficient space and sunlight for their full growth.
2. Overwatering. It's a mistake to think that the more you water your potatoes, the better. In fact, this will only cause the tubers to rot.
3. Planting with long shoots. This won't result in accelerated germination; in fact, the process will take a long time. Before planting, break off any shoots that have grown over the winter to 3 cm.
4. Over-fertilization with nitrogen fertilizers. This will only result in good green growth; tuber development, on the contrary, will be slowed down.

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Inexperienced gardeners make mistakes not only when growing potatoes but also when harvesting them. For example, leaving them exposed to light for too long is a mistake, as toxic substances will accumulate in the crop, making it unusable.

Potatoes are one of the most low-maintenance crops. However, growing a decent harvest isn't always possible. To achieve success, first and foremost, follow the planting schedule and guidelines, and provide adequate care throughout the season. Consider folk wisdom and avoid mistakes.