The most effective potato planting schemes

Almost everyone knows how to plant potatoes. There is nothing complicated here: I dug a hole, put the tuber and buried it - let it grow. But I want the harvest to be larger, and the tubers to be larger, and therefore summer residents are trying to choose the most effective potato planting scheme. They plant by hand, under a shovel, in trenches or on ridges, use a walk-behind tractor or a potato planter - each scheme has supporters and opponents. But a good result in any scheme depends on the climate, planting material, planting timing, hole depth, row spacing, and so on. Therefore, the technology that you have adapted specifically for your site will be effective. Let's talk about some of them.

Ridge landing pattern

This method is very successfully used in Holland, receiving high yields. The fact is that high hilling allows the root system to develop freely and form many tubers. In addition, planting in ridges makes it easier to care for plants and allows you to use small-scale mechanization tools when cultivating a potato field. The advantage is that the soil in the ridges warms up faster and better in spring than on level ground, which means that you can start planting earlier. Such a planting scheme is more appropriate in those places where groundwater is located close: the ridge will not allow the tubers to rot.

The Dutch method is used in waterlogged areas or in areas with heavy soil.

Before planting potatoes on the ridges, fertilizer and ash are applied to the soil. The beds are dug up so that everything is mixed with the ground. Then, with a hoe, a tractor or a motor-cultivator, they make ridges up to 15 cm high and put the sprouted tubers in them 25-30 cm from one another. The distance between the ridges is 70 cm.

Wide paths are obtained between the ridges, so there is free access to the plants and it is easy to loosen the soil and huddle the plants.

The potato is well ventilated, receives a lot of sunlight, since the plants are raised above the ground.

After the emergence of seedlings, the plants are sprinkled with earth from the aisles. And when they rise to 7-10 cm, they need to be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate (2 g of crystals per bucket of water). And at the same time, liquid organic fertilizer is applied for feeding.

In rainy weather, potato tubers planted on the ridges do not rot, because water does not accumulate on a high ridge, but rolls down. If the weather is dry, then the potatoes need additional watering.

How to plant under a shovel

Potatoes are planted under a shovel on the south side, where the planting site is even, the soil is loose and moisture-consuming, the soil warms up quickly, the site is evenly illuminated by the sun. In this way, the potatoes are easier to plant together: one makes holes along the outlined lines, the second lays out the sprouted tubers. Some gardeners raise a layer of earth and lay tubers under it.

This method is applicable when developing a new site. In this case, the freshly plowed turf should be turned upside down.

On clay soils, it is better not to use this method, since such a soil does not allow water to pass through well, becomes dense after rain, and air access to the roots is difficult.

Experts recommend planting potatoes at a distance of 60-70 cm between rows, depending on the variety. Planting depth depends on the type of soil and ranges from 4-5 cm on clay soils to 10-12 cm on light soils. Large tubers are planted deeper than small ones.The distance between tubers depends on their size and ranges from 25 to 35 cm.

Trench landing pattern

This method of planting potatoes is remarkable in that in this case chemical fertilizers are not needed, the plants receive heat and natural feeding, and soil fertility improves. Therefore, it is better to use it in areas with loose soil, which does not retain moisture well. Planting potatoes in trenches allows you to deepen the tubers and protect them from overheating and drying out in hot climates.

They begin to prepare trenches for planting potatoes in the fall. First, trenches are dug at a distance of 60-80 cm, the depth and width of which is 35-40 cm (with a shovel's bayonet). The excavated earth is left next to the ridge groove. At the bottom of each of the potholes, organic residues are laid: grass, weeds, zucchini and cucumber tops, onion husks, food waste and even paper. The tops of tomatoes and potatoes should not be laid in trenches. When the leaves fall off, they are added to the potato grooves and covered with earth.

Potatoes are planted in the trenches when the lilac blooms. During the winter, the litter settles, and a little earth is poured on top. Dry chicken manure, onion husks and ash are added to the trench, sprouted potatoes are spread every 30 cm and covered with earth from the ridge. When shoots appear, they need to be sprinkled with earth to protect them from frost. As the bush grows, sprinkle it several times. The potatoes are spud and a bed is formed for planting the next year: the ridge turns into a groove, and a ridge is obtained in place of the groove. After harvesting, the trenches are deepened and filled with organic fertilizers.

Planting potatoes with seedlings

Seedlings are grown from healthy varietal tubers, which are germinated in the light for a month and then planted in boxes or small pots with a peat mixture. When the plants grow up to 7-10 cm (it will take about three weeks), they, along with the tubers, are selected and transplanted into the holes. The distance between the holes is 20-25 cm, between the rows is 50 cm. The tubers are planted to such a depth that the tops remain above the soil. Seedlings are planted in ridges, in trenches, and under a shovel - it all depends on the conditions on your site.

There are many things to consider to get a good potato crop. And the potato planting scheme must be chosen taking into account your conditions. Any of them is applicable in certain conditions and may be effective in your area, but not justify itself elsewhere.

Video "Methods for planting potatoes"

The video talks about different ways of planting potatoes; review of methods, features of application on different soils, etc.