Growing potatoes without fertilizer
As an ordinary gardener, I want to share my method of growing potatoes.
I live in Ukraine, Berdichev. My soil is clay-sandy (3.5 acres).
Before planting, I warmed the potato tubers, germinated them, sorted them into fractions, and carefully examined them so that there were no diseased tubers.
I dug holes to the full depth of the shovel - 25 cm.
Distances. Row spacing - 70 cm. Between tubers - 50 cm.
Planting time - when the earth has warmed up enough, the landmark is the BIRCH trees that are closest, they should have green foliage.
I placed the tubers carefully so as not to damage the shoots to a depth of 20-23 cm. I don’t know why, but after planting the potatoes deeply, the yield increased significantly. In my opinion - more MOISTURE... which was what potatoes lacked before.
Planting is done on a string, evenly, row spacing is measured and sticks are installed on both sides of the garden for guidance during germination.
After 2 weeks, potato shoots appeared.
The first potato shoots and beetles are right there. Without waiting for young beetles to appear, I treated the potatoes with poisons immediately so that the old beetles did not have time to eat the leaves and lay eggs.
Constant monitoring of the garden (every other day in the early mornings), scooping, raking (if necessary), even if the potatoes have not yet sprouted, there is a guide - sticks, you can pull the string. It doesn’t take much time, because... the weeds simply do not have time to grow, but small weeds are easy to fight. I came for physical exercise for an hour (or two if desired).
Hill up the potatoes thoroughly so that the soil is like fluff (on the second or third day after a good rain).
Treatment of potatoes against late blight is required at least 3 times per season.
Beetle control is constant.
After the next heavy rains, fluff up the soil, re-hill the potatoes, lift the fallen stems from strong winds and strengthen them with earth so that they stand. Naturally, destroy the weeds. Personally, I scoop it up and throw it onto adjacent, treated rows, where it simply dries in the sun and turns into fertilizer.
I don't give any fertilizers. The distance between the rows is enough to provide her with everything she needs. Next year, I shift the row indicator sticks exactly 35 cm - to the rested soil, where new tubers will be planted, which will again give you a wonderful and grateful harvest for your care and attention to this beautiful and tasty crop - POTATOES!
The main thing is not to be lazy, work hard and do everything with love! And you will be happy! God bless you!
Of course, with this not even care, but complete control, the potatoes will bear fruit perfectly! Thank you for such a complete review, do you store potatoes in basements for the winter?
The article is very useful. But I would like to note that another effective method of growing potatoes without fertilizers is to dig up the area with a shovel, and not with a tractor. As you know, the soil must rest. Useful minerals remain on the surface up to 15 cm. If the tractor digs them up, they will all be underneath, but if you dig them up, the result will be noticeable in the size of the potatoes.
It is quite possible to grow potatoes without fertilizer, but for this you will need to use mineral fertilizers. If you give up everything, the potatoes will become very small.
Not a fact at all. When I grew potatoes (I gave up on it because it was unprofitable), I fertilized it a little when planting with manure (just a little) and banal ash. This was quite enough and I never complained about the harvest.
Manure and ash are fertilizers, only organic ones. You can also fertilize with compost, and potatoes will also grow well without any chemicals. In addition, the acidity of the soil will not increase.
Regarding the displacement of rows, this is very interesting information. I was just thinking about the question of how to give the earth time to rest, but at the same time, not to be empty
Our potatoes have never even dreamed of such careful care, although in general we usually don’t complain about the harvest. The only exception will probably be this year, when, due to the extreme excess moisture in the soil due to rain, entire nests of potatoes rot.
We also plant deep. The only fertilizer we give is ash when planting. And we fight with beetles, we can’t do without it. But you took the matter more than seriously - a real master! :) apparently you love this business. and the earth will always generously thank a good owner.
I live on chernozem soil, so I don’t bother with fertilizers at all, my potatoes grow well anyway. And on such problematic soils as yours, you have to be more sophisticated, of course. I don't plant on a string.
Any soil can be depleted, and organic fertilizers do not have any negative effect on potatoes. Therefore, it is best to fertilize potatoes with humus or compost. The yield will be noticeably higher.