Growing and caring for potatoes

There is probably not a single summer resident who does not grow potatoes on his plot. After all, this is our second bread.

Growing and caring for potatoes is not a very difficult task, but quite labor-intensive.

This crop grows in almost any climatic conditions, but an important condition for obtaining a good harvest is air permeability of the soil and sufficient watering.

Tubers sprouted in the light for 30-40 days until sprouts 1-1.5 cm long appear in sufficiently warmed soil, dug up in autumn or spring, are planted. Planted in rows using a 25x30x60 pattern.

Caring for potatoes means fertilizing with organic matter or green manure (green manure), weeding and hilling, which is carried out twice: when the height of the seedlings is up to 20 cm and when the soil is waterlogged for good ventilation of the roots. It is advisable to pick off flowers, and preferably buds, to preserve the vitality of the plant.

To protect against potato diseases, beans can be planted around the perimeter of the field. And from its pests, especially the Colorado potato beetle, planting garlic cloves between the potatoes will help. Collecting orange beetle larvae by hand is also effective.

The harvest is harvested in August-September; it is advisable to mow the tops 5 days before harvesting - this contributes to good storage of the tubers. They are dried properly, material for seeds is selected from strong and productive bushes, and the rest is stored.