Regional characteristics and time of planting potatoes

Potatoes are the most popular and sought-after crop in our country; it is not for nothing that they are called the “second bread”. Every gardener grows this vegetable on his plot, and seems to know everything about it. But in order to reap a decent potato harvest, you need to follow a few simple rules for growing the crop.

The first thing is to choose the right time to plant potatoes. The indicator for starting work is the soil temperature. Potatoes can be planted when the ground warms up to at least 6 -8 degrees at a depth of 12 cm. Depending on the climatic conditions of the region, the time for planting potatoes falls at the end of March and until mid-May. Earlier potato varieties are usually frost-resistant and can be planted earlier.

The depth of planting of potatoes depends on the type of soil. On light soils, it is recommended to plant vegetables at 10 - 12 cm; on heavy ones - up to 10 cm; for peat - it will be enough to plant 6-7 cm into the ground.

For the proper formation and development of the bush and root crops, the placement of the crop on the site is of great importance. Potatoes need enough space, so the distance between rows should be at least 50 cm, and between bushes of the same row 30 - 35 cm.

Gardeners practice 2 main methods of planting potatoes: even “smooth” and ridged. The choice of method depends on the weather conditions of the region and soil type. Where summers are generally hot and dry and the soil is light, smooth planting is more suitable.And, conversely, for heavy wet soils in the western or northern regions, it is better to give preference to ridge planting.