Would you like a young potato, but hurry up? Then, put her in the winter. There is, of course, a certain risk of planting before the frost, but the harvest will be greater than usual, and, of course, it will ripen earlier. The climate and soil of the south will be conducive to this undertaking, so in May you can shoot a fairly high crop of potatoes and early vegetables. Just do not forget to take into account that the temperature in winter and early spring varies considerably in different areas of the steppe. As a result, the timing of the planting of tubers will be completely different.
It is not a great revelation, the fact that the potatoes left in the ground in the fall, after the end of the harvesting, start to grow earlier. Plants grown from such tubers, stronger and, more, they are clearly resistant to frost. The harvest of this potato has ripened to the beginning of the heat, and its bushes are less affected by various diseases and agricultural pests.
Landing depth is an important factor
A matter of primary importance for the successful wintering of potato tubers in the open field is the depth of their location. So, those tubers that remained in the soil at a depth of 0 to 12 cm freeze and die. Tubers that are after plowing at a depth of 20 to 30 cm turn out to be crushed by too dense a layer of soil, and their sprouts go out weakened, uncompetitive.
So it turns out that the most optimal layer for wintering tubers is a depth of 12 to 20 cm. The role is also played by the mass of tubers left under the seeds. Potato sprout can break from a depth of 20 cm and even more, if the weight of a seed tuber is 100 grams or more.
Planting time depends on the weather: if the ground freezes a little in the morning and thaws during the day, you can plant it.
Why can I plant potatoes in winter?
Climate change is now occurring, the average annual temperature has risen by 1-1.5 ° C, for this reason, the developmental periods of crops, their diseases and pests have changed. More precipitation now has become in the autumn-winter period, but their frequency has lengthened. The winter is becoming obviously softer, there is no longer a rapid change in the temperature regime during which there was, albeit a short, but still, freezing of the soil to an insignificant depth.
In winter, in the order of things, long thaws, drying the surface of the soil, which, of course, makes it possible to work in the field.
For the above reason, an option has appeared that allows us to speed up the appearance of the first potato, and prepare the land for earlier traditional terms, and plant the potatoes in the winter during warming periods. What is important, the potato tubers planted in winter will not face the problem of the scarcity of moisture reserves in the soil. And, here at the spring planting tubers, due to the lack of moisture, the growing season is prolonged and then, in the case of an unfavorably hot summer, the period of tuberization is delayed.
It should be noted that conducting field work in the winter period reduces the density of the load on people and equipment in the early spring period.
Also, it is recommended not to plant all potatoes intended for early planting, since planting potatoes in winter is a risky crop and the probability of losing part of the crop should always be taken into account. The key to success is the careful execution of recommended technological operations.
It is also interesting to read about planting potatoes under the straw.
Rules for planting potatoes for the winter
It is very important to prevent the likelihood of root rot spreading in the planted potato and to protect it from soil pests, which is the primary cause of losses among seed in winter.
Choosing winter varieties
Early ripe and mid-early varieties are used: Impala, Call, Karatop, Neva, Margarita, Horizon, Santa, Radic, Dymka, Talovsky 110, Svitanok Kiev, Everest and so forth
Properly prepared place - the key to success
- Having removed the crop, clearing the field from the previous crop, the plant residues are treated with a disk aggregate immediately, organic matter is introduced into the soil, plowed to a depth of 27 to cm, waiting for precipitation, cultivated.
- Land for landing is chosen so that the cold northeast winds do not touch him. The relief of the site should allow seeping of precipitation in the top layer of soil in order to exclude the possibility of rotting of potato tubers.
Cooking potatoes for planting
For 2 weeks, the tubers intended for planting are taken out in the sun, after drying out there, they will become green. "Greening" can be considered complete if the tubers are green not only outside, but inside as well, which is easy to check by cutting a couple of potatoes. Now, potatoes are rich in solanine, and soil pests are of little interest.
The next stage - tubers before planting is strongly recommended to be treated with a preparation based on imidacloprid.
Treated tubers for 2 weeks become a real taboo for field pests. And, after the onset of frost, the tubers will be unavailable for those who want to eat them.
We turn to the most important thing: planting potatoes
It is preferable to use seed supplied from more northern areas.
Requirements for planting tubers:
- Appearance - without damage;
- Weight - from 60 to 80 g;
- Used for planting in the first half of winter - not germinated;
- Used for planting in the second half of winter - sprouted.
In February, in the second half, sprouted shoots can be from 2 to 4 cm. The dangers of frost during this period are the least.
What should be the depth of planting potatoes
The landing time matters here, in December it is 14-16 cm, in February from 10 to 12 cm.
Layout
70 by 20-25 cm, also, there is a dependence on the landing time (December - every 20 cm., February - every 25 cm.)
The change in distance is a precaution, because Some sprouts may not grow, and the probability of this at the beginning of winter is, of course, higher than at the end. The lines are perpendicular to the cold wind flow to hold the snow, and so on. should prevent freezing of the soil far inland. After disembarking, the lines pile up.
Do not forget about fertilizers:
compost or biohumus, and wood ash (ash).
Additional measures to improve the result:
- December - the field should be thrashed with straw;
- February - to cover with agrofibre or film.
Potatoes sprout in early April (on sheltered sites), in open fields - later on 12 days.
Sprouted shoots should be tucked up and remove weeds.
Hilling is used in the same way as a precautionary measure against the probable arrival of frosts and possible frostbite of sprouted shoots. Before the expected decrease in temperature, the sprouts can be watered (sprinkling).
If the sprouted shoots are already damaged, hilling should not be carried out, since in this case the execution of this technological operation can provoke rotting and loss of up to 30% of shoots.
It is necessary to be patient - five days will pass, and new sprouts from the leaf bosoms, which are somewhat below the damaged ones, will appear, the potatoes will continue to sprout.
Other technological operations are performed without changes.
Finally, it is necessary to emphasize the special importance of taking into account local climatic conditions when using this method of planting potatoes. Since they are not that each region has its own, within the region may differ, it is necessary to carefully select the time for planting potatoes.
