How many days does it take to harvest potatoes?

Potatoes, also known as potatoes, are a common food in daily life. Their growth and development are divided into six stages: sprout growth, seedlings, tuber formation, tuber growth, starch accumulation and mature harvesting.

Potato growing season

How long it takes for potatoes to grow and be harvested depends on the potato variety. Generally, it takes 60-100 days to grow. Early-maturing potatoes can be harvested soon after planting. Some late-maturing varieties of potatoes take about 110-120 days to grow. In addition, the climate environment in different regions can also affect the growing period of potatoes.

Potatoes are usually planted in spring from February to March and can be harvested in about 2-3 months, which is at the end of May or mid-June. In most areas, potatoes are planted from October to December and can be harvested in January to March of the following year.

Potato Growing Conditions

Potatoes like to grow in a cool and sunny environment. The most suitable average temperature during the growing period is between 17-21℃. An environment with sufficient light can make potatoes mature early. When planting potatoes, pay attention to the soil requirements of deep, loose, fertile and well-drained soil, and there must be sufficient nutrients during the growing period.

Management of potatoes during the growing period

1. Intertillage and weeding

Weeds such as field bindweed, gray weed, chicory, and prickly lettuce often appear in potato fields. They can be removed manually, and if necessary, appropriate herbicides can be sprayed on the stems and leaves in the field, which is very effective in preventing and controlling annual grass weeds and broad-leaved weeds.

2. Fertilization management

Potatoes have a high demand for fertilizers during the growing period, and fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium need to be applied in a timely manner. In the middle and late stages of potato growth, attention should also be paid to foliar spraying to supplement nutrients. Commonly used types of foliar fertilizers are potassium dihydrogen phosphate, zinc sulfate, and magnesium sulfate. The spraying interval is once every 7-10 days.

3. Water management

Potatoes consume a lot of water during the growing period. Sufficient water must be provided to ensure the rapid expansion and development of the tubers. The soil should always be kept moist. In normal weather, you can water them once every week. If there is a lot of rainfall, you can water them every 10-15 days.

4. Pest and disease control

The main diseases of potatoes during the growth period include late blight, black shank, bacterial wilt, ring rot, etc., and the insect pests include cutworms, aphids, whiteflies, etc. Targeted control drugs should be selected for spraying according to the type of diseases and pests in the early or initial stage of occurrence.