Are potatoes easy to grow? How to grow potatoes? When is the best time to grow potatoes?

Potatoes, also known as potatoes, are native to tropical mountainous areas in America and were introduced to my country in the 17th century. As far as global crops are concerned, potatoes are the fourth largest "food crop" after wheat, rice and corn, and are deeply loved by people.

Are potatoes easy to grow?

Potatoes are relatively easy to grow . Early sowing is the key to high yields. The best sowing period in plain areas is around the Waking of Insects, between February 20 and March 5 in the Gregorian calendar. Choose cold weather at the end and warm weather at the beginning of sowing to increase the ground temperature during sowing and promote early germination of seedlings.

When to plant potatoes

Potatoes are suitable for planting between October and December. If you want to plant potatoes, you need to choose loose, breathable and well-drained soil for the plants, and then use high temperature to disinfect and sterilize the soil to reduce bacteria in the soil and allow the potatoes to grow healthily.

How to grow potatoes

1. Variety selection

Choose high-yield varieties that are suitable for local cultivation and have strong disease resistance.

2. Seed potato selection

First, choose virus-free seed potatoes, and secondly, choose whole potatoes that are free of insects, disease spots, rot, and frostbite.

3. Cut into pieces

Use a sharp knife to cut the potato lengthwise with the top bud as the center. There should be no more than 3 "eyes" on each potato. Also, avoid using the eyes at the bottom as seed potatoes.

4. Germination

The purpose of germination is to ensure that all the seedlings emerge after sowing, and the seedlings are strong, thereby increasing the yield of potatoes. Choose a sunny day for germination and place the cut potato pieces in the sun for 1-2 days until you see the sprouts. Pay special attention not to soak the potatoes in water during germination, otherwise the potatoes will rot.

5. Reasonable fertilization

Base fertilizer : Mainly farmyard manure, apply 2000kg of farmyard manure per mu, 50kg of potassium chloride compound fertilizer, 50kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer, and 50kg of high-potassium compound fertilizer.

Top dressing : Top dressing is mainly nitrogen fertilizer. After buds appear, combine it with tillage and apply 30-40kg of nitrogen fertilizer per mu.

6. Planting seeds

Generally, furrow sowing is adopted, and the sowing depth should be controlled between 6-8cm. After sowing, cover the soil and suppress it in time.

7. Scientific management

To plant potatoes with high yield, you must first slow down the growth and then promote it. Before the buds appear, control the water to prevent the above-ground part from growing too tall. After the buds appear, water and fertilize to promote the growth of the underground part. Ten days before harvest, control the water to avoid rotten potatoes in the field.

8. Cultivation and soil cultivation

Intertillage and soiling make the soil in the tuber layer loose and aerated, which is conducive to root growth, stolon elongation and tuber expansion. The first intertillage is carried out after the seedlings are fully grown, with a depth of 8-10cm. The second intertillage is carried out 10-15 days after the first intertillage. When buds appear, the third intertillage is carried out and soiling is carried out at the same time.

9. Disease prevention

Common potato diseases include viral diseases and late blight. Diseases should be prevented and controlled as early as possible. If late blight-infected plants are found in the field, they should be removed in time. Mancozeb wettable powder should be sprayed to prevent field infection. Generally, the drug should be applied once a week for 3-4 consecutive times.

10. Insect prevention

The main pests include ladybugs, white grubs, mole crickets, etc. They can be controlled by using pesticides or manual killing, or by using black light to control adult insects.

11. Harvest at the right time

When the plant stops growing, most of the stems and leaves turn yellow, and the potato skin becomes hard, it is time to harvest.