Potato planting and harvesting time

Potato planting time

Potatoes are usually planted at the end of March in spring. They can be planted when the soil temperature stabilizes at around 18 degrees. They can also be planted in advance by plowing the soil in early March to keep the potatoes in a lower temperature environment and avoid growing in high temperatures.

Potato harvest time

The different potato planting areas and planting times will affect the time of potato harvest. In Northeast China and Gansu, most potatoes are sown in April in spring and mature in autumn. In Hebei and Shandong, potatoes can usually be sown twice a year. After sowing in February and March, they are usually harvested in June and July.

Key points for high-yield potato planting

1. Land preparation and fertilization

Potatoes are suitable for planting in loose and breathable sandy loam with convenient irrigation and drainage, rich in organic matter, flat terrain, thick and fertile tillage layer. The land should be prepared after the previous crop is harvested, and tillage should be carried out in combination with fertilization before planting.

2. Seed selection and processing

Select high-yield virus-free potatoes with intact tubers, no frostbite, no pests and diseases, shallow buds and smooth skin as seed potatoes. Cut the seed potatoes into pieces 3 to 5 days before sowing. Each tuber has 1 to 2 strong buds. After cutting, place them in a well-ventilated place and wait for the incision to heal.

3. Sowing

When the daily average temperature is between 15 and 25℃ or the temperature of the soil layer at a height of 10 cm is above 10℃ for more than 3 days, you can start sowing. When sowing, you must control the planting density. Under normal cultivation conditions, about 6,000 potatoes are planted per mu.

4. Moisture management

After planting potatoes, water them in time to keep the soil moist and ensure emergence of seedlings. The plant development period, bud formation period and flowering period are critical periods. The number of watering can be increased to ensure sufficient water in the soil. When the stems and leaves stop growing, the demand for water will increase and attention should be paid to replenishing water to prevent late maturity of potatoes or reduce yield.