When is the best time to plant potatoes in the north?

Potatoes are one of the important food crops in China and are widely distributed in China. It is especially common in northern my country, such as the North China Plain and the Northeast. So when is the best time to plant potatoes in the north? Let’s learn more about it below.

When is the best time to plant potatoes in the north?

The weather in the north is colder than in the south, and usually only one crop can be grown a year, with sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn. The sowing time is around mid-to-late April to early May.

How to grow potatoes in the north?

1. Land preparation and fertilization

Choose a plot with good drainage, deep soil, flat terrain and relatively fertile soil, and avoid plots that are continuously cropped or where Solanaceae crops were planted in the previous crop. Then the land is finely prepared and base fertilizer is heavily applied. The amount generally accounts for about 2/3 of the total amount of fertilizer applied. Base fertilizer is often applied in combination with organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer and is applied in conjunction with land preparation or soil covering.

2. Cut into pieces and germinate

20-25 days before sowing, place the seed potatoes in a sunny, warm place to dry for 2-3 days, remove diseased and rotten potatoes, and cut them into pieces. When cutting, you can divide it into two or four parts according to the top bud. Each seed potato should have 1-2 buds and weigh 25-30 grams. After the cut edge is dried, it can be placed in a room with a temperature of 18-20℃ for germination. When the buds grow to about 2 cm, place them under scattered light to dry. After the buds turn green and thick, they can be sown.

3. Sowing method

Potato seed potatoes are generally sown on demand, with 2 rows per ridge and a plant spacing of about 20 cm. The 2 rows are staggered, forming an overall triangle shape with the buds facing upwards. The sowing density is generally 6000-7000 plants/667㎡. Cover the soil after sowing and press it down in time.

4. Post-sowing management

About 20 days after sowing, seedlings will emerge from the soil. At this time, you can break the micro-film at the seedling site to let in air and prevent the seedlings from being steamed. When the seedlings grow to 10 cm high, press the film around the seedlings tightly with soil to retain water and suppress weeds. It is not advisable to water potatoes in the early stage of their growth. Wait until they start to bloom before watering them. If there is no rain and drought, water it every 10 days. Generally, it will mature after 2-3 waterings. Stop watering 10 days before harvest. At the same time, attention should be paid to preventing pests such as aphids and thrips during the seedling stage.

In general, the climate conditions in northern my country are very suitable for growing potatoes. Just pay attention to timely sowing. In addition, focusing on strengthening post-sowing management is the key to achieving high yields in potato cultivation .