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

Potatoes are the fourth most important food crop in the world, after wheat, rice and corn. Moreover, it has high nutritional value, strong adaptability and large yield, so it is widely planted and distributed in my country. So which month is the best for planting potatoes in the South? Let’s learn more about it below.

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

The potato producing areas in the south are mainly concentrated in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan, Guizhou and other places. Potatoes in this producing area can be planted in the gap after the rice harvest in autumn. Generally, sowing is done from mid to late October to November.

How to grow potatoes in the south?

1. Soil treatment

In the southern region, the pH value of the soil is generally high, so calcination is required. In addition, the soil needs to be kept moderately moist, so drainage is required. Before planting, an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer should be applied to improve soil fertility.

2. Land preparation and fertilization

After the previous rice crop is harvested, ridges should be made in time with a ridger. The land should be deep plowed and finely harrowed, and the soil layer should be turned over to meet the needs of plant growth. The standard is 90 cm wide, 30 cm high and 25 cm wide. At the same time, attention should be paid to the ridge surface, the ditch bottom should be straight, and the soil should be broken into small pieces. In addition, deep fertilizer ditches should be dug. The amount of fertilizer per mu is 1,500 kg of base fertilizer, add 25 to 30 kg of compound fertilizer , mix well and spread deep in the middle of the ridge.

3. Seed germination

It is very simple to germinate potatoes. There are two commonly used methods. One is to put the whole potato in a bag or a carton, and place it in an environment of about 20 degrees for germination. Do not expose it to direct sunlight. When the sprouts are about 1 cm long, they can be cut and planted. The second method is to harvest the seeds first, find a warm place for the harvested potatoes, spread a layer of sand, then a layer of harvested potatoes, and then another layer of sand, and so on, until they sprout and you can sow them.

4. Key points for sowing

Dig holes 5 cm away from the fertilizer ditch, and place the potato seeds in the holes with the sprouts facing upwards. The spacing between plants should be about 20-30 cm depending on the variety. Cover them with 4-6 cm of soil. Don't cover them too thickly, as this will slow down germination.

5. Planting density

Usually the density varies slightly depending on the specifications of the bed, the sowing season, etc. Generally speaking, the density of autumn sowing is sparse, about 3500-4500 holes per mu, while the density of winter sowing is slightly denser, about 5000 holes per mu.

In general, it is relatively simple to grow potatoes in the south, but due to differences in climate conditions, soil conditions and other factors, the specific planting time and sowing methods are slightly different from those of potatoes in the north. Just pay attention to the details.