When is the best time to plant potatoes?

Potatoes are grown in all parts of China, but due to the large temperature difference between the north and the south, the planting time of potatoes in different regions is also different. Generally speaking, after potatoes are cut and sown, they begin to grow at a soil temperature of 5-7℃ at a depth of 10 cm. Let’s take a look at when is the best time to plant potatoes?

When is the best time to plant potatoes?

In northwestern regions such as Northeast China, Gansu, and Qinghai, potatoes are usually planted in spring, from mid-to-late April to mid-May (between Grain Rain and Beginning of Summer), and harvested in autumn. Due to climatic reasons, these areas can usually only grow one crop of potatoes a year and are called single-season planting areas in the north and northwest.

In the Central Plains regions such as Shandong, Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, Jiangsu, and Hunan, spring potatoes are planted in February and March (between the Rain Water and the Waking of Insects), and the harvest period is from June to July. Autumn potatoes are planted in August (between the beginning of autumn and the end of heat) and harvested in October to early November. These areas are called the double-season planting areas of the Central Plains and Central South because they can grow potatoes twice.

In central and southern provinces such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang, spring potatoes can be planted from January to February (between Dahan and Lichun) and harvested from May to June. Autumn potatoes are planted in September (between White Dew and Autumnal Equinox) and harvested in December. These areas are also double cropping areas.

In southern regions such as Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Yunnan, and Guizhou, a season of potatoes can be planted during the idle period after the autumn rice harvest. The sowing time is usually from mid-to-late October to November (between the beginning of frost and the beginning of winter), and the harvest is from February to March of the following year. Because the growing season is primarily in winter, these areas are known as the southern winter growing zones.

Potato Planting Methods

Land Selection and Preparation: Potatoes prefer fertile, well-drained soil, especially sandy soil. When preparing the land, it should be deeply plowed and carefully tilled, and sufficient base fertilizer should be applied. This will not only help remove weeds, but also prevent diseases and promote the growth of potatoes.

Seed treatment: Before sowing, potatoes need to be germinated. When the buds grow to the size of a fingernail, they should be moved outdoors to dry for about a week. Then, depending on the growth of the sprouts, cut the potatoes into 3 to 4 pieces and apply wood ash in preparation for sowing. When sowing, the soil thickness should be no less than 12 cm. If the soil is not covered enough, the soil should be added 1 to 2 times after the seedlings emerge; if the soil is covered too thinly, it may cause drastic changes in ground temperature and affect the normal growth of potatoes.

Field management:

Thinning: Proper spacing should be maintained when planting to ensure that the potatoes have enough room to grow. Planting too densely will result in small potatoes and low yields.

Fertilization: Potatoes should be fertilized mainly with organic fertilizer and supplemented with chemical fertilizer. Apply base fertilizer in the early stage of planting, mainly farmyard manure, and avoid direct contact of fertilizer with seed blocks. During the flowering period of potatoes, the plants should be checked regularly to prevent diseases from affecting yield and quality.

Weeding: Be careful when weeding in the field to avoid damaging the potato roots, especially during the flowering period. Loose roots may lead to reduced yields or even plant death.

In general, potato planting time varies from region to region, but in China, potatoes are usually planted between October and December and are expected to be harvested between January and March of the following year. However, potatoes can be grown virtually any time of the year if climatic conditions are favorable. The specific sowing time should be determined according to local climatic conditions.