The Potato is extensively cultivated in temperate areas, and its stem tubers, which develop underground, are a preferred meals. A youthful, herbaceous perennial. The plant comes from South America the place it was terribly valued by the Indians. Its botanical title is Solanum tuberosum; it belongs to the household Solanaceae.
Rising and Planting Potatoes.
Potatoes could be cultivated in many different sorts of soil, however primarily probably the most attention-grabbing crops are dug from well-drained loamy land. They may presumably be planted on the same web page 12 months after 12 months with good outcomes, if the underside is maintained in a fertile state of affairs by liming, manuring and so forth. In a yard of reasonably priced measurement, nonetheless, it’s good to incorporate the Potatoes in any system of rotation of crops which can be practiced in order that they shall have a change of soil periodically.
Getting ready the Floor.
The simplest reply to position collectively heavy, clayey land for Potato cultivation is to plow or dig it in autumn; it’s left in a hard state of affairs all by the use of the winter months. When the underside dries in spring the soil will break into small particles—in quite a few phrases, will most probably be friable when harrowed or forked over. Publicity to rain, frost and wind does immense good to land of this kind.
If this plan can’t be adopted, it’s the custom-made of some gardeners who should plant Potatoes on clayey land to plant as they dig. The tubers, set in a furrow, are lined by soil on account of the digging proceeds. This method is advantageous on account of as rapidly as the position is planted it is not trodden on as quickly as additional till late spring or early summer season season when the primary earthing-up or weeding is achieved, and by that point the bottom may have dried.
Light or well-drained loamy soil have to be plowed or dug in spring, manure or compost being buried all through the furrow or trench on account of the work proceeds. It’s not relevant or fascinating to manure land intently for Potato cultivation all through the yard. An reasonably priced dressing of decayed manure or compost, positioned on the land and blended with it, and supplemented by quite a few capabilities of a suitable full fertilizer, will guarantee passable outcomes.
Sprouting.
The preparation of the fashions or planting tubers, generally often known as “seed potatoes,” is a matter of excellent significance on account of it has a substantial affect on the yield. It has been discovered that if Potato tubers already possessing quite a few sprouts are planted, a heavier crop will consequence than if dormant or unsprouted tubers are used.
Tubers required for planting in spring have to be chosen fastidiously; these weighing about 2 oz., or the scale of a small hen’s egg, are thought-about to be principally primarily probably the most acceptable. Larger tubers may, nonetheless, be used; they’re normally lower into objects, every half to incorporate quite a few sprouts, at planting time. To offer sprouts the tubers are set on finish in shallow packing containers, or notably made trays having quick picket legs which allow of their being positioned on extreme of one another to steer clear of dropping area. That is carried out 2-4 weeks prior to planting time.
What generally called the “rose” finish of the tuber, that which possesses the larger variety of “eyes” or buds, is positioned uppermost. The packing containers or trays must be in a light-weight, pretty heat place; there the tubers begin into development and by planting time will possess quite a few quick, sturdy sprouts. It can be crucial that the tubers be fully open to the sunshine or the sprouts could also be weak and “drawn.”
Sprouting prior to planting them is strongly to be truly helpful for every type, however it’s considerably necessary all through the cultivation of early varieties; Potatoes handled on this technique will begin into development earlier to dormant tubers.
Decreasing the Variety of Sprouts.
Ahead of the tubers are planted the query of the variety of sprouts to be left on each must be determined.
If just one sprout is left on every tuber, the crop will embody a restricted variety of huge Potatoes; if two sprouts are left there could also be fairly a couple of huge Potatoes, and others of great measurement; if three sprouts are left there typically is a sure variety of small tubers, though most of them could also be huge or fair-sized. If your complete sprouts are left on, or if dormant tubers are planted, the variety of small Potatoes could also be nonetheless greater.
For major yard cultivation, the simplest apply is to depart two or three sprouts on every of the tubers.
There isn’t any such factor as a such issue as a doubt as to some good benefits of sprouting the tubers prior to planting and limiting the variety of sprouts. This ensures early enchancment and a minimal of small Potatoes, and thus prevents waste of crop.
Potatoes as a Cleansing Crop.
These that are confronted with the problem of constructing a mannequin new yard on land which has not been cultivated beforehand or which has been out of cultivation for plenty of years, and bringing the soil into good state of affairs for sowing or planting, will uncover it an exquisite plan to crop it with Potatoes for the primary 12 months. There isn’t any such factor as a such issue as a greater cleansing crop for mannequin new land.
The location have to be plowed or dug in spring to place off tree roots and as many perennial weeds as attainable. The Potatoes are planted in spring. In the midst of the summer season season months the practices of weeding, hoeing and earthing-up will assist very significantly to domesticate the land, break down lumpy soil and delay coarse weeds. By the tip of the summer season season or early autumn, the underside could also be in first-rate state of affairs for sowing or planting after the crop of Potatoes has been lifted.
It’s most important to have the position fully ready the place it’s imagined to make a mannequin new yard by sowing Grass seeds, and Potato cultivation is sweet preparation. Early September is a suitable time to sow the Grass seeds, and if a crop of early Potatoes is grown they’re going to be off the underside by the tip of August, thus permitting time for the ultimate phrase leveling and seedbed preparation. The Potato tops, or vines, have to be burnt on the position, along with one different yard garbage which have to be destroyed; this apply helps to place off weed seeds and seedling weeds and thus saves labor later.
There are two chief varieties or courses of Potato —the Early, and the Maincrop or Late; pretty plenty of varieties of every kind could also be found.
The First Plantings.
The earliest crops of Potatoes are produced from plantings of Early varieties made as shortly in spring as soil and native climate situations permit. It might usually be 1-2 weeks prior to the usual date of the last word killing frost all through the locality however in sheltered places (reminiscent of on a south-facing slope protected in the direction of chilly winds by a windbreak or hedge) on sandy soils, they might presumably be planted 3-4 weeks prior to the usual date of the last word killing frost. This latter date varies significantly, in actuality, in keeping with geographical locality. Gardeners not accustomed to it, on account of it applies to their very private gardens, may buy data from the County Agricultural Agent of the county whereby they dwell or could also be guided as to when to plant by the practices of native specialists.
On heavy (clayey) soils planting cannot be carried out fairly as early as on delicate (sandy) ones. Under no circumstances should planting be carried out till the soil is in a workable, crumbly state of affairs; planting in moist, sticky soil is for certain to ship disappointing outcomes.
As shortly as youthful shoots from the Potatoes present by the bottom of the underside and are 2-3 in. tall, soil have to be drawn (hilled) as rather a lot as them with a hoe or plow so that each one furthermore the very ideas of the shoots is roofed; this serves as a safety within the path of chilly.
Tubers (fashions) of Early Potatoes are planted 4 in. deep and 12-15 in. aside in rows spaced 18-24 in. aside. It’s a good revenue to position a layer of compost or decayed manure all through the furrows prior to planting. The tubers root freely into every of those supplies, and vigorous development is thus promoted.
Early Potatoes could also be dug as shortly on account of the tubers of the mannequin new crop are huge enough to make the most of. This may be ascertained by lifting a plant or two as a trial, and should normally be inside 10-12 weeks from the time of planting.
Vegetation needn’t be all lifted straight; the higher plan for the house gardener is to dig his Early Potatoes as he wishes them for desk use, and thus to increase the harvest over a interval of quite a few weeks. It must be remembered that the Potato crops hale not achieved their season’s development when the primary ones are lifted on the tip of 10 or 12 weeks; if the crops are left all through the bottom the tubers will improve in measurement and quantity (and thus give a heavier crop) for a while after these Potatoes have been eradicated.
Early sorts of Potatoes may have achieved their development and matured by July or August, in keeping with locality, by which interval Maincrop varieties could also be obtainable for digging for fast desk use. Early varieties have to be all lifted when maturity is reached, which is evidenced by the tops’ dying down naturally.
It would most likely’t be stated that Potatoes want a considerable amount of consideration within the midst of the summer season season months; the 2 particulars of chief significance are weeding and earthing-up. As shortly on account of the tops present by the soil, the underside between the rows have to be forked over shallowly, the soil being damaged down into small particles. Shortly, it have to be hoed ceaselessly to handle down weeds. The work of earthing-up will then be a relatively easy matter for the soil could also be friable and simply moved. Earthing-up, when the soil is troublesome and lumpy, is a laborious course of and it could properly’t be carried out satisfactorily.
Fertilizers for Potatoes.
Ahead of the soil is earthed up fertilizer have to be utilized alongside the crops. Notably compounded mixtures made for the objective are supplied by horticultural shops and could also be discovered helpful. Or the following combination could also be discovered passable: superphosphate, 5 components, and sulphate of ammonia, two components, the combination being utilized on the cost of three oz. per yard run of row.
Earthing-up is achieved by drawing up the soil on all sides of the row in order that it helps the Potato stems and leaves only some inches of vine or development uncovered. It shouldn’t be achieved on one event. The primary earthing-up is achieved when the Potato tops are about 6 in. excessive and the second about 4 weeks later. The objective of earthing-up is to help the stems of the crops and to guard the tubers and assist their enchancment.
A second planting of early Potatoes could also be made 2-3 weeks after the earliest varieties. The tubers are set 5 in. deep, and 15 in. aside, in rows 24 in. from one another. They have to be handled in probably the greatest methods already outlined as far as the small print of sprouting the tubers, planting, using fertilizers and earthing-up are involved.
Late or Maincrop Potatoes.
These are planted in about 6 weeks after the primary earlies; they supply the chief current within the midst of the winter and early spring months and could also be prepared to be lifted in September. The tubers are set 5 in. deep and 18 in. aside in rows, 2-2 1/2 ft. from one another. It’s a mistake to crowd them, for that forestalls the soil from being precisely cultivated between the rows. The opposite particulars of administration—sprouting the tubers, planting, the making use of of fertilizers and earthing-up—are carried out in probably the greatest methods already described. Contained in the residence yard, it’s normally finest to focus on early crops; late potatoes want a considerable quantity of care with spraying.
Lifting Potatoes.
There isn’t any such factor as a such issue as a revenue in leaving Potatoes all through the bottom after the leaves have turned yellow; it’s, actually, unwise to take movement, for there they’re uncovered to hazard of damage by soil pests of various varieties.
After they’ve been dug, the Potatoes have to be left on the underside for 2 or three hours if the native climate is okay, in order that the skins may harden prior to they’re saved. If the native climate is moist it’s a good plan to unfold them out beneath cowl of a shed or fully totally different acceptable place.
Storing Potatoes.
The Potatoes should not be uncovered to the sunshine for quite a few hours or they are going to start to current inexperienced and should thus be rendered unfit to be used all through the kitchen. When dry, they might presumably be saved in sacks or packing containers, in any cool, darkish, frostproof place. Solely sound Potatoes have to be saved in bulk; if diseased ones are put away with sound ones, the latter may additionally be spoiled. A winter storage temperature of 35-40 ranges is fascinating for finest outcomes.
There are fairly a couple of sorts of Potato. These could also be discovered described in seed catalogs. It’s good to hunt the advice of your State Agricultural Experiment Station or your County Agricultural Agent concerning varieties considerably truly helpful for categorical soils and localities.
