Preparing Potato Tubers for Planting: Secrets of Gardeners

Potato yield directly depends on the correct preparation of tubers for planting.

This process requires care and adherence to certain rules.

Despite the apparent simplicity, ignoring important processing stages can lead to a significant decrease in the productivity of the future potato plantation, says Anastasia Kovrizhnykh .

Selection of planting material

The first step to a successful potato harvest is careful selection of tubers for planting.

It is necessary to carefully examine each specimen and select only healthy, whole, unsprouted and undamaged samples of medium size.

Tubers with signs of disease, mechanical damage or an atypical appearance should be ruthlessly rejected.

Only high-quality planting material guarantees good germination and development of powerful, productive bushes.

Warming and germination

To stimulate early and uniform germination of potato tubers, it is necessary to preheat and germinate them.

The process is as follows:

1. Place the selected tubers in one layer in the light at a temperature of 15-18°C.

2. Regularly ventilate the room and humidify the air to prevent the tubers from drying out.

3. After 2-3 weeks, strong, green shoots 1-2 cm long will form on the tubers.

Sprouting improves plant nutrition in the early stages of development, promoting faster formation of bushes and accelerating the formation of tubers.

Treatment with growth stimulants and protective preparations

To further activate growth processes and increase resistance to diseases, it is recommended to treat the tubers with biological growth stimulants and fungicidal preparations. This approach allows:

- Strengthen the immunity of plants.

- Accelerate the development of a powerful root system.

- Activate the formation of additional stems and tubers.

- Reduce the risk of fungal and bacterial infections.

It is important to strictly follow the instructions for the use of plant protection products and growth stimulants.

Fertilizing and soaking

To enhance the initial growth of potatoes and increase yields, soaking tubers in solutions of mineral fertilizers or growth stimulants is used.

This procedure provides intensive nutrition for plants at early stages of development. The following options are most effective:

- Potassium permanganate solution (1%) for disinfection and stimulation.

- Sodium humate solution to improve mineral nutrition.

- Solution of complex mineral fertilizer for balanced nutrition.

The soaking time is 12-24 hours depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.

Conclusion

Compliance with the described rules for preparing potato planting material is the key to obtaining high and stable yields of high-quality tubers.

Careful selection of seed material, warming, germination, treatment with stimulants and fertilizers lay the foundation for powerful plant development and maximum yield from each bush.

Neglecting any stage of tuber processing threatens significant losses in the productivity of the potato plantation.

Earlier we talked about spring care for strawberries.