Planting the main vegetable crop is half the battle. But to achieve high yields tubers, uniform shoots are difficult. Although it is known how many days it takes for potatoes to sprout after planting, the days go by and there are only a few stalks in the field. The reasons for the uneven emergence of seedlings are different. To avoid such a situation, it is necessary to follow the timing and rules of planting and caring for it.
Landing vegetable crop begin when the air temperature warms up to 8–10 degrees Celsius. Appear in warm soil earthworms. This is the signal to land early varieties potatoes. The time for planting late types of crops comes when dandelions bloom.
Depending on the climate of the region, weather conditions determine the day for planting the field. Take into account the advice of gardeners who are guided by the lunar calendar.
Planted tubers will germinate faster in a humid environment. But the dug up area for potatoes should not be salted. Nutrient substrates and humus are added to the soil.
Pre-sprouted tubers germinate better. For vernalization planting material placed in boxes, taking them to a warm and bright room. To speed up germination, wet sawdust, peat or humus are poured between the tubers. Seed material kept at a temperature of 14–18 degrees Celsius for 10–15 days will increase the potato yield by half.
Vegetable sprouts appear after planting on days 10–12. If the weather is cool and there are still slight frosts at night, then the waiting period will last up to twenty days.
Why don't potatoes sprout?
Potatoes take a long time to sprout unevenly for various reasons:
- If there are sharp changes in temperature during the day compared to night, the vegetable tubers will lie in the ground without germinating. As soon as it gets warmer, green potato sprouts will begin to appear. The plant is able to withstand minor drops. But weather disasters in the form of severe frosts will destroy the seed material. Then, instead of sprouts, the potatoes sprout, forming miniature nodules.
- Soil moisture is important for crop growth. Excessively dry soil does not provide enough moisture and nutrition to the nodules. They dry up without ever emerging. There is a lot of moisture, its stagnation in the area will lead to rotting of the nodules.
- The depth at which the seeds are planted depends on the composition of the soil. Tubers are buried 8–10 centimeters in heavy clay soils, and 12–15 centimeters in light sandy soils. Then the potatoes germinate faster and on time.
- Potatoes grow poorly on poor lands. Therefore, when digging the site, humus, superphosphate and potassium salt are added. You can put fertilizers in each hole during planting.
- It is necessary to harrow the area for vegetable crops. The procedure is especially important for virgin lands. Unbroken lumps of soil will not allow potatoes to grow.
- One of the potato field pests, mole crickets, prevent seedlings from appearing. The gnawed tubers without eyes will lie in the ground and rot.
The quality of the seed material must be high, otherwise the sprouts will not sprout.
What kind of potatoes are needed for planting?
Speaking about the quality of planting material, pay attention to:
- absence of pest damage;
- vegetable variety;
- the presence of powerful sprouts on tubers.
If seed potatoes grown on the plot are sick, they cannot be planted. It will sprout slowly or rot in the ground. Tubers can be saved by treating them with potassium permanganate. A solution of boric acid and copper sulfate is used for disinfection. After processing, the seed material is dried.
Without germinating tubers, you cannot get a vegetable harvest. Before this, spoiled and diseased nodules are sorted. Ideal for planting would be healthy tubers weighing 50–70 grams. Larger ones are cut in half 2-3 weeks before planting. Sprouted potatoes are planted.
Why do potatoes rise unevenly?
Bald spots in a potato field are due to the fact that some of the planted tubers did not germinate. This happens because:
- poorly selected planting material;
- Some tubers had no sprouts before planting;
- plant seeds are damaged by pests;
- potatoes lack nutrients;
- there are many large lumps of earth on the field.
To ensure uniform seedlings of the vegetable, you must carefully select the tubers for planting. They should be medium in size with thick, strong shoots. Long threads on the seeds indicate diseases of the crop and its inability to grow.
But greened tubers will be more useful on the site; they can produce a healthy harvest. They accumulate solanine, which will help the plant resist diseases and pests.
What to do, how to speed up the germination of potatoes?
When the potatoes have not sprouted in the field after twenty days, you need to dig holes and look at the condition of the tubers. If there are not even sprouts on them or the seeds have rotted, then such vegetable plantings will be of no use. For potatoes to bear fruit, you must:
- prepare tubers before planting, discarding beaten, cut, damaged ones;
- carry out germination of seed material;
- place the tubers in boxes with peat, humus, a moistened solution of mineral salts: 30 grams of superphosphate, 20 grams of potassium salt per bucket of water;
- choose a vegetable variety that suits the area;
- choose a day for planting taking into account the weather and climate.
It is important to prepare the area for cultivation in a timely manner. The field is prepared in the fall after harvesting. Dig or plow the soil, adding humus.
Harrowing the area will break up the dense layers of soil.
Taking into account the “three tens” rules - planting depth of 10 centimeters, soil temperature of 10 degrees - the first potato sprouts are obtained in 10 days.
Rules for caring for potato plantings
Before the vegetable shoots appear, the area is harrowed, loosening the soil to a depth of 4–5 centimeters. For the procedure, choose a sunny, dry day so that the emerging weeds die.
Harrowing is also necessary when the sprouts hatch, the second time when the stems reach ten centimeters in height. The rows are loosened perpendicularly to a depth of seven centimeters. Vegetable crops are fed depending on the composition of the soil. A solution is added to moist, rich soil. wood ash or superphosphate with potassium salt. Poor soils need superphosphate with ammonium nitrate and potassium salts. 30–50 grams of superphosphate, 10–15 grams of ammonium nitrate and 15–20 grams of potassium salt are dissolved in ten liters of water. From organic matter, mullein is taken in a ratio of 1:5 or bird droppings - 1:12. Mineral fertilizers
alternate with organic ones.
All types of care are aimed at providing the plant with moisture and nutrition. Hilling will cause the formation of underground stems on which a second tier of tubers will form.
If the formation of ovaries is weak and the stem is strong, fertilize the rows of the vegetable with ash or fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium.
Potatoes grow quickly if preparation for planting and care of the crop are properly organized.
Kira Stoletova
How many days does it take for potatoes to sprout after planting? To answer the question, let’s look at the factors on which the yield of such a crop depends.
One of the important indicators of successful seed pecking is well-warmed soil. If the soil is below 8°, then agricultural work cannot be started. To prevent the sprouts from freezing, it is necessary to determine the average daily temperature at a depth of 12 cm.
To determine the landing period, you can use folk signs. Root crops are buried in the ground after flowering has begun. perennial plants, and the birch leaves became the size of a penny coin.
If the earth warms up to 10° C, then the potatoes wake up within 25 days. When the temperature increases to 20°C, hatching occurs on the 15th day. An early harvest can be harvested if sprouted tubers are planted. This option reduces the time by a week from the variety declared by the manufacturer.
“For the southern regions, the onset of phase 1 (emergence of seedlings) after 20 days in most cases is a deviation from the norm, but for the northern regions this period is quite acceptable.”
The depth of planting can also affect germination. The earth is slowly warming up in the lower layers, which negatively affects growth. The thicker the soil layer above the seed, the longer it takes for development. In addition, pipping depends on soil moisture. Wet soil does not hold temperature well and does not allow air to pass through; tubers rot from lack of heat and oxygen.
Uneven shoots
It happens that potatoes take a long time and sprout unevenly. If temperature standards were not violated during planting, then you should understand other reasons:
- Different shapes of tubers. Large specimens need more time to germinate, while small ones hatch first. Small seeds produce nonviable shoots that quickly die.
- Mix of varieties. Each species has its own development time, so the processes appear unevenly. If the potatoes rise unevenly, then this is an indicator of the farmer’s carelessness.
- Depth. Planting is carried out according to a strictly selected scheme. If the holes are not the same size, then the tops will hatch late.
- Uneven germination.
If you plant potatoes according to the rules, then the likelihood of a problem occurring is reduced to zero. How longer person If you spend time in the first days, the less trouble you will have in the future. Errors are difficult to correct; they can only be prevented in the initial stages.
Planting order
In order for planted potatoes to germinate on time, you need to ensure proper preparation for planting and care of the crop. All work begins in the fall and continues throughout the growing season.
Plot
Potatoes prefer to grow in nutritious soil, so humus is added to the soil during digging. For normal development, one bucket per 1 sq.m. is enough. In spring, the soil is thoroughly plowed, removing plant debris. The lack of microelements affects not only fertility, but also the germination of raw materials.
When choosing a site, give preference to a well-lit place. In the shade, the crop develops poorly, and the timing of hatching from seeds may be delayed. Do not forget about the rules of crop rotation - do not plant vegetables after nightshade species. Recommended predecessors:
- green manure;
- zucchini;
- garlic;
- legumes
A week before planting, you can start laying out the beds. Remember that the plant will not produce a bountiful harvest in soil that is too dense, so it is necessary to “dilute” the structure with sand. Two tablespoons of superphosphate are poured into the bottom of each hole, after which the plantation is covered with polyethylene.
Preparation of raw materials
To obtain good harvest potatoes, you need to take only high-quality varietal seeds. At favorable conditions Potato shoots appear a month after planting. However, there are varieties of the popular root vegetable that will produce a bountiful harvest 6 weeks after being buried in the ground. If you want to get young potatoes, then we recommend choosing early-ripening and ultra-early varieties.
Harvesting begins in the fall after the last harvest. Select correct, even tubers, without damage or stains. The raw materials are left for several days under the diffused sun for greening. Such fruits are perfectly stored until the next season, and low-quality specimens appear immediately.
In the spring, the sorted and sorted seeds are transferred to a room with access to light and a temperature of 15 to 20 C. We advise you to lay out the products in two layers on racks or in vegetable boxes. After 3 weeks, shoots with roots appear on the potatoes. Before starting work, remove all unsprouted specimens or those that have an irregular shape (single, thread-like).
If you don’t have time to sprout potatoes, then you can give preference to heating. The procedure begins 10 days before planting in the ground. To do this, the raw materials are left in the dark at elevated temperature– 18-20 C. Longer stay in such conditions leads to the formation of long shoots, which break off when buried in the ground.
Large tubers take longer to germinate than small ones. Huge fruits take a long time to form large bushes with a highly developed root system. If you don’t want to get giant specimens, then give preference to medium-sized raw materials - no larger than a chicken egg.
You cannot take tubers without eyes, otherwise you may not see shoots at all. The potatoes should be healthy, without cracks or dents. In addition, it is prohibited to store seed material in white plastic bags. Under such conditions, pipping is zero.
To ensure the health of the raw materials, we recommend cutting two potatoes for inspection. Additionally, pay attention to the shoots of sprouted tubers. The shoots should be short and thick. The longer the branches, the more likely they are to break during transportation or planting.
Landing
In order for potatoes to sprout, you need to bury them to a depth of 8 to 10 cm; the recommended planting pattern is 80x35 cm. Some gardeners prefer to place the tubers more densely, but densely planted vegetation will interfere with development. The tops are poorly blown by the wind, which increases the likelihood of getting late blight.
When growing root crops, it is important to adhere to the rules of agricultural technology. Knowing how many days it takes for potatoes to sprout, you can provide the most comfortable conditions for a crop such as potatoes.
What Mwe know about potatoes(Interesting Facts) How many varieties of potatoes are known in the world? (More than 3400.) What should be the average weight of seed tubers? (50–80 g) At what soil temperature should potatoes not be planted? (Below +7...+8 °C.) At what negative temperature air, the tops begin to turn black? (From –1 to –1.5 °C.). At what depth should tubers be planted? (For clay soils– 6–8 cm, for sandy loam 10–12 cm.) How many days do tubers usually germinate before planting? (30–35.) At what temperature is it best to germinate tubers? (8–14 °C.) How many days after planting do potato shoots usually appear? (After 20–30.) How many days after germination does flowering begin? (After 30–40.) How many days after planting do the early varieties harvest? (After 55–65.) How many days after planting do they get the harvest? late varieties? (More than 110.) What is the average potato yield in Russia? (250–300 c/ha.) How many stems does a potato bush usually consist of (4–5, less often 6–8.) How many days before harvesting is it recommended to remove the tops? (For 10–14.) What is it like optimal distance between rows and between tubers when planting manually? (70 cm and 30–40 cm.) If planting has to be done in parts of the tuber, what minimum mass should they have? (30 g.) How many eyes should there be on the cut part of the seed tuber? (1–2.) On average, how many buckets of potatoes are needed for planting on one hundred square meters? (3.) At what temperature is it best to store potatoes? (+5–7 °C.) At what temperature do the tubers develop a sweet taste? (+1–2 °C.) How long after the emergence of seedlings is the first hilling carried out? How long after the first hilling is the second hilling carried out?
(Some tricks for growing potatoes) Potatoes are grown by all rural residents and many city dwellers. It is believed that it is easy to grow and everyone knows how to do it.
In practice, potatoes actually grow almost everywhere; they are not as demanding as other types of root crops and caring for them is not very difficult. This is true, but what kind of potatoes will grow, what kind of harvest will be and at what time is often not taken into account, but in vain, your work must be appreciated and, in addition, the profitability of your farm and a very pleasant feeling of satisfaction with the results of your efforts depend on this.
Everyone is used to the fact that the planted the potatoes will sprout on the 21st day, will grow until autumn, harvesting in September. This is traditional, with everyone together and of course there is no sales (mass cleaning is underway), there is no normal price, the income is either meager or zero.
But if you work thoughtfully and diligently, you can have a completely different result. Do you want to grow an excellent harvest, harvest it in June, sell it at a good price and make a profit? I see you want it. Then be patient and read this page to the end.
How to grow early potatoes. The site is selected on a hill, which dries out in the spring earlier than others. The composition is better than loam.
In spring add potassium and phosphorus.
Early and mid-early varieties are taken.
Germinate at a temperature of 12-15 degrees in 30-35 days.
You can germinate in the light or in the basement with electric lighting, while the tubers are laid out in 2-3 layers.
Spray every week copper sulfate, boric acid or potassium permanganate (m. vitriol - 2 g per 10 liters of water, b. acid - 50 g per 10 liters of water, potassium permanganate - 10 g per 10 liters of water).
Tubers with short thick shoots are ready for planting.
If germination has not been carried out, then a week before planting, you can keep the potatoes in a bright room at a temperature of 15 degrees to warm up.
It is better to plant whole tubers - 70-80g (chicken egg), but you can also cut them, leaving 2-3 sprouts on each part. Cut 2-3 days before planting. Disinfect cutting knives (potassium permanganate) or heat them on fire for 10 seconds.
Planting in late April - early May at a soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm equal to 8 degrees Celsius.
If there is a threat of frost, hill up (you can fill up completely, it will break through).
With a height of 10-12 cm, it is necessary to carry out hilling and loosening of row spacing.
A month after planting, feed the sulfate with ammonium (25 g per sq. m.) or urea (12 g. per sq. m.).
At the beginning of budding, the second feeding (potassium 30-50g per 10 liters of water).
Cleaning can begin at the end of June. Complete removal by August 1st. After harvesting, green the potatoes in the light for 10-15 days, which will be used for seeds. It is strictly forbidden to green food products.
If you do everything as written, you will be in grief. Act with God! After planting potatoes, there is no need to worry at first; we all know that potatoes take a long time to sprout, and we just need to wait.
But when there are still no shoots, you involuntarily begin to worry: is everything okay? Our relatives had real case, when the potatoes have not sprouted at all! So, when to expect potato sprouts to appear, why are they not friendly and why have our relatives’ potatoes not sprouted...
The dependence of the emergence of potato seedlings on soil temperature or When to plant potatoes?
The most important factor in the successful emergence of potato seedlings is the soil temperature. If the soil has warmed up at a depth of 10-12 cm to 7..8 degrees (the average daily temperature is usually +8 degrees) - you can start planting potatoes. Of course, not All gardeners check the soil temperature with a thermometer in their hands. You can trust folk signs, or rather, natural conventional signs.
For example, the time of flowering and blooming of perennial plants. When to plant potatoes? According to popular wisdom, we begin planting as soon as the leaves on the birch tree become the size of a penny coin. Signs of soil warming and natural indicators for the start of sowing work - in THIS ARTICLE
When will potato shoots appear?
When the soil warms up to +10 degrees, potato seedlings appear in 23-25 days. When the soil temperature is 18-20 degrees, seedlings appear in 10-20 days. Sprouted potatoes sprout 6-10 days earlier. If planting occurs in early dates- you shouldn’t bury the tubers, they will “sit” for a long time, the upper layers warm up faster, and if planted shallowly, the potatoes will sprout faster. When the soil moisture is more than 75%, planting potatoes is not advisable, in such conditions there is a high probability of tubers being damaged by putrefactive diseases.
Why are there uneven shoots?
There are several reasons for the appearance of uneven shoots:
- Various planting depths. The soil warms up unevenly - and those tubers that are closer to the surface sprout earlier, those that lie deeper wait for warmer weather.
- Planting tubers of various sizes.
- Unevenly sprouted tubers, or not sprouted at all.
- Mix of varieties different periods maturation, with various periods of rest. You've probably noticed that each variety behaves differently during storage. Much depends on the rest period. Those varieties in which it is short are in no way intended for long-term storage, only for processing (for example, for chips). But there are also well-stored varieties - their dormant period is quite long. If you have a mixture of varieties, it is quite possible that seedlings will appear at different times.
Can potatoes not sprout at all?
Quite, our relatives had such a sad experience. And the whole issue turned out to be improper storage of planting material. The planting potatoes were stored in the cellar, as always, but... they were not poured out of white synthetic bags.
So it stood in them until spring. Everything seemed to be fine, they planted potatoes, but they still didn’t see any shoots. Such negligence cost a lot of money and nerves; at the beginning of summer I had to look for new potatoes and plant them again. But now we all have a lesson - we try not to leave potatoes in white bags even for a short time and always remember this incident. Caring for potatoes after planting: detailed instructions HERE
How many days should it take for potato shoots to appear?
polygraph 2 years ago krusu 2 years ago
I noticed that if I plant in warm, moist soil, the potatoes sprout normally within a week and a half. But at the same time, the planting material itself should be normal; if you harden the potatoes before planting for at least two weeks, then they will grow much better and suffer less.
It all depends on the soil, the depth of planting of the tuber, humidity, ambient temperature, the seeds (variety) themselves, and the length of the sprouted eyes. In general, there are quite a lot of factors, on average it will germinate in one or two weeks and then unevenly, somewhere it will sprout, somewhere later, then you need to harrow, hill up, collect beetles - you won’t get around to it.
And without manure, peas will grow, not potatoes. And if you sprinkle chemical fertilizers from the store, a large one will grow, but with nitrates.
commentLarca more than a month ago
We plant potatoes in late April - early May. And it happens that potatoes planted in April “sit” in the ground longer than those planted in May.
Factors that come into play here are: warming up of the soil and air, humidity and variety. If the soil is well warmed up and moistened, and the vernalization of potatoes is carried out correctly, then expect potato seedlings within 10 days. If you planted “like everyone else,” then after 2-3 weeks Shoots should appear.
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Potatoes, proper planting of tubers, care after planting
When to plant potatoes correctly
Tubers are planted when the soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm will reach 7-8 degrees. Usually in the Moscow region this happens in early May. Delay in planting potatoes entails a 30% loss of yield.
Well sprouted tubers for getting early potatoes can be planted a little earlier - at a soil temperature of 5-6 degrees. Experience shows that such early boarding planting in insufficiently warmed soil produces a greater yield than planting it late in warmed soil.
Planting potatoes on a flat surface, and on waterlogged and heavy soils - in ridges. With this planting, the soil warms up better and more air flows to the tubers.
Distance between rows of potatoes when planting
Before boarding In order to evenly place the plants on the area, the area should be marked. To do this, use a marker to make shallow grooves along which the planting is carried out. For the first pass of the marker, pull the cord along which its outermost tooth is guided.
You can plant tubers directly under the cord, but this is less convenient and takes more time. To increase productivity after planting, the soil can be mulch(sprinkle with a 2-3 cm layer of peat).
The optimal distance between rows of potatoes for early-ripening varieties is 70-75 cm, for late-ripening varieties - 80-90 cm. Planting density depends on the size of potato tubers. Small ones are planted after 18-20 cm, medium and large ones after 26-28 cm.
Tubers are planted deep in heavy soils 6-8 cm, on light ones - 8-10 cm, counting the distance from the soil surface to the tuber. With such planting, approximately 350 large tubers, 450 medium ones, 500 and smaller ones will be required per hundred square meters.
Caring for potatoes after planting
Potato care basically comes down to keeping the soil loose and killing weeds.
Harrowing potatoes. The first harrowing is carried out 4-5 days after planting. Then two or three more before germination and one or two after the plants appear on the surface. Typically, 16-28 days pass from planting to germination. Loosening and hilling potatoes.
After the rows are well defined and the plants have sprouted so much that it is impossible to harrow, they begin to loosen the rows. The first time the soil is loosened deeply - by 12-14 cm, and the second and third time - by 6-8 cm.
When the plants reach a height of 12-15 cm, the first hilling is carried out, with a ridge height of 15-20 cm. The potatoes are hilled a second time before closing the tops. Feeding potatoes after planting.
Spring planting is over, you can relax a little. How many days does it take for potatoes to sprout? What needs to be done to speed up the process?
Old-timers say that potatoes “pop out” after 21 days. In fact, this does not always happen.
Landing rules: terms and conditions. The planting time varies in each region. Climate features influence. In the central and northern regions, frosts and even light snowfall are possible until mid-May. Mostly planting is done from the last week of April until mid-May. It is best to plant potatoes when the outside temperature reaches +7–10 degrees. The earth should warm up to +8 degrees. The first leaves can be observed after 25 days. When the soil warms up to +20, the germination period will be reduced by 7–10 days. The way potatoes germinate is also affected by:
- quality of seed material. Seeds should be germinated at a temperature level of 10–12 degrees for 14–20 days. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight. The sprouts should be dense, swollen, and small. Subject to these conditions pre-germination, the potatoes will sprout a week earlier.
- planting depth. It is important to remember when planting the depth of the hole. It should be no more than 10 cm. Heavily buried potatoes will “sit” in the ground for a long time.
- soil moisture percentage. The maximum rate is 75%. Otherwise, the formation of fungus on tubers will not only increase the time, but can also completely destroy the entire crop.
- variety of vegetable crop. “Jumps out” faster.
"Tricks" to speed up the process. If you need to get an extra-early harvest by the end of July, then potassium and phosphorus should be added to the soil. A month before planting, the seeds must be germinated. For early harvest It is better to take early and mid-early varieties. Every 7 days, be sure to spray the seeds with copper sulfate (2 grams per 10 liters of water) or boric acid (50 grams per bucket of water). If they are absent, you can treat them with potassium permanganate (10 grams per 10 liters). Seed material is planted in the ground on April 25–28. Place several in the hole small potatoes. You can cut large tubers, making sure to leave 2-3 “eyes”. Cutting knives must be treated with potassium permanganate.
To prevent possible frosts, the plot of land is insulated. An air “cushion” is created under the straw, a layer of sawdust, and humus. It not only saves from temperature changes, but also accelerates the plant growth process. Some gardeners use ready-made covering material for these purposes.
The most in a simple way Heavy watering of the area is considered to speed up seed germination warm water every evening. When water freezes, it releases heat, which is what has a beneficial effect on potato growth.
Simply sprinkling the first shoots with a layer of soil (3–4 cm) will also help. In the future, these “mounds” do not need to be leveled.
A month after planting, it is necessary to feed the young plants with ammonium sulfate (25 grams per 1 square meter) or urea (12 grams per 1 square meter).
The second feeding with potassium (50 grams per 10 liters of water) should be carried out during the budding period.
Why are the shoots uneven? The “friendly” appearance of the first shoots is influenced by several aspects:
- planting depth level. The upper layers of the earth are heated more strongly; the deeper the seed material sits, the more time it takes to break through to the surface.
- tuber size at planting. The larger the planting material, the longer it takes for germination.
- mixing varieties. Each variety has its own characteristics. The early ones “break through” faster, but are very susceptible. If at winter storage was violated temperature regime, possibly long and poor-quality ripening.
You can harvest an excellent potato harvest in the fall without special effort. It is necessary to approach competently and methodically preparatory process and follow the recommendations when planting. Grow potatoes for health!
Important agrotechnical processes include preparing potatoes for planting. When a gardener ignores this stage of cultivation and does not take into account the peculiarities of his climatic zone, he has to wait a long time for the first shoots. It is worth taking urgent measures if after a month there are no signs of life on the soil surface. There are several important factors, which determine after how long the potatoes will sprout. These include the gardener’s region of residence, the variety of tubers and, of course, rich life experience.
Temperature indicators
If, after planting potatoes, warm weather, there are no night and morning frosts, then the first shoots will please the owner of the site in three weeks. In order for the tubers to begin to germinate, the temperature around them should not be less than 10°C. The root crop does not begin to produce green shoots in cold soil; the movement of juices in it will slow down until the onset of warmth. During this time, some potato tubers will freeze or go to feed the first spring pests - mole crickets or worms.
When the earth has not yet completely warmed up, but has already arrived, then you should not bury it too much. Optimal hole depth for proper cultivation- 5-6 cm. Even under the weak rays of the April sun, the soil will warm up to the required temperature, and the first shoots will appear in 21-23 days.
Gardeners who plant potatoes in well-warmed soil do not wait long. After 10-14 days, the first leaves hatch between the furrows. When stable warmth quickly sets in after a cold winter, many plot owners make big mistake and begin boarding. The fact is that warming up the soil sun rays it takes some time:
- for northern regions - 2 months or more;
- for southern areas - 4-5 weeks.
Air humidity is of great importance. With a significant concentration of water vapor in the surrounding space, the earth will dry out for a long time. When the air is damp and humid, it is better to delay planting potatoes for several days. Otherwise, all planting material, and with it the first shoots, will become a breeding ground for various types putrefactive bacteria.
Seed quality
You should not wait for early potato shoots if tubers have been planted different sizes and with low-quality sprouts.
What kind of seed material should be:
- each tuber has several large eyes;
- large potatoes, approximately the same size;
- the sprouts are thick, not very long;
- there are no damaged areas or traces of putrefactive processes on the tubers;
- Before planting, potatoes were treated with moderate doses of fungicides.
Each shoot is formed from an eye, so shoots will appear only if they are present. Even one “empty” tuber can ruin the harvest in the hole. Ungerminated seed will become a source of rot or mold. Small nodules will germinate only after 4-5 weeks, but the seedlings will be frail and non-viable. For planting, experienced gardeners recommend choosing potatoes over 40-50 g. The amount of harvest harvested in the summer depends on how much the tubers weigh.
Even in the absence of visible damage, the seed can present unpleasant surprises after germination. It depends on how long the potatoes were stored and under what conditions. Tubers that have been overwintered in airtight bags or boxes are often unsuitable for planting. Seed material is carefully selected in the fall and stored separately from the main harvest. The place for containers should be dark and dry.
You cannot select tubers for planting in spring on a residual basis. In this case, the potatoes will sprout only after 25-30 days, and the sprouts will be weak and overly elongated. A gardener should not expect a rich harvest from such seed.
Sprouts appear on time when all the rules for processing tubers before planting are followed. About a month before the onset of stable heat, the potatoes are sorted, inspected and substandard ones are discarded. Then the seed must be immersed in a solution of any fungicide.
How long does it take to soak:
- medium-sized potatoes - 10-15 minutes;
- large tubers - about half an hour.
Now the tubers need to be spread out in a dry place for ventilation and sprout formation. How long germination takes depends on the air temperature. For proper preparation seed should be provided at 12-15°C.
Only tubers with thick and powerful sprouts are lowered into the holes. The first shoots will sprout in 15-20 days. Potatoes with weak sprouts that look like fragile threads are best discarded. They simply will not be able to break through the soil even a month after the tubers are buried and will begin to rot, putting neighboring tubers at risk of damage.
Often, land owners make a big mistake before planting: they treat the tubers with highly concentrated solutions of pesticides. Toxic substances accumulate in seed material, it takes a very long time to germinate. Mole crickets will not eat such potatoes, but they are absolutely unsuitable for human food. Before using fungicides, it is necessary to dilute exactly the same as recommended in the instructions.
Tricks of gardeners
In the southern regions, plot owners have time to plant and dig up potatoes twice with an interval of 50-60 days. Undoubtedly, a lot depends on the variety and air temperature. But some landing tricks also help. One of them is the application of fertilizers during soil preparation and during the growing process. After deepening the tubers, the soil should be watered with a solution of any complex fertilizer. This will provide the potatoes with the nutrients necessary for growth, and the first green shoots will appear in a couple of weeks.
Potatoes sprout faster when their eyes are facing upward. As it grows, a powerful root system, and there will be few voids in the soil. This planting will speed up the germination of tubers by several days.
After deepening the tubers, the surface of the holes should be mulched with high-moor peat. This will avoid invasion harmful insects, great lovers of the first tender shoots. Mulch will better warm the ground, which is very favorable for early germination. After a few days, it is necessary to carry out the first loosening to ensure the tubers fresh air. After this, the sprouts will appear much faster, even thin and frail ones, initially unsuitable for planting, will sprout.
When a varietal mixture is used, potato germination may vary. Early species will germinate after 10-15 days, while later species are characterized by longer formation of sprouts.
What is the average time for emergence of seedlings:
- for southern regions - 10-14 days;
- for middle latitudes - 2-3 weeks;
- for northern regions - about a month.
How long should I wait for germination if germination time is significantly delayed? Experts say that if after 1.5 months of waiting green leaves do not appear, then you should not expect a harvest. The reason for this may be poor seed material or rotting tubers. The next time a landing is carried out, it is necessary to take into account all the errors.
