Ways to Grow Potatoes Successfully
- An introduction to Potato
- Suitable Climate for Potato Growing
- Soil Requirements
- Methods of Growing Potatoes
- Weed Control
- Irrigation
- Control of Pests and Diseases
- Harvesting
Introduction to Potato
Potato (Solanum Tuberosum) is an annual plant in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It is grown for its starchy edible tubers.
The potato is native to Peruvian-Bolivian Andes and is one of the world’s main food crops. Potatoes are thought to have been independently domesticated several times. Potatoes were largely cultivated in South America by the Incas as early as 1,800 years ago. Spaniards introduced Potatoes into Europe during the second half of the 16th century. By the end of the 17th century the plant was a major crop in Ireland, and by the end of the 18th century it was a major crop in continental Europe, particularly Germany, and in the west of England. It continued to spread, in both Western and Eastern hemispheres, during the first four decades of the 19th century.
Potato is an important food source. Any number of culinary ingredients exist from region to region. Potato is considered an essential crop in Europe. There has been rapid expansion in consumption and production of potato in southern and eastern Asia. China and India lead the world in overall productions.
Suitable Climate
Potatoes like cooler temperatures and low rainfall. Sowing temperature of around 15 – 25 Centigrade and harvesting time temperature around 14 – 20 Centigrade is very conducive to potato growing. Potato is considered as a cool weather crop. Vegetative growth of potato is good under 24-degree Celsius of temperature and for tuber growth 20-degree Celsius of temperature is suitable.
Soil Requirements
A large variety of soils like loamy soil, sandy loam, slit loam and clay soil are all suitable for potato farming. Soil should be loose so that it can offer less resistance to the enlargement of tubers. Soil needs to be fertile and well drained. Acidic soil of pH of 4.8 to 5.4 is very suitable for potato cultivation.
Methods Of Growing Potatoes
Land Preparation
Well pulverized bed should be prepared by ploughing land once up to 20-25 cm deep. Take two or three harrowing after ploughing operation. Soil should leveled by planking operation for one to two times. Maintain sufficient moisture in soil before sowing. Two methods are widely used for planting, 1) Ridge and furrow method 2) Flat Bed method.
Sowing
Depending upon whether the farmer wishes early or late production, sowing would be done from late September to end of October. This would provide the required temperature for sowing. For spring growing, January 2nd or 3rd week is indicated.
Spacing
General usage farmers may keep a distance of around 20 cm between tubers and a distance of 60 cm between ridges. This can be achieve by manual or mechanical means depending on choice and availability. The tuber distance can be reduced if size of same is smaller. Place the tuber around 5 to 8 cm deep. Keep the eye of the tuber pointing up.
Seed treatment
Ensure seed potato is from a reliable source, is healthy and disease free. Allow the tubers to have some sprouts growing. Dip in Gibberalic acid @ 1gm/10 liter water for increased production. Treat seed potatoes with Bavistin or Mancozeb solution for about ten minutes for disease avoidance.
Fertilizer
The soil should be got tested by a reliable soil test laboratory. Depending on result, the total fertilizer to be applied is around 156 kg/acre of Urea, 150 kg/acre of Single Super Phosphate and around 50 kg of Murate of Potash suitably amended as per soil report.
Before sowing of tubers, farmers should give Farm Yard Manure. Apply half of nitrogen and full Phosphate and Potash at time of sowing. Apply the rest half of nitrogen about a month after sowing.
Earthing up
Earth up around the plants as the tuber plants begin to grow up. The soil is drawn up around base of plant for better development of tubers.
Spray 13:0:45 @ 2kg per acre, fungicide, Humic acid, DAP in vegetative state.
Weed control
A well prepared land should normally have very less incidence of weeds. Hand weeding may be sufficient. Apply weedicides after sowing and before sprouts emerge – app 2 liters per acre in case of necessity. Farmers may use mulching which will minimize weed infestation and would also conserve moisture. Paddy straws are good for mulching. Remove this mulch after 25 – 30 days.
How to Irrigate
Irrigate the beds lightly; avoid flood irrigation. Farmers should irrigate after checking moisture in the soil beds. Stop irrigating before harvesting time.
Control Of Pests And Diseases
- Aphids: frequent checking of foliage for infestation. Use Imidi @ 5 ml/15 liter.
- Cut Worms: feed at night, difficult to control. Use chlorpyriphos 20%EC @ 2 ml/liter. Apply Phorate granules also.
- Potato Tuber Moth: makes tunnel in potato and feeds on flesh. Chosehealthy and disease free seed potatoes as a preventive measure. Spray carbaryl @1gm per liter of water.
- Early Blight: spray M45 or Copper oxychloride at 3gm per liter of water – repeat as necessary.
- Common Scab: spreads rapidly in moist conditions. Prevention is best cure. Treat seeds with Emisan/ M45/Bavistin/Tilt before sowing.
- Bacterial Soft Rot: infected tubers show soft, reddish spots. Prevention is best cure.
Harvesting Your Potatoes
Undertake harvesting when majority of leaves have turned yellow brown and fallen to ground. Cut foliage at base. Harvest Potatoes after two weeks. Spread the fresh potatoes on ground and allow them to dry in shade for 10 to 15 days for curing of skin.
We always seek views of our readers. Did you find it useful ? Would you like to give more insight into the subject. Comments welcome.
Look at image below. How many mistakes have been made by grower?
Hi ; I have had opportunity to travel widely and have keen watched whatever farming practices the local farmers were engaged in. Back home been growing gerberas mostly in polyhouses, but outside in kitchen garden as well. i love these hardy perennials. good for business too if done in a routine orderly scientific manner. Also engaged in farming of wheat and organic vegetables on a small scale for me and family. My service profile has been that of an electronic and telecom engineer and now am engaged in web site creation and blogging.
Leave a Reply