The classic way: how to plant

There are many ways of planting potatoes: under straw in a vegetable garden without hassle, a method that has been invented and successfully used by supporters of natural farming. No less original options for planting in bags, a pit, a barrel.

Consider the classic method of growing potatoes under straw, which is used by most summer residents.

Let's decide where to start and how the process goes step by step.

Preparing the soil for the winter

We begin to prepare the ground in the fall... Sow rye by removing vegetables and clearing the area of ​​plant waste. Harrow the seeds with a rake. Winter rye will sprout quickly. It does not need to be removed for the winter, as it will continue to grow in the spring.

It is estimated that before sowing potatoes, rye in a 10 x 10 m plot grows about 200 kg of green mass. Pros you get by sowing rye in autumn:

• the percentage of pests and pathogens of vegetable crops is reduced in the ground;
• the amount of weed is reduced;
• green mass embedded in the ground, serves as an excellent fertilizer.

How to properly prepare planting material

March is coming - the time to prepare seed potatoes. Inspection is the first thing to do. Discard potatoes showing signs of infection. Leave healthy seeds about the size of a chicken egg.

Prepare a solution of pink potassium permanganate. Hold the tubers in it (15-20 minutes), dry, put in boxes. If there is sawdust, then on wet sawdust.

Three weeks boxes should stand in a bright room... The optimum air temperature for germination is from 5 to 15 ° C. During this time, the tubers should turn green and be covered with strong sprouts. Sprouts that do not exceed 12 cm in length are considered good.

Preparing hay and straw

You can use hay, dry lawn grass. In general, it contains more nutrients.

Used straw that has not been quail last season can be used successfully. Before storage, it is well dried, and covered for the winter. Weeds sprout by the 10th of May.

Planting potatoes

Loosen the top layer of the earth, embedding rye in the ground. Outline the rows. Maintain a row spacing of 60 cm.

• Make shallow grooves (8 cm) in the ground for storing potatoes.
• Arrange the tubers in them, observing a step of 30 cm.
• Cover the grooves with a layer of straw (20 cm).
• For spring tillage, you will need a Fokin flat cutter or a hand cultivator.

If the weather is dry, before placing the potatoes furrows can be watered.

Disadvantages of the method

There are few disadvantages, but they are, you need to know them:

• potatoes turn green if the mulch layer is thin;
• for growing potatoes a large field needs a lot of straw;
• rodents can start.

Alternative method of growing under straw

Sprinkle the tubers with earth - this is the main thing that distinguishes the alternative method from the classical method.

In the area allocated for potatoes, holes are formed (8 cm). The step is 30 cm, the distance between the rows is 60 cm. Potatoes are laid out in them, sprinkled with earth and the entire area is covered with a layer of straw (25 cm).

Lay out the tubers carefully, without damaging the sprouts. Make sure they look up.

Minimum straw to plant

Fitting into a comb will reduce material consumption at times. Ridges are formed first. The height of the ridge is 10 cm, the width is 20 cm. The holes are made in the ridge. The tubers are covered with a layer of earth and straw, which is placed between the ridges.

Less straw is needed with this planting method, but the tubers do not turn green, moisture in the ground remains, weeds germinate more slowly and in smaller quantities.

How to grow with cardboard and straw

Household cardboard, boxes for household appliances are made of it, suitable for planting potatoes. They need to cover the entire area of ​​the ridge. Make cruciform cuts on cardboard before laying on the ground.

You will need a clerical knife. Holes place at intervals of 30 cm both in a row and between rows. The process of planting potatoes consists in carefully placing the tubers in the holes and covering the “cardboard” ridge with straw.

Features of harvesting

Instead of a shovel, a rake is needed, with which it is quite easy to rake the old mulch from the ridge. All that remains is to harvest the crop. The tubers lie almost on the surface.

From one nest you can get at least 12 potatoes... The tubers are clean, large, rarely affected by diseases and therefore are well stored in winter.

Pros and cons of planting under straw

The method provides significant savings in time for care, since there is no need for hilling, loosening, weeding.

Consider other positive aspects, those that will convince you to use the method of planting under straw:

1. There is no need to dig deep into the ground, this preserves its fertility and reduces the time and effort spent on preparing the site for planting.
2. The need for watering decreases, since the mulch retains moisture well, interferes with its evaporation.
3. The population of the Colorado potato beetle is noted to be declining. The culture under the hay suffers from the Colorado potato beetle less often and to a lesser extent.
4. Wet hay melts, decomposes, releases nutrients necessary for the growth and formation of tubers.

It is necessary to evaluate the cons - the costs of this technology... The main disadvantage is the volume that a gardener needs to have at hand throughout the season.

It is clear what the lack of it can lead to. A large percentage will turn green.

Such potatoes are not eaten, they are used only as seed. Rodents living in the straw can spoil part of the crop. The fight against them must be included in the care of the plantation.

Straw planting options

Hay used for planting back in the old days... The climate and soil are different everywhere, so there are several ways of planting according to our method:

• classic planting method with soil cultivation;
• off-road landing;
• ridge landing;
• relatively new method using cardboard.

Using the method in the garden without the hassle

There is a correct experience of using dry reed stalks for growing on ridges, which shows:

• The use of hay gives an increase in the fertile layer. This is facilitated by cellulose (fiber). She - food for soil microorganismsthat process it, while carbon is released - a source of energy and life for plants and all living things that are in the upper fertile layer.
• To provide a family with potatoes, it is not necessary to plant a field. Several ridges on an area of ​​3 x 3 m are capable of providing a family of 3-4 people with potatoes.
• According to statistics, one bucket of seed variety planted under straw yields up to 10 buckets.

Plus technology - next year you can plant melons, carrots, beets or cabbage in this place. Crop rotation will be respected... When planting potatoes, the soil will receive an additional supply of nutrients.

Technology description: under straw

The essence of the planting technology for hay is to replace the soil with which the tubers are covered with the traditional method, with a mulch layer of any dry grass.

It will take several times to throw a ridge of potatoes. The first time - in the spring when planting, several times - during the summer. This is necessary for two reasons: the hay overheats and the layer becomes thinner, the potatoes grow and require additional cover.

This is how the potato bush fully develops. Large tubers are formed on it. This is possible because mulch:

• overcooking, provides the plant with the nutrients necessary for growth;
• retains moisture;
• inhibits the growth of weeds;
• protects tubers from sun rays and overheating.

If you are not sure of success, you can try the method for hay, which has received a second life, on a small ridge. If the result is convincing, the area of ​​the experiment for the next season can be increased.