Correct cultivation of potatoes in a barrel and from seeds

Potatoes are our second bread, so every gardener, even on a small plot, tries to grow it. All the materials at hand are used for this: straw, bags and even barrels. Consider growing potatoes in a barrel and from seeds.

Pros of planting potatoes in a barrel

This method growing potatoes quite simple and therefore arouses great interest.

• this method of planting requires less physical strength when leaving: there is no need for loosening, weeding and hilling.
• The yield increases.
• Water is significantly saved, because moisture penetrates directly to the roots.

Potatoes in a barrel: growing process

To plant potatoes, we need a barrel with a volume of at least seven liters, but not more than 100 liters. It is advisable to remove the bottom of the barrel or drill larger holes.

In its walls, we drill holes of 2 cm and at a distance of 20 cm from each other, not reaching the top of the 20 cm barrel (for the convenience of watering and adding soil, as it will settle).

We put the barrel where we like in the light, but not in the sun... As drainage, it is possible to use small branches (cuttings from the garden), leaves (but not tops), rotted boards and compost.

1. The first layer of earth is filled in (10 cm). It is required to add rotted manure (1: 1) and ash to it;
2. A layer of straw or grass is laid, so you can avoid compaction of the soil and fill it with additional nutrients;
3. Is done again filling a small layer of earth;
4. If the barrel is tall, then a perforated tube must be placed in it, but it must be plugged in to supply water and power.

Expected yield

If the technology of growing in a barrel is observed, the yield can be very good, it all depends on the size of the barrel and the quality of the planting material.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

pros:

• a decrease in the area for digging, hilling, weeding leads to a decrease in the effect of pests on plants

Minuses:

• you need to constantly monitor the soil moisture in the barrel,
• do not allow green mass to appear until the barrel is filled with soil

Alternative cultivation methods

There is multiple methods:

• growing in bags
• in the straw
• in a barrel
• in the greenhouse
• by Dutch technology

Growing potatoes in bags is similar to growing in barrels, but you need to drill more holes in the bottom of the bag and sides.

Growing in straw

Grow potatoes easy in the straw, no need to dig the soil, it is loosened, watered and healthy tubers are laid directly on the ground, it is possible in pits or grooves, covered with a thick (15 cm) layer of straw.

After the sprouts appear, sprinkle with a 10 cm layer of straw again, and so several times when sprouts appear, only the straw layer is not higher than 40 cm.

Further care is not required. The crop is harvested by lifting the straw.

In the greenhouse

There are several advantages to this method of growing potatoes:

⦁ You will get an earlier and larger harvest than when grown outdoors.

⦁ crops will be less exposed to the invasion of different insects.

⦁ you will receive an environmentally friendly product.

In the spring, you need to select the tubers and germinate them in a warm and lighted place. It is best to take early varieties. As soon as sprouts appear, they must be planted at a distance of 30 cm. After a week, the earth must be covered again with a small layer of organic matter and earth.

Planted tubers do not need to be watered for three weeks, covering the planting with foil. As soon as shoots have appeared, it should be removed.

Lack of a greenhouse - the air and soil dry up in the heat. Therefore, it is required to moisten the entire surface of the greenhouse. The evaporated water will cool the air and hydrate the plants. Often it is necessary to ventilate and treat pests.

Dutch technology

A feature of this technique is the aeration of the earth. In order for the soil to breathe, the Dutch loosen it, leave a considerable distance between the rows, and try to plant the potatoes themselves in the ridges.

Strict cultivation technology implementation:

• only varietal material
• fertilization of the soil
• tillage in autumn and spring
• application chemical fertilizers and herbicides
• germination
• spring feeding with urea
• ridges should be strictly located from north to south, at a distance of 75cm
• embedment depth 6cm
• in the holes you need fill ashes, then sprinkle it with a small layer of soil
• Plant the cut potatoes in the holes so that the sprout is at the top
• formation of ridges up to 10cm high

Water should be 3 times per season:

• before flowering begins
• during flowering
• 10 days after the end of flowering

Seed potatoes

How to prepare seeds for planting

Before proceeding with sowing, the seeds must be soaked in water, with potassium permanganate. To make them germinate faster, they are heated in a humid environment, at a temperature of 42C - 10 minutes, or at a temperature of 35-37C - 6 hours. And also harden, on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.

Growing from seed: a step-by-step process

Gardeners often turn to seeds, which are cheaper than buying elite tubers. It is possible to store seeds anywhere, their shelf life is about 10 years.

Purchase of seeds

Seed collection

When the potatoes ripen and berries are formed on the bush, fruits must be collected and decomposed for ripening... Ripe berries become soft. They are crushed, left for a couple of days, then washed on a sieve and dried. Store seeds in a dry place.

Seedless way

Berasadny method is used mainly in the South. The soil is loosened well. Rows are prepared at a distance of 70 cm, well watered. The seeding depth is 0.5cm-1cm.

When 2 true leaves appear and close together, the seedlings are thinned out and leave a distance of 20 cm from each other.When the seeds germinate, they are loosened, watered, fertilized and mulched.

They are very carefully dig outso as not to damage. Small tubers - sets, are left for planting next year. And if you take good care of it, you can get 250kg - 350kg from one hundred square meters for 5 years.

Seedling method

Growing seedlings occurs in the same way as for seedlings of tomatoes and peppers, only the potato seeds are smaller and the seedlings are very fragile, so they try not to dive the seedlings.

Planting in open ground

In May, we plant seedlings in open ground, at the age of a month. A week before planting, it is necessary to provide fertilizing with nitrogen (20g - 30g of urea, a matchbox without a top, for 10 liters of water).

Features of growing from seeds at home

The resulting planting material is usually healthy, but young seedlings can be susceptible to disease and damage by pests. For this reason, the potatoes need to be protected.

Diseases dangerous for seedlings

Of the diseases, they often affect fusarium, late blight, scab, cancer, root and tuber rot and etc.

Pests dangerous for seedlings

The most dangerous pests are Colorado potato beetle, bear, fluorimea and others... Aphids, in addition to damaging the tops of potatoes, are also considered a carrier of viruses for which no cure has yet been found.

• biological products for diseases: trichodermin, phytosporin, rhizoplan. It is possible for the latter to process the plant a couple of days before harvesting.
• biological products for removing pests: bikolantsy, fitoverm, agravertin and others.

Cleaning

After the tops have dried, we start harvesting the sevka. The potato seed is small, for this reason you need to carefully dig it out. Even 10g of material can provide an excellent harvest next year.

Dug tubers dry in a consecrated place (shed, garage, shed and other utility rooms) for five days, sorting by fractions is performed, put in paper bags and bookmarked for storage in the basement.

So laborious and troublesome, but also pleasant, if everything is done correctly and on time, is the work of a home breeder, the result of which will be good potato yields for the next 6-7 years.

The difference between growing from seed and from seed to seedling

The difference lies in the following points.

Weather

When grown as seeds in soil, there is a danger that the seeds due to cold or hot weather, heavy rainfall or droughts simply will not rise, or will rise very rarely.

Pests

Saplings need constant pest control.

Diseases

Again constant control, only not from pests, but from diseases that lie in wait at every step, these are fusarium, late blight, scab, rot, viral diseases, etc. It is necessary to select and use the right drugs.

• correct use of fertilizers and dressings, so as not to harm
• proper care and watering
• correct harvest, dig up so as not to damage the nodules

Landing

Almost everything that is listed in planting seeds in the ground applies to planting seeds in a seedling way. The only difference in planting seeds is not in the ground, but in boxes, which are more protected from weather conditions, because located indoors, or in a greenhouse, but not outdoors.

What are potato elite and super elite

What is the elitism of tubers? Large seed-growing companies have their own laboratories, where specialists cultivate clean, disease-free micro-tubers.

For 5 years carried out passing variety five stages of formation... From the elite, you can get a harvest a couple of times larger than that of an ordinary varietal.

Difficulties in growing potatoes from seeds

It is worth listing the main difficulties and features in growing potatoes from seeds:

• germination of seeds. Seeds up to 2 years old are able to germinate sooner.
• poor root formation
• without constant use of biological products, seedlings may die
• the seedlings are small and fragile and must be transplanted very carefully.

Features of caring for seed potatoes

Selected seed potatoes should be washedto remove pests. After several washes, dry the tubers in a dark place and leave for 2 weeks, preventing germination.

Storage temperature, humidity are considered to be an important factor in the storage of seed potatoes. The temperature in the basement must be in the range of 2-4 C until February. And from the end of the month, the temperature is increased to 12-15 C, the humidity is 70-80%.

Temperature change shortens the rest period, and tubers are able to germinate faster.

Potatoes are stored in separate boxes or boxes. Compliance with the storage conditions for seed material contributes to a high yield!

Growing potatoes with seeds provides an opportunity to carry out your own selection and select the potatoes with the highest yield, disease and pest resistance.