Some gardeners and summer residents are interested in why, with seemingly good care, potatoes give a bad harvest? All necessary traditional feeding and irrigation methods are used, good plot and soil selected, and the results could be better. It turns out that there are several main reasons for a poor potato crop. Try to eliminate them and the harvested crop will definitely please.
Not enough varieties
Many people choose late varieties for planting in order to harvest potatoes that will keep well in the winter. Even if you have several varieties growing in your garden, but all of them are late ripening, this does not guarantee a good result. During the summer, the weather can change several times from very hot to cold. This is reflected in early, middle and late potato varieties.
Hot and dry weather is not conducive to a good harvest. Therefore, in case of drought at the end of summer, late varieties will lose out, and in case of rainy and cool weather at the beginning of the season, early ripening varieties will win.
From this it is necessary to conclude that potatoes on the site should be planted with different ripening periods.
Poor quality planting material
Experienced gardeners recommend a variety renewal every five years. You can use new seeds or buy new and elite varieties of tubers. Or you can update it yourself. It is carried out in several ways:
- Can grow potatoes for planting from new seeds
- Small potatoes can be grown from selected large tubers
- Potato cuttings and potato sprouts are great material for growing mini tubers
- Use the tops of the tubers for the formation of planting material
The mistake of summer residents is often that they select potatoes for planting, not taking into account the health of the bush and not knowing the amount of harvest from it. The age and health of the acquired planting material in general remains a mystery. And the same planting potato loses its best qualities every next year. That is why varieties need to be changed and renewed.
Lack of crop rotation
The potato yield will deteriorate every year if the planting site is not changed. The earth will be depleted, more and more harmful organisms and pests will accumulate in it.
It is worth abandoning field plantings of potatoes and trying to grow it in your garden, taking into account the alternation of vegetable crops.
Note to gardeners!
Plant potatoes in beds that have had cabbage, cucumber, beetroot, or pumpkin last season. There will not be a good harvest of potatoes in the area where sunflowers or tomatoes grew.
Garlic, radish, sorrel, onion, corn and lettuce will not interfere with potatoes as neighbors. "Bad" neighbors will be - an apple tree, cucumbers and tomatoes, celery and pumpkin.
Depleted soil
Potatoes are the vegetable that has the largest planting area because they are our staple national food.But few people think about the proper care of this area. The soil under this crop most often resembles a desert. Dried earth cracks from lack of moisture. And moisture is very necessary for potatoes. If there is no opportunity for fertilization and frequent watering for various reasons, then mulching the soil will come to the rescue.
The easiest and most convenient way is to cut all the weeds in this area and use them as mulch. The roots left in the ground will serve as food for beneficial organisms in the soil. And such organic mulch will maintain humidity for a long time and save you from additional watering. It will also serve as an environmentally friendly and safe fertilizer in the future.
Deep landing
Planting material at a depth of about fifteen centimeters will not feel safe. In the spring, the earth does not yet warm up to such a depth, and the amount of oxygen penetrates so deeply in minimal quantities. For these reasons, tuber sprouts often die or are affected by various diseases. As a result, a decrease in yield.
Simultaneous planting of all varieties
First of all, you need to plant early ripening potato varieties. They are not afraid of cold spring soil. But for middle and late varieties, a well-warmed earth is vital (about + 10 ... + 14 degrees). If it is cold, the growth of potato roots will be delayed. Therefore, do not plant all varieties of potatoes at the same time.
Inappropriate landing method
The method of planting potatoes should be appropriate for the soil available on the site. If the climate is hot and the soil is sandy (or cold climates and loamy soil), then the usual smooth planting method will not bring a good harvest. Planting in organic trenches is ideal for this climate and soil.
In the fall, such trenches are filled with the remains of various plants - weeds, vegetable tops, hay, fallen leaves, even paper and food waste. Then sprinkle with a small layer of earth and leave until spring. Before planting potatoes in the trenches, any organic fertilizing is applied to protect against diseases and harmful organisms. Potatoes grown in this way will provide a significant increase in yield.
For those areas where the soil consists almost entirely of clay or is located in wetlands, it is recommended to use the ridge planting of potatoes.
