Until what date is it better to plant potatoes and what are the deadlines?

It should be noted that favorable days for planting potatoes depend primarily not on the calendar date, but on the year that turned out to be. Sometimes spring is early, the earth warms up quickly, even the flowering of plants is ahead of the usual time. Sometimes, on the contrary, frosts last until the end of May, dampness and lack of solar heat do not allow starting planting work longer than usual. Therefore, gardeners and summer residents tie the timing of their work to the calendar very conditionally, focusing on a variety of signs of the optimal time.

How to avoid missing out on optimal timing

Planting time directly affects the yield of this crop. If you plant potatoes too early, you can get frost-damaged seedlings, with excessive moisture, the potato gets sick, as a result of which the conceived one dies altogether. In the case when the most suitable date is missed and the potatoes are planted too late, there is a risk of losing part of the crop due to too dry soil during planting.

Planting time also depends on the region. As you know, in different regions warm weather sets in at different times. In the central part of Russia, potatoes are traditionally planted in mid-May, in the eastern regions - at the end of the month or even in June, depending on the depth of soil warming. To determine the optimal time, it is worth knowing that the earth should warm up to +7^aboutFrom to a depth of about 10 cm. There are places where such indicators are observed only in June or July. It can be very difficult to grow potatoes in such regions.

It is possible to determine the readiness of the soil for planting potatoes visually, in other words, "by eye". There are also a number of correct signs that help summer residents navigate in time.

In order to determine a suitable date for planting, you should pay attention to the following signs:

• various insects, worms have awakened and are actively swarming in the soil;
• dandelions bloom;
• small leaves appeared on the birch;
• the bird cherry blossomed.

As a rule, all these signs appear at about the same time - at the end or second half of May. However, there is such a thing as "bird cherry cold". This period falls on the blooming bird cherry and is characterized by a sharp drop in air temperature. This does not mean that frost will surely come, it may be cool, but the soil will retain the desired level of heat. If frosts hit, and this also happens, then some of the planting can be lost. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and study all available sources that report the weather forecast.

By the way, you can also do this in order to find out at what time the rain is expected. Precipitation is quite common in May. Of course, no one will plant potatoes during the rain, but time does not stand still, and the best time can simply be missed. Therefore, it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question of what date is better to plant potatoes. Finding the best time is a constant balance between climatic and weather conditions.

Sometimes it happens that the rain that began at the end of May continues with minor interruptions in June and July. If the circumstances are this way, then this is an extremely unfavorable environment for growing potatoes, since the tubers of this culture are prone to decay with excess moisture. There is nothing you can do about it, you just need to understand that in such conditions a bountiful harvest can not be expected.

Dependence of the result on the planting time

In this case, it is not even about the amount of the crop, which is influenced by a correctly defined planting time, but about other features. Some do not grow potatoes on a large scale, but plant a little, in order to try young potatoes in July. It is not even the quantity of the crop that is important here, but its presence in principle. Therefore, if you want to get the result in the middle of summer, you need to plant the tubers in April. A more or less suitable date when the first potatoes are planted is the second half of the month. Of course, this is possible if we are talking about the central and southern regions of the country, since in other regions it will hardly be possible to plant this crop before the end of May or even in June.

To grow potatoes for storage, they should still be planted taking into account the traditional requirements described above. Primarily because this is done for practical reasons. The harvest should be plentiful, and the tubers should reach a condition at which they will be able to stay in the cellar until spring. Therefore, it is recommended to plant potatoes en masse not earlier than the second half of May, as a last resort, if the year is very cold, and spring is late, in June. If the date was chosen correctly, the seedlings will appear in less than a month.

Selection and preparation of tubers

Of course, it is very important to correctly determine the time when it is necessary to plant potatoes, but it is equally important to choose its variety. There are many varieties of this culture, each of which has certain characteristics, requirements for conditions, ripening period, etc. You can always choose the most suitable one for growing in a particular region, even if the climate does not differ in particular warmth or abundance of sun. There are varieties of early ripeness or late ripening, you can plant both of them, while harvesting as the tubers ripen.

It is recommended to plant several varieties of potatoes at the same time, since each of them can end up with a different number of tubers. It is not worth planting the same variety from year to year, it is better to try new options, exchange planting material with someone, you can from time to time purchase varieties imported from other regions or even countries. The more choice, the better the result. For example, early ripening varieties planted at the end of April can begin to be tried in July, and the late ones that were planted in the second half of May are perfect for storage for the winter.

Advice

Rotted manure can be poured between the rows of potatoes during planting, this will greatly increase the yield.

Tubers intended for planting must meet the following main requirements:

• the tuber is firm, without signs of decay;
• the presence of small primordia, or "eyes";
• primordia greenish, not dry or rotten;
• the buds are not too long (the possibility of breakage during planting is excluded);
• tubers are not too small and not huge (a large tuber can be cut, but so that rudiments are preserved on each piece).

The preparation of tubers does not require much effort, the main thing is to achieve pecking of the "eyes". To do this, it is enough to place the potatoes in a well-lit place for a couple of weeks. Then, when the time is right for planting, plant the tubers in the ground. The landing site should be as open as possible and well lit by the sun.

It is better to plant tubers in a checkerboard pattern, this saves space and allows you to more comfortably handle the bushes. Caring for potatoes during the growth period is watering, hilling and spraying from pests. Potatoes also suffer from various diseases, such as late blight. There are two fairly effective prevention methods here. First, it is necessary to carefully clean the area from which the potatoes were harvested, destroying the remains of tops and tubers. On the decaying remains of both, foci of various diseases develop.Secondly, it is worth choosing a variety that is resistant to this disease, especially if the problem already exists.

Even the smallest crop rotation can double the yield of potatoes. If there are not so many options for choosing a place, you should at least alternate two of them, planting potatoes on one, something else on the other. Swap the next year.

It's worth trying and experimenting anyway. Growing potatoes is such a common practice that you can always ask someone for advice or planting material. A product grown on your site is always a great joy. It is both healthier and tastier than what you bought. And with large planting volumes, it also allows you to significantly save money, since you will not have to go to the store for the potatoes, but to the cellar. If you follow all the tips, choose the right potato variety and planting date, the result will definitely delight the gardener.