When to plant potatoes?

Potatoes are one of the most beloved vegetables of our compatriots, it is no coincidence that many owners of suburban areas are engaged in its cultivation. This is a simple matter, however, in order to achieve active plant formation, it is necessary to accurately calculate the optimal timing for planting it in open ground. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the natural and climatic factors of each individual region, the varietal characteristics of the culture and many other nuances.

It is impossible to indicate the exact date of planting potatoes - it largely depends on weather factors. If the spring is prolonged, then the soil will thaw later. If she came early, the risk of recurrent frosts cannot be ruled out, in this case, frost can destroy young shoots.

The main marker of the beginning of planting is the state of the earth.... Potato tubers contain a large amount of moisture, therefore, they cannot be planted in cold, frozen ground - the growing processes will simply stop. Planting should be done after the substrate warms up to 8–12 degrees to a depth of 9–10 m. At the same time, the average daily temperature should be stable at around 15–18 degrees. In this weather it is already warm, but the moisture has not had time to evaporate, and the soil is well moistened.

In every region of Russia, when planting potatoes, you need to focus on the average weather indicators. So, in Siberia, especially in its western part, where the climate is quite mild, you can plant tubers in the first decade of May, in Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and other cities of Eastern Siberia - in the end of the month. In Novosibirsk and nearby regions, it is advisable to carry out sowing in the first half of June. At the same time, you need to understand that these dates are set approximately, the most important thing is that the weather is comfortable for the germination of seedlings.

Ural region aboutIt is characterized by a temperate climate. However, in spring, night frosts often occur here, and warm days are replaced by cold ones - this has a most detrimental effect on the development of fragile bushes. To minimize risks, it is better to plan potato planting in the first ten days of June. If the tubers are found in the soil earlier, it is necessary to cover the bed with a film or agrofibre during the cooling period.

Planting tubers in the middle lane, including in the suburbs, can be produced as early as mid-May. As a rule, the ground and air at this time are already completely warmed up.

In the Kuban and in other southern regions, where it gets warmer early, potatoes can be planted in the first half of April. By that time, in this natural and climatic zone, the snow has already melted, the earth is sufficiently humidified, and the air is well warmed up - this creates optimal conditions for the germination of tubers. However, it must be borne in mind that if the temperature exceeds 28 degrees, then germination will slow down significantly. To preserve the crop in such cases, plants require abundant and frequent watering.

Crimea - a truly fertile area for any vegetable grower. Thanks to the mild climate, site owners can harvest potatoes twice. The optimal period for planting work is the end of March - the first ten days of April, in this case the first vegetables have time to ripen even before the invasion of the Colorado potato beetle. The second sowing occurs in mid-July - then the harvest of ripe potatoes can be harvested in late September - early October.

The situation is different in Leningrad region... Summer does not last long there, besides it is quite cool, and there are periodic jumps in temperature. It is ineffective to cultivate potatoes there. Most often, early ripening varieties are planted in this area and tubers are determined in the ground in early May.

In the south of Ukraine, the timing of planting potatoes depends on varietal characteristics... For early-maturing species, sowing work can be carried out at the end of March, for all others - in the first half of April. In the southeastern region, the first and second ten days of April will be the optimal period for planting potatoes. In Transcarpathia, potatoes grow and develop best of all, submerged in the ground in mid-April.

Vegetable growers in southwestern Belarus plant tubers at the end of April... During the same period, they are engaged in planting in the Central and Eastern parts of Ukraine, as well as in the north-east of Belarus. The heat comes to the west of Ukraine later than everyone else, so the potatoes are determined there in the ground in mid-May.

Since ancient times, the farmers of Europe and Asia have been guided by the lunar phases when sowing. It is believed that the satellite of the Earth has an effect on plants, affects their growth rate, health and fertility. The different position of the heavenly body relative to our planet can affect the yield both positively and negatively. It is noticed that the vital juices of green crops during the waning moon stage flow down the stem and are sent to the roots. On the Growing Moon, the situation is the opposite - the energy of young plants flows upward from the roots.

The Full Moon and New Moon periods are considered tipping points. At this time, the plants are quite vulnerable, so handling them should be as careful as possible.

To get a rich harvest, it is advisable to plan all planting work taking into account the biopotential of plants. This means that for crops with a developed aboveground part, especially for fruit trees and shrubs, the growth of the earth's satellite is a positive period. For any root crops, including potatoes, it is better to plan planting in the interval when the Celestial Luminary decreases. The same time is favorable for feeding plants, weeding and destroying pests.

You need to understand - the moon really has a noticeable impact on our planet. It causes the ebb and flow, determines the dynamics of atmospheric pressure. However, today science has not yet revealed all the mechanisms of such interaction, therefore, there is no reason to assert the advisability of using the lunar calendar when carrying out sowing work. No scientific research has been carried out in this regard, so planting potatoes on this basis is a personal matter for each grower.

To get young potatoes in the summer, it is best to plant early-maturing varieties. For winter storage, mid- and late-ripening varieties are laid.In this case, the calculation of the planting time should be based on the growing season, depending on the varietal characteristics, it varies from 40 to 140 days.

Ultra-early varieties give a harvest in 45-60 days, with favorable weather factors, the first root crops can be harvested in a month. These include Biogold, Lady Claire, Colombo and Meteor. Such potatoes are planted in the ground in mid-April, while it is desirable already in a germinated form.

Early varieties - the growing season is 70–80 days. This category includes the varieties "Ariel", "Alena", "Bellarosa", "Vesna", "Impala", "Nevsky" and "Romano". Such varieties are planted in mid-April, when the soil is heated to 8-10 degrees.

Mid-season varieties - the time from planting to harvest takes 100-120 days... The laying of such potatoes in the ground is carried out in the last decade of May. Distinctive features of such varieties are a large yield, as well as exceptional taste characteristics of root crops. Most often, this group includes the varieties "Rosara", "Sante" and "Slavyanka".

Late varieties - you can get a harvest of such potatoes 120–130 days after the tubers were laid in the soil. The latter is usually carried out in mid-April.

The rate of growth and development of the fruits of planted potatoes depends not only on the variety and weather factors, but also on the sowing technology.

1. In the greenhouse... In greenhouses, potatoes are planted at the very end of February, in which case the first crop can be obtained as early as mid-May. If a greenhouse is used, then in areas with a cold climate, it is possible to lay tubers in the soil in the month of April.
2. Under the straw. This is an original technique for growing potatoes, it involves protecting young plants from recurrent frost using straw. This mulch acts as an organic shelter. Planting potatoes in this way usually corresponds to the last days of April - early May. However, it should be remembered that young shoots form slowly under the straw, so this method is used relatively early and mid-season potatoes. Growing late varieties will be ineffective. Also keep in mind that grass is not suitable for sheltering this crop, as the tubers under it will turn green.
3. In an open area. In this case, the sowing work is carried out taking into account the ripeness of the variety, the climatic characteristics of the planting region and weather factors - we talked about this in more detail above. On average, this period corresponds to May - the first half of June.
4. Seedlings... Seedling technology for planting potatoes involves laying seed in the soil in March. Then, by the beginning of June, young plants will be sufficiently strong, and it will be possible to move them to a permanent site.

Our ancestors believed that the cultivation of any crop depends on the time of planting relative to Easter, Easter week, Radonitsa, Krasnaya Gorka, St. Nicholas Day and other church dates. In those days there were no agronomists, and vegetable growing as a science did not stand out separately. Therefore, the traditions of growing crops were passed on from one generation to the next. At the same time, the signs that determine the optimal time for planting potatoes were very important. It was believed that if you put vegetables in the ground ahead of time, then they will sprout slowly and develop poorly.And with late planting, the soil will dry out, then the potatoes are unlikely to germinate as needed.

Most often, the following phenomena were considered as landmarks for the start of planting work.

• Blooming coltsfoot. You can plant potatoes a month after the bloom of the mother-and-stepmother. However, this sign was used only if it began after the Annunciation. If yellow flowers appeared earlier, the omen was invalidated.
• The appearance of the first leaves on a birch... At this time, the air temperature has already reached a point when you can start the process of planting root crops. In this case, it is important to have time to lay the tubers before the bird cherry blossoms and the yellow dandelions open.
• Water is warming up in reservoirs. You need to plant potatoes after the water in ponds, rivers and lakes has become warm. As a rule, during this period, the birds begin to actively sing and enter into mating games. You can determine the temperature of the soil with a simple test. To do this, you need to sow in the ground without clothes. If it is comfortable, it means that the soil has warmed up enough for planting potatoes.
• And finally, the time is considered good when, when plowing, the soil does not stick to the shovel, but crumbles under it. In such a substrate, root crops will actively grow, and the harvest will be good.

There are also several taboos.

• It is believed that you cannot plant potatoes on Palm Sunday. This can lead to rapid decay of the resulting crop.
• The same happens when planting potatoes on Wednesday or Saturday - root crops quickly deteriorate during storage. However, it is quite difficult to follow this sign these days, when most summer residents come to their plots only on weekends.
• No plants may be planted on Good Friday and Maundy Thursday. You can do this on Radonitsa, but only after lunch, when the services are over.

Thus, the timing of planting potatoes is of great importance. Compliance with them allows you to increase the quality and quantity of fruits obtained.