Good afternoon, my reader. To facilitate labor in the beds, summer residents use a variety of methods that do not require frequent presence in the garden. One of the interesting and accessible technologies is the cultivation of such a common vegetable crop as potatoes in ordinary straw. Of interest are the pros and cons of such a technique, as well as the execution algorithm.
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How to plant potatoes in straw
In autumn, the area set aside for growing tubers of a popular crop must be cleared of weeds and plant debris. It is not required to dig it up. If this is virgin soil, then you need to turn over the layers of soil with a pitchfork so that the roots of the weeds are on the surface.
You can sow siderates such as phacelia or oats. White mustard, rye, vetch, rapeseed will do. They drown out weeds, loosen the soil, saturate it with useful compounds.
In the spring, when the soil warms up to an average of 10-13 degrees, they practice planting pre-germinated potatoes, focusing on the following algorithm:
- The area allocated for planting must be watered abundantly.
- Shallow grooves are marked in the north-south direction, observing a gap of 60-70 cm between them.
- The potato tubers are laid out with their eyes upwards at intervals of 30 cm.
- Pollinate the soil around with ash, counting that 30 g of this agent will be required for each root crop.
- Cover the potatoes with soil, making a layer of 5-10 cm. If there is enough straw, this step is skipped. If it is not possible to cover the planting with soil, place the tubers in small holes.
- Straw is laid out on top, the layer of which is kept in the range of 30-50 cm. It is important to exclude bald spots in such a shelter, since when exposed to light, the tubers turn green and are no longer suitable for food. They can only be used for the next planting season.
- The site is watered again after completion of the work.
You can use hay. But in this situation, a layer of 20-25 cm is first formed. After the shoots develop, the remains are laid. This is due to the fact that the hay is compacted faster. If all of its volume is laid at once, the sprouts will begin to develop horizontally.
Advantages and disadvantages
A gardener who is not yet familiar with the technology of cultivating potatoes under a straw "fur coat" will be interested in its strengths and weaknesses.
Pros:
- Straw slows down the development of weeds. If it nevertheless sprouts, it is not difficult to pull it out, since a loose shelter does not prevent this.
- Potatoes do not need hilling. Add more straw if necessary.
- Moisture is well retained in the soil, which makes it possible to do practically without watering.
- Potatoes grow in a comfortable environment. The breathable layer prevents the formation of rot. The tubers do not suffer from heat or sudden drops in temperature.
- The straw after harvesting will loosen the soil. It must be distributed evenly over the site and slightly dug in.
- Time consuming harvesting is not required. It is enough to throw back the straw, pull the tops and collect clean, high-quality tubers.
Minuses:
- Mice can settle under the straw and harm carrots, beets and other crops. It is recommended to plant plants around the perimeter of the potato plot that scare away rodents with their smell. They use black root, beans, tansy.
- Slugs take refuge under a dense straw shelter. To prevent an increase in the population of these pests, traps are set. The beer is impregnated into sheets of cardboard, plywood or boards. Systematically raise and remove the pests gathered under them. Garlic, parsley, marigolds are planted around the perimeter.
Planting potato tubers under a straw shelter attracts attention, as it greatly facilitates work. It is worth trying this technology first on a small area in order to evaluate the result.
Have you tried growing potatoes in straw?
Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.
How to save potatoes from pests, read the following article: Rescue of potatoes from wireworms with folk and chemical means
