Traditionally, gardeners grow potatoes from tubers. But over time, after 5-7 years, with the constant use of our own planting material, all its varietal characteristics are lost: yield, immunity to diseases, etc. To avoid this, it is necessary to periodically update the potatoes - to grow planting material from seeds. Such an agrotechnical technique makes it possible to obtain a new variety, restore the yield and quality of tubers.
Pros and cons of growing potatoes from seed
Russian gardeners are increasingly resorting to the method of growing mini-potato tubers from seeds. The popularity of the procedure is explained by the fact that it allows you to significantly save on the purchase of elite planting material. The method has other undoubted advantages:
- The possibility of obtaining a new variety with high yield rates.
- High quality of planting material.
- The seeds are not infected with pests and fungi.
- Growing potatoes from seeds is cheaper than buying elite tubers.
- Seeds of modern varieties are usually endowed with genetically built immunity to most typical crop diseases.
- A single cultivation of potatoes from seeds will provide the gardener with high-quality planting material for 4-6 years.
- When buying tubers, there is no guarantee that they belong to the right variety.
Among the disadvantages are the following:
- Potato seedlings are difficult to care for.
- Do not get many large tubers from seeds. In this case, potatoes are grown to obtain planting material.
- We'll have to use chemicals, since without them, potato seedlings are susceptible to various diseases.
Collecting seeds and buying from the store
After the flowering of a potato bush, small fruits are formed on it, which outwardly look like tomatoes. They need to be collected and folded in a warm, dry place to ripen. After a week, they will become soft, which means that the seeds can be harvested.
The fruit must be carefully cut and using a spoon to separate the contents from the peel. After that, it is necessary to separate the seeds from the pulp. To do this, the seeds with pulp can be folded into a sieve with small holes and rinsed under running water. Then the seeds are spread on a napkin or paper to dry.
Some gardeners, after collecting seeds, harden them. To do this, planting material is placed in the refrigerator overnight, and during the day it is kept at room temperature. This procedure must be repeated within 4 days.
You need to buy planting material only in specialized stores. It is advisable to purchase seeds that have passed the germination test.
The variety should be chosen depending on the climatic characteristics of the region and your preferences. In this case, you need to use the following criteria:
- taste qualities;
- yield;
- ripening terms;
- resistance to negative factors;
- adaptation to drought and frost.
Some of the varieties are not afraid of the attack of the Colorado potato beetle.
Seedling method of growing
Seedlings grown from seeds are very sensitive to various negative factors. But in most regions of Russia, it is impossible to immediately plant seeds in the ground, therefore the seedling method is considered the most reliable.
Seeds for seedlings are sown in late March or early April. Planting is carried out in slightly acidic, nutritious and loose soil. You can use a multipurpose mixture that is available at gardening stores.
When preparing the substrate yourself, you need:
- Mix 2 parts of garden soil, 1 part each of humus and sand, 3 parts of peat.
- For each bucket of the resulting substrate, 1 glass of ash is added.
- The finished mixture is disinfected using a solution of "Fitosporin" or potassium permanganate.
Seedlings are sown in shallow wooden boxes or plastic trays. After a while, she is seated in individual containers. It is important that they have drainage holes to prevent stagnant water. A drainage layer of chipped ceramics or crushed stone should be poured onto the bottom.
The process of planting seeds for seedlings:
- In the ground, at a distance of 7 cm from each other, grooves are made 3 cm deep.
- Seeds are placed in them at a distance of 3 cm.
- Sprinkle the seeds with sand on top.
- The soil must be moistened with a spray bottle. The water temperature should be at room temperature.
- After that, the containers are covered with glass or foil and placed in a lighted and warm place.
The first shoots should appear within two weeks after planting.
Seedless growing method
In the southern regions, a seedless method of growing potatoes is practiced. It is considered not very reliable, since some of the planting material does not germinate.
For planting, you need to choose the most illuminated place on the site. In this case, it should be taken into account that the groundwater does not lie close to the surface.
The site is prepared in advance. At the end of summer, they dig it up and remove all plant residues. To enrich the composition, green manures are planted in the beds, for example, beans or rye. Also, for each square meter, you need to add 6 kg of humus.
In the spring, the site is dug up again. After that, you need to add 15 g of urea and 25 g of superphosphate for each square meter. Then the soil is watered with a hot solution of copper sulfate. For additional disinfection, you can treat the ground with "Trichodermin" or "Fitosporin". This significantly reduces the likelihood of contamination of plantings with various infections.
The seeds are planted 20 cm apart. The row spacing should be about 70 cm. Before planting, the ground is watered abundantly with warm water.
The seeds are buried 1 cm, the ground is slightly pressed down from above with the palm of your hand. After sowing, it is advisable to cover the beds with foil. It must be removed immediately after germination. After that, the plants are covered with a film only if there is a threat of night frosts. You need to water as the soil dries up.
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