There is an opinion that it is impossible to plant potatoes sprouted down, but I want to object and share an unusual method. I must say right away that I did not come to this planting option with my own mind, experienced gardeners suggested it to me. Taking their advice, I began to do so myself. I liked the result, so I recommend you listen!
The landing rules are as follows:
- 1. About a month before I plan to plant potatoes, I take out the tubers and sprout them in the light (without any additional processing).
- 2. The tubers for planting are approximately the size of a hen's egg (maybe slightly larger).
- 3. When the leaves on the birch reach the size of a 2-kopeck coin, then you can start planting, since the earth has warmed up enough.
- 4. I do not dig up the beds in the fall and spring, but plant potatoes "for laziness."
- 5. I try to make the holes about 10 centimeters deep (the maximum allowable depth is 15 centimeters).
- 6. I sprinkle the bottom of the pits obtained with ashes, after which I put the sprouted tubers in them.
And here the unusualness of the method begins: I put the tubers sprouted down. This must be done carefully and carefully. After such a planting, wide, powerful bushes are obtained, in which the potatoes feel spacious. It is advisable to water the beds after planting.
After about a week, the first shoots begin to appear. When the bushes grow up to 12 - 15 centimeters in height, I huddle them up so that all the shoots are again underground.
Previously, I advise you to fill the bushes with humus. The proportion is as follows: for every four bushes, one bucket of fertilizer is used. As a rule, I do this before possible frosts. It turns out that all the leaves are protected from the cold by the ground. I think these are the most favorable conditions for potatoes.
When the bushes are already quite impressive and reach the knee, I re-bury them. I do the same as described above. After that, I do not appear in the beds. An exception is the collection of Colorado potato beetles and the removal of leaves that pests have chosen. I water the beds, focusing on the weather. Sometimes I cut off the flowers, otherwise they can bloom.
This landing option has many advantages, the main of which are:
- Grass does not grow at all in the beds.
- Since the soil is loose, more oxygen and moisture are supplied to the sprouts. Shoots that are underground grow well. Thanks to the developed roots, the tubers are larger.
- Since I plant the tubers far apart from each other, the sprouts receive a lot of light, which increases the yield.
The main thing to say is to keep the distance between the rows. It should be larger than you are used to, as the bushes will be more spreading and thicker. Otherwise, you risk damaging the roots with a pitchfork.
Note that I do not use fertilizers at all. My last harvest was 80 buckets, while I planted only 5! An impressive result, isn't it ?!
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