How to grow potatoes from sprouts
Growing potatoes from sprouts is a tuberless technology, with the help of which elite varieties of this useful nightshade crop are bred. This method is effective and involves the cultivation of potatoes with an insufficient number of potato tubers planted. Growing potatoes from sprouts is an inexpensive method, if you do not take into account the labor costs at the preparatory stage and when planting plants in the beds.
Growing potatoes from sprouts
Germination
Sprouting potatoes has a number of advantages over the traditional method. It is necessary to clearly know this technology in order to harvest a good harvest.
If the initial planting of seedlings is meant, then germination must be started 30-45 days before planting. If sprouted stems are planted directly into the soil, then vernalization is recommended to start 20-25 days before planting.
Germination stages:
- sort out potato tubers, if there are rotten ones or with signs of disease;
- Place the planting material on shelving shelves or in special containers in one layer in a well-lit room with an air temperature of 15 to 18 ° C and a humidity of about 93%.
It must be remembered that you need to take care that the sun's rays do not fall on the tubers. It should also be taken into account that the air temperature in the room did not fall below 10 ° C, since the germination process will slow down significantly and planting of plants on the site may be delayed.
Benefits
The advantages of cultivating this vegetable by the tuberless method include:
- a small amount of planting material is required (3-5 times less than with traditional planting);
- used for the rapid cultivation of elite varietal varieties of potatoes (for 1-2 growing seasons);
- the ability to update varieties, since a large number of diseases that affect the tuber are not transmitted through the sprout);
- with the right technology and proper care, a high yield is observed.
disadvantages
Reproduction of potatoes from sprouts also has some disadvantages. Therefore, such moments must also be taken into account at the preparatory stage.
- high labor costs, which imply almost individual work with each plant in the garden, therefore only gardeners can grow potatoes with seedlings, since this method is not suitable for industrial farms;
- it is necessary to take into account the special requirements for the soil on the site and adhere to the recommendations for care, since the potatoes from the shoots do not have a sufficient amount of micronutrients, the stems are weak and need a well-fertilized soil;
- it is necessary to create the necessary conditions for the potatoes from the sprouts to germinate on time.
It is also very important to think over and prepare a place for sprouting seedlings. The plant sprout must receive a sufficient amount of light, moisture and heat.
Varieties of sprouts
Potato sprouts are formed of two types: light and shadow.A shade sprout develops when potatoes are stored in a basement or other shaded, cold place. Such sprouts are characterized by fragility and pallor of the stems.
The light sprout is formed during the germination of the tuber in the light in a room with room temperature. It is very important that the room is free from direct sunlight on the plants. For such shoots, the strength of the shoots is characteristic, they are rough, dark in color.
There are two types of sprouts
Light potato sprouts are best planted for varieties of medium and medium late ripeness.
Shade shoots are best used when there is not enough planting material, since weak plants grow from such stems.
One eye of a potato produces 2 to 4 shoots, which can be used to ensure that the planting is productive enough. Many gardeners advise first to grow the shoots a little in seedlings or plant them directly in the soil on the site.
Landing in the ground
It is recommended to plant light shoots with segments from 5 to 12 cm. Planting begins at a soil temperature of at least 10 and sufficiently well moistened.
Disembarkation stages:
- Seedlings must be broken off, after which treatment with growth stimulants is recommended in order for the plant to grow up. For this, the drug Heteroauxin is used.
- On the plot, make grooves with row spacing from 60 to 70 cm, and between the bushes - about 15 cm. Pour a little water into each groove.
- Each plant should be placed in the groove 6 to 8 cm deep with the sprout pointing down. Some vegetable growers plant upward shoots, but, according to reviews, the first potatoes are dug much later than the one planted downward.
This method of planting will allow you to get a large number of potato bushes, which in turn will lead to high yields with a small amount of seed. If the potato does not have sprouted segments, then it can be used for cooking or planted as seed, but such a tuber will germinate two weeks later than grown by the germination method.
Care
Planting by germination requires careful and proper care. Before planting sprouted potatoes, you should loosen the soil well, moisten it, add nutrients, you can use humus. Depending on the variety, type of soil group, as well as climatic conditions, the main agrotechnical methods are used.
Potato shoots do not have tubers, from which they can feed on useful trace elements and substances at the initial stage of the growing season. Therefore, proper care should be taken:
- in the dry summer period, organize watering;
- hilling regularly (loosen the soil)
- fight harmful insects and weeds;
- carry out the timely introduction of feeding solutions.
Failure to comply with the basics of cultivation of nightshade crops and care rules can lead to low yields. Breeding potatoes from shoots requires special care, which is one of the disadvantages of this technique.
Conclusion
Growing potatoes from sprouts is an affordable and simple method of agrotechnics for nightshades. The advantage of this method is that little seed is needed, and with proper care, the yield is almost always high.