How to determine the distance between rows of potatoes
Knowledge of the peculiarities of plant cultivation allows you to get a bountiful harvest without any problems. How to correctly determine the distance between the rows of potatoes during planting? Let's analyze the most effective schemes.
Determining the distance between rows
Why determine the distance between rows
Root crops are easy to plant, which allows them to be grown both on large farms and in small summer cottages. Farmers are trying to get the most out of every square meter.
The distance between potatoes when planting is a criterion that affects the volume and quality of the finished product. Subject to the rules, it turns out to wisely distribute the useful area of the site. A well-thought-out bed provides easy access to each bush and does not make maintenance difficult.
Increasing or decreasing the category negatively affects the yield. Excessive planting density leads to the fact that each plant does not receive nutrients, so the bushes grow weak and do not please with an abundance of fruits. An excess of free space is also dangerous: the culture goes to the tops, and the potatoes become huge and few in number.
On the crest
This is one of the main landing options. According to the method, the seeds are planted according to the scheme of 30 x 70 cm. The zone is carefully dug up, after which identical grooves are marked with a string and laid to a depth of 50 mm to 100 mm.
Pour 1 tbsp into each trench. l. ash and 0.5 shovels of humus. Tubers are placed on top, after which they are covered with soil. It is important to achieve a noticeable “ridge” on both sides, reminiscent of the letter “M”. The final height ranges from 0.25 m to 0.3 m.
The specified distance when planting potatoes makes it easier to weed plants from weeds. Under boletus, the culture is safe from drying out in the heat and does not rot during the rains. The main advantages of the method:
- early disembarkation;
- the rapid development of healthy bushes;
- warming up by the sun;
- increase in yield by 25%;
- ease of cleaning.
Under the shovel
This is the simplest and most proven method of growing root crops. The distance between the rows of potatoes should not be less than 70 cm, and the gap of tubers from each other - a little more than 25. At the same time, pay attention to the number of shoots on the specimen: the more roots, the longer the distance.
The technology requires maintaining the optimum temperature. It is important that the soil has time to thaw and warm up to 8 ° C. During early work, waterlogging and freezing of crops are possible, late plantings threaten with the loss of moisture and precious time for formation.
In the trenches
This method is relevant for arid regions. The distance between the rows of early potatoes should be standard - from 70 cm to 80 cm. In the fall, ditches are dug 300 mm deep. Organic fertilizers are placed on the bottom:
- ash;
- manure;
- compost;
- wet hay.
After a few months, the nutrient pad will settle, after which the tubers are planted. The seeds are placed in the holes at a distance of 0.3 m from each other, crushing them from above with loose soil.If you apply fertilizers in the fall, then during the entire season of development, additional fertilizing will not be required. The surface is mulched and then watered.
You need to prepare for planting in trenches in the fall.
The method is not popular in less hot regions, because there is a possibility of waterlogging of the crop. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to dig grooves at the edges to drain moisture.
In a container
What distance is required when planting potatoes in boxes? Between the boxes, passages from 60 cm to 90 cm are kept, which need to be mulched. The height of the structure should reach the standard 300 mm, and the width - up to 1 m.The container is filled with fertilizers according to the following scheme:
- straw;
- manure;
- priming.
In one box, no more than 2 rows are made, the tubers are planted in a checkerboard pattern. The interval from one bush to another is 30 cm. Thanks to the technique, the plants receive a sufficient amount of ultraviolet radiation and retain nutrient components, which allows them to increase their yield.
Planting depth
There is another important factor in getting the most out of your plants. Depending on the variety and size of the seed, the optimal potato depth distance is calculated. Small specimens have an insignificant supply of nutrients, so professionals plant them in pits up to 12 cm.
Huge tubers have a sufficient amount of energy, which makes it possible to overcome plantings over 100 mm without problems. Dutch hybrids are grown in high beds - 0.2 m. Domestic breeding is not ready for such experiments.
In addition to calculating the distance of a potato bed, farmers do not always guess with depth. The sprouted material is planted in holes that do not interfere with the processes. To prevent rotting, when planting in parts, a minimum indentation is allowed.
It is imperative to ensure the same planting depth of potatoes over the entire area of the site.
Different types of soil have their own requirements. For clay, an embedment of up to 7 cm is suitable, and loams and heavy soils require holes up to 10. In sandy loam, it is advised to place more than 11 cm in a hole. Knowledge of the features allows you to retain moisture and heat, and also provide natural aeration of the roots.
Distance between tubers
Having determined what distance you need between the potato beds, it is easy to figure out the gap between the root crops. According to technology, 1 sq. m sit about 6 pieces.
If the row spacing is 70 cm, the distance between the holes will be 25 or 30 cm. Professionals call this indicator the width of the shovel bayonet. This scheme offers dense planting of bushes, which is not suitable for all farmers. A decrease in yield is possible, it will not be very comfortable to take care of the bushes.
If the tubers are 60 cm apart, it is important to correctly calculate the usable area. Not always the numbers obtained will allow you to get the most out of it. At a considerable distance (up to 1 m), the tops develop well, but they form little tubers.
It depends on the varieties what distance to choose between potato rows and root crops. For early varieties, a distance of up to 30 cm is relevant.Late options are always planted at a large interval - from 35 to 45 cm.
Garden Tips
If the crop is not properly cared for, the correct spacing when planting potatoes will not prevent crop loss.
Crop rotation in the garden makes it possible to prevent the weakening of root crops. Potato beds are planted where friendly plants grew last season. Recommended crops include:
- cucumbers;
- beets;
- carrot;
- salad;
- cabbage.
When choosing the optimal distance between the rows of potatoes, you need to remember that the furrow line has a direction from north to south. Thanks to this trick, the sun will illuminate the bushes throughout the day. If you change sides, part of the culture will become languid from the heat, and part - to starve from the lack of sun.
Before planting root crops, organic or mineral fertilizers are applied. Sand makes the soil more airy, and ash enriches it with essential trace elements. Excess fertilizing during the season enhances the growth of the tops, leaving the potatoes shallow.
Flowering is an important period in the development of crops. At this time, the plants are provided with thorough watering. The lack of moisture affects the volume of the final product. Stagnation of fluid next to furrows and holes is the cause of decay.
A rich harvest is the merit of an attentive farmer. Knowing what is the distance between the rows when planting potatoes, it is easy to avoid common mistakes in cultivation.