The technology of growing potatoes in bags
Potatoes are a welcome guest on any table, so any gardener is interested in the technology of its cultivation. Today, methods of planting it in a box and under straw structures, by the nesting method, by variants of a trench and a ridge have been mastered. But there is another profitable option, how to grow a crop. The technology of growing potatoes in bags has a lot of advantages and features; it is an affordable way of planting this cultivated plant.
The technology of growing potatoes in bags
Method advantages
Choosing a method of growing a crop, any gardener tries to choose the most profitable one. The obvious advantage of growing potatoes in bags is the saving of space.
The obvious advantage of growing potatoes in bags is also that there is no need to huddle the root crop. In addition, there is no need to clear the land of weeds.
An important factor is the absence of late blight, which annoys fruits growing in ordinary beds. Unlike the tubers placed in the summer cottage, bagged potatoes are not affected by the Colorado potato beetle, bear and other creatures that can harm the plant.
The method of growing potatoes in bags assumes that there is no need to dig up the tubers. To harvest, simply turn the container over or cut it open. The remaining soil is scattered over the beds.
Difficulties in growing
One of the main tasks is to provide the seedlings with sunlight. This means choosing an area teeming with warmth and free of drafts, even before growing potatoes in bags, so that the tubers do not disappear.
How to avoid difficulties
Plants need timely watering
Plants require high-quality watering. Moisture control is the main success criterion for bagged potatoes.
The technology assumes stability, therefore, the material for the container must be durable and reliable.
The technology requires a sufficient amount of nutrient soil, which periodically needs fertilization and maintenance.
Growing instruction
Potatoes are planted at the end of April. A step-by-step plan for growing a crop is as follows:
- Loose soil and humus are laid on the bottom of the container intended for planting potatoes in bags. A 35 cm layer is enough. The capacity should be about 10 buckets.
- In the resulting mixture, fruits or tubers with eyes are planted in vertical beds, then once again they are covered with a small layer of soil.
- They are waiting for the first shoots of potatoes, which will appear within 1-2 weeks after planting. As soon as the seedlings grow 15 cm, sprinkle it with a mixture of soil: this will help the plant to take root and form new tubers.
- Sprinkle soil on young plants periodically until most of the container is full.
It is best not to use overly deep bags, as the seedlings will not have enough moisture and growth to grow bagged potatoes.
Seedling care
When placing potatoes in bags before planting, there are no special requirements. Watering is of great importance in the care. This is especially necessary when forming the first tubers in order to provide them with all the conditions for development.
Often a lack of air becomes a problem in the care, especially if the material of containers for potatoes is too dense. To avoid trouble, use a small incision at the bottom to ventilate the root system.
The plant needs to be fed with a potassium-based mixture. Nitrogenous mixtures should be discarded during cultivation, since they form a peel of a dense structure, which interferes with the storage of tubers after being removed from the ground.
Growing potatoes in bags is a cost-effective process, which is why it is worth trying this method of planting.