The Potato is extensively cultivated in temperate areas, and its stem tubers, which develop below­floor, are a preferred meals. The plant comes from South America the place it was extremely valued by the Indians. Its botanical title is Solanum tuberosum; it belongs to the household Solanaceae.

Potatoes will be cultivated in many alternative sorts of soil, however the best crops are dug from well-drained loamy land. They could be planted on the identical web site yr after yr with good outcomes if the bottom is maintained in a fertile situation by liming, manuring and so forth. In a backyard of average measurement, nonetheless, it’s clever to incorporate the Potatoes in any system of rotation of crops which can be practiced in order that they shall have a change of soil periodically.

Getting ready the Floor.

The perfect technique to pre­pare heavy, clayey land for Potato cultivation is to plow or dig it in autumn; it’s left in a tough situation all through the winter months. When the bottom dries in spring the soil will break into small particles….in different phrases, it will likely be friable when harrowed or forked over. Publicity to rain, frost and wind does immense good to land of this kind.

If this plan can’t be adopted, it’s the cus­tom of some gardeners who must plant Pota­toes on clayey land to plant as they dig. The tubers, set in a shallow trench, are coated by soil because the digging proceeds. This technique is advanta­geous as a result of as soon as the positioning is planted it isn’t compressed on once more till late spring or early summer time, when the primary weeding is completed, and by that point the floor could have dried.

Mild or well-drained loamy soil needs to be dug in spring, manure or compost being buried within the trench because the work proceeds.

It isn’t vital or fascinating to manure land closely for Potato cultivation within the backyard. A average dressing of decayed manure or com­put up placed on the soil and combined with it, and supplemented by a number of purposes of a suita­ble full fertilizer, will guarantee passable outcomes.

Sprouting.

The preparation of the units or planting tubers, generally known as “seed pota­toes,” is a matter of nice significance as a result of it has a substantial impact on the yield. It has been discovered that if Potato tubers already possessing just a few sprouts are planted, a heavier crop will re­sult than if dormant or unsprouted tubers are used.
Tubers required for planting in spring needs to be chosen fastidiously; these weighing about 2 oz., or the dimensions of a small hen’s egg, are consid­ered to be essentially the most appropriate. Bigger tubers could, nonetheless, be used; they are often minimize into items, every half to incorporate just a few sprouts, at planting time. To provide sprouts the tubers are set on finish in shallow bins, or specifically made trays having quick picket legs which permit of their being positioned on high of one another to save lots of house. That is accomplished 2-4 weeks earlier than planting time.

What is named the “rose” finish of the tuber, that which possesses the better variety of “eyes” or buds, is positioned uppermost. The bins or trays have to be in a light-weight, pretty heat place; there the tubers begin into development and by planting time will possess a number of quick, sturdy sprouts. It’s vital that the tubers be absolutely open to the sunshine or the sprouts will likely be weak and “drawn.”

Sprouting earlier than planting them is strongly to be beneficial for all sorts, however it’s particularly vital within the cultivation of early varieties; Potatoes handled on this method will begin into development before dormant tubers.

Lowering the Variety of Sprouts.

Earlier than the tubers are planted the query of the variety of sprouts to be left on each have to be determined.

If just one sprout is left on every tuber, the crop will encompass a restricted variety of giant Potatoes; if two sprouts are left there will likely be a lot of giant Potatoes, and others of excellent measurement; if three sprouts are left there will likely be a sure variety of small tubers, though most of them will likely be giant or honest sized. If all of the sprouts are left on, or if dormant tubers are planted, the variety of small Potatoes will likely be nonetheless better.

For basic backyard cultivation the most effective prac­tice is to go away two or three sprouts on every of the tubers.
There isn’t any doubt as to the benefits of sprouting the tubers earlier than planting, and restrict­ing the variety of sprouts. This ensures early growth and a minimal of small Potatoes, and thus prevents waste of crop.

Potatoes as a Cleansing Crop.

Those that are confronted with the issue of creating a brand new backyard on land which has not been cultivated previ­ously or which has been out of cultivation for a few years, and bringing the soil into good con­dition for sowing or planting, will discover it a superb plan to crop it with Potatoes for the primary yr. There isn’t any higher cleansing crop for brand spanking new land.

The location needs to be plowed or dug in spring to eliminate tree roots and as many perennial weeds as potential. The Potatoes are planted in spring. In the course of the summer time months the practices of weeding, hoeing and earthing-up will assist very significantly to domesticate the land, break down lumpy soil and eliminate coarse weeds. By the top of the summer time, or early autumn, the bottom will likely be in first-rate situation for sowing or plant­ing after the crop of Potatoes has been lifted.

It’s most vital to have the positioning thor­oughly ready the place it’s meant to make a brand new garden by sowing Grass seeds, and Potato cultivation is good preparation. Early Septem­ber is an appropriate time to sow the Grass seeds, and if a crop of early Potatoes is grown they are going to be off the bottom by the top of August, thus enable­ing time for the ultimate leveling and seedbed prep­aration. The Potato tops, or vines, needs to be burnt on the positioning, along with every other gar­den garbage which needs to be destroyed; this apply helps to eliminate weed seeds and seed­ling weeds and thus saves labor later.

There are two chief sorts or courses of Potato —the Early, and the Maincrop or Late; numer­ous varieties of every sort can be found.

The First Plantings.

The earliest crops of Po­tatoes are produced from plantings of Early varieties made as quickly in spring as soil and climate circumstances enable. This can usually be 1-2 weeks earlier than the typical date of the final killing frost within the locality however in sheltered loca­tions (resembling on a south-facing slope protected against chilly winds by a windbreak or hedge) on sandy soils they could be planted 3-4 weeks earlier than the typical date of the final killing frost. This latter date varies significantly, in fact, accord­ing to geographical locality. Gardeners not famil­iar with it, because it applies to their very own gardens, could acquire info from the County Agri­cultural Agent of the county during which they dwell or could also be guided as to when to plant by the practices of native consultants.

On heavy (clayey) soils planting can’t be accomplished fairly as early as on mild (sandy) ones. On no account ought to planting be accomplished till the soil is in a workable, crumbly condi­tion; planting in moist, sticky soil is certain to deliver disappointing outcomes.

As quickly as younger shoots from the Potatoes present by way of the floor of the bottom and are 2-3 in. tall, soil needs to be drawn (hilled) as much as them with a hoe or plow so that every one besides the very ideas of the shoots is roofed; this serves as a safety in opposition to chilly.

Tubers (units) of Early Potatoes are planted 4 in. deep and 12-15 in. aside in rows spaced 18-24 in. aside. It’s a nice benefit to put a layer of compost or decayed manure within the furrows earlier than planting. The tubers root freely into both of those supplies, and vigorous development is thus promoted.

Early Potatoes could also be dug as quickly because the tubers of the brand new crop are giant sufficient to make use of. This may be ascertained by lifting a plant or two as a trial, and can normally be inside 10-12 weeks from the time of planting.

Crops needn’t be all lifted without delay; the higher plan for the house gardener is to dig his Early Potatoes as he wants them for desk use, and thus to increase the harvest over a interval of a number of weeks. It have to be remembered that the Potato vegetation haven’t accomplished their season’s development when the primary ones are lifted on the finish of 10 or 12 weeks; if the vegetation are left within the floor the tubers will enhance in measurement and num­ber (and thus give a heavier crop) for a while after these Potatoes have been eliminated.

Early kinds of Potatoes could have com­pleted their development and matured by July or August, in keeping with locality, by which era Maincrop varieties will likely be out there for digging for fast desk use. Early varieties needs to be all lifted when maturity is reached, which is evidenced by the tops’ dying down naturally.

It can’t be mentioned that Potatoes want an excessive amount of consideration through the summer time months; the 2 particulars of chief significance are weeding and forking. As quickly because the tops present by way of the soil, the bottom between the rows needs to be forked over shallowly, the soil is damaged down into small particles. Afterward, it needs to be hoed regularly to maintain down weeds. The work of forking will then be a com­paratively easy matter for the soil will likely be friable and simply moved. Forking when the soil is tough and lumpy is a laborious activity and it can’t be carried out satisfactorily.

Fertilizers for Potatoes.

Earlier than the soil is forked, fertilizer needs to be utilized alongside the vegetation. Specifically compounded mixtures made for the aim are bought by nurseries and horti­cultural shops and will likely be discovered helpful. Or the next combination will likely be discovered passable: superphosphate, 5 components, and sulphate of am­monia, two components, the combination being utilized on the charge of three oz. per yard run of row.

Earthing-up(forking) is completed by drawing up the soil on both sides of the row in order that it helps the Potato stems and leaves just a few inches of vine or development uncovered. It shouldn’t be com­pleted on one event. The primary earthing-up is completed when the Potato tops are about 6 in. excessive and the second about 4 weeks later. The pur­pose of earthing-up is to assist the stems of the vegetation and to guard the tubers and assist their growth.

A second planting of early Potatoes could also be made 2-3 weeks after the earliest sorts. The tu­bers are set 5 in. deep, and 15 in. aside, in rows 24 in. from one another. They need to be handled in the way in which already defined as far as the main points of sprouting the tubers, planting, the usage of fertilizers and earthing-up are involved.

Late or Maincrop Potatoes.

These are planted in about 6 weeks after the primary earlies; they supply the chief provide through the winter and early spring months and will likely be able to be lifted in September. The tubers are set 5 in. deep and 18 in. aside in rows, 2-2 1/2 ft. from one another. It’s a mistake to crowd them, for that forestalls the soil from being correctly cultivated between the rows. The opposite particulars of handle­ment—sprouting the tubers, planting, the ap­plication of fertilizers and earthing-up—are automobile­ried out in the way in which already described. Within the house backyard it’s normally finest to focus on early crops; late potatoes want a great deal of care with spraying.

Lifting Potatoes.

There isn’t any benefit in leaving Potatoes within the floor after the leaves have turned yellow; it’s, in reality, unwise to take action, for there they’re uncovered to danger of injury by soil pests of varied sorts.
After they’ve been dug, the Potatoes needs to be left on the bottom for 2 or three hours if the climate is ok, in order that the skins could harden earlier than they’re saved. If the climate is moist it’s a good plan to unfold them out below cowl of a shed or different appropriate place.

Storing Potatoes.

The Potatoes should not be uncovered to the sunshine for various hours or they may start to show inexperienced and can thus be rendered unfit to be used within the kitchen. When dry, they could be saved in sacks or bins, in any cool, darkish, frostproof place. Solely sound Potatoes needs to be saved in bulk; if diseased ones are put away with sound ones, the latter may be spoiled. A winter storage tempera­ture of 35-40 levels is fascinating for finest outcomes.
There are a lot of kinds of Potato. These will likely be present in our seed part on the left bar.