How to grow potatoes according to Meatlider in a small summer cottage
If you are already familiar with the traditional method of planting potatoes, but you think that he has outlived his usefulness, the time has come to turn to the practice of foreign specialists. For example, many summer residents started apply the method of planting potatoes under straw... This is a well-known Dutch technology. Another popular method is to plant tubers in boxes or bags. Each technology has advantages. Gardeners choose for themselves the one that is suitable specifically for the existing site.
If the area of the garden is small - only 6 acres - you can try to plant potatoes according to the Meatlider. World renowned horticultural and agricultural consultant Meatlider has developed guidelines that can be followed to harvest large quantities of large potatoes from a small vegetable garden.
What are the differences between a vegetable garden equipped according to Meatlider?
- First, the distance between the rows of potatoes.
- Secondly, perfectly flat narrow rows of greenery, alternating with wide row spacings.
- Thirdly, the direction of the ridges is in strict accordance with the cardinal points (from north to south).
- Fourth, there are small wooden boards that enclose the rows.
But these are only external signs that do not give information about the very essence of the landing. To better understand the technology, you need to understand in more detail in the methodology.
Prerequisites for planting potatoes:
- The soil for planting must be prepared in the fall. Apply humus or other suitable fertilizer. Dig up.
- If the site is located on a slope, it must be leveled. In this case, it is better to arrange the ridges across the slope so that they look like a kind of steps.
- In the spring, the site is dug up again, but not completely. The areas between the rows should be left intact.
- It is necessary to provide for a distance between the rows of potatoes of about 1 m.If the crop is not spreading, you can reduce it to 90 cm.In this case, the width of the ridge should be at least 30 cm, but not more than 45 cm.
- When the ridges are dug up and formed, they are fenced with wooden boards. Their height can be 10 - 15 cm. This is enough.
The author advises to choose a varietal and certified planting material, only in this case the probability of a high yield is guaranteed.
How to plant potatoes?
Potato planting technology is as follows:
- holes are dug in each row in a checkerboard pattern at a distance of 30 cm from each other;
- in a hole about 12 cm deep, first put humus or vermicompost, and then sprouted potatoes;
- then the hole is covered with earth, and caring for it is reduced to systematic watering and fertilization.
Top dressing during the entire growing time must be done three times: when sprouts appear, when sprouts reach 15 cm in height and at the beginning of budding.
Features of the introduction of nutrients
Regular introduction of the necessary nutrients into the soil is one of the fundamental principles of potato growing technology. It ensures proper plant nutrition and rapid growth. It is recommended to choose one of the proposed nutritional formula.
Mix No. 1. For 1 running meter of soil, it is necessary to add 100 g of a mixture of 40 g of boric acid and 5 kg of dolomite flour.If the soil is depleted and has not been fertilized for a long time, or it contains loams, you can apply 150-200 g of fertilizer.
Mix No. 2. Processing 1 meter will require 50 g of the composition. It includes 1 kg of magnesium sulfate, urea and potassium sulfate, 6 kg of nitrophores and 15 g of boric acid.
Correct watering system
The gardener will not need to loosen the soil throughout the season, which will greatly facilitate the care of the plants. This is not necessary because the roots are located in the top layer of the soil and are very easy to damage. However, you need to water the potatoes systematically, especially in hot summer. It is recommended to do this by drip. So the water gets directly into the root area.Drip irrigation eliminates fungal diseases, reduces the possibility of weed growth and minimizes the risk of leaf burns.
Regular watering is the basis for good tuber development. If the garden is not equipped with an irrigation system, or there is a risk of lack of water, it is better to refuse the technology of high-yielding cultivation.
Why do potatoes yield high yields?
- The distance when planting potatoes is calculated so that the roots receive enough air, moisture and fertilizer. Thanks to good aeration of the soil, tubers develop fully.
- Three-time feeding with a special mixture guarantees good results even on poor soils.
- An important factor is also the use of varietal potatoes.
- The wide spacing between the rows allows timely removal of pests and weeds.
The main condition for success is the fulfillment of all the instructions of the agricultural consultant and adherence to agricultural technology.
The Meatlider method is already widely known and used effectively. The main thing here is not to pull out the parts you like, but to fully use all the agricultural technology. It is very convenient to serve a ridge of 45 cm, on which the vegetables sit in two rows. Drip irrigation helps keep the leaves dry. The balanced fertilizer is dosed into the soil for intensive nutrition. And since there is enough sun, photosynthesis is going well. The crop is removed the same as for solid planting. The advantage of processing is that the aisles do not require processing. Weeds do not grow on dry ground. And weeding a wide passage with a flat cutter is not at all difficult. So the method is suitable for those who use mineral fertilizers. My neighbors retirees are completely switching to growing potatoes in narrow beds. Less land for digging, and old people have little strength.