Planting potatoes in Siberia - time, methods, selection of seed

Siberia is a region with a harsh continental climate. For example, the weather often presents unforeseen surprises to the inhabitants of the eastern part. Here, as a rule, severe and prolonged winters, short summers and a high probability of frost return in late spring. In the western regions, the climate is a little milder, but here, too, the inhabitants have a hard time. It is quite problematic to grow a good harvest in such conditions. Gardeners have to come up with various tricks and look for ways out of this situation in order to plant potatoes in Siberia successfully.

Depending on the territory, the timing of sowing crops also changes. In this article, we will talk about how to grow potatoes in the Siberian climate.

Potato planting dates

Time planting potatoes in Siberia it occurs an order of magnitude later than, for example, in the central zone of Russia. Work begins earlier in the western regions. Here potatoes can be planted as early as early May. Inhabitants of the eastern regions start planting only two weeks later, that is, in mid-May.

Potatoes are planted in Siberia only when the soil temperature reaches 7-8 degrees Celsius. If you do this earlier, the chances are high that the roots will develop poorly.

Choosing a potato variety

For planting in Siberia, seed potatoes are usually used. The main thing is to choose the right variety - not everyone will be able to grow in harsh climates. In this section, we'll talk about the most popular varieties. So here's the main list:

• Timo ”is a precocious Dutch variety. The taste is quite high. Stores well.
• "Lugovskoy" - the variety was bred by Ukrainian breeders. Root crops are large, weighing 100-165 g. Resistant to many diseases, for example, late blight, black leg, common scab.
• "Adretta" is the most widespread variety among Siberian gardeners. Root crops are large, yellow. The variety keeps very well under appropriate conditions.
• "Early Priekulsky" - very early. In this regard, the people call this variety a forty-day. Typically, these potatoes are grown for food in the summer because they do not store well.
• "September" is a medium early variety. The pulp of the root tubers is white. Grows well in any conditions. Keeps perfectly
• "Svitanok Kievsky" is a favorite of many gardeners. The variety shows a good yield, for example, about 300 kg can be harvested from 1 are. Plus, such potatoes are resistant to many diseases, and it is also noticed that they are less damaged by the Colorado potato beetle.

In fact, there are a lot of varieties that are suitable for growing in Siberia. Every year breeders create something new. Choosing a suitable option for yourself will not be difficult.

Determining the landing site

When the gardener has decided on the right variety, you need to take care of where the plantings will be located. Let's say right away that potatoes are a light-loving plant. Therefore, it is most advisable for this culture to choose an area that is not shaded by trees or shrubs. The soil should be light and loose. A good harvest can be harvested if manure is brought in for digging in the fall.

In the spring to make manure in no case is it - the potatoes will simply die.

The main methods of planting potatoes

Today there are several ways to plant potatoes in Siberia. Let's talk about the main ones:

1. One-liner is the most common potato planting method. Root crops are planted in rows. There should be about 60-70 cm between them, and the distance between the bushes is 2 times less - about 20-25 cm. Potatoes are planted at a shallow depth: 7 cm is enough. Subsequently, the earth is shoveled to the bushes.
2. Belt - As a rule, this method is used on an industrial scale. The main difference is that the planting is done in two rows. The distance between them should be 30 cm. The following furrows are located at a distance of 110 cm. The main advantage of this method is when hilling the tractor does not damage the plant roots because the soil is taken from large gaps.
3. Ridge - This method is very similar to the method of planting potatoes in furrows. The only difference is that an artificial row height is created, which should be approximately 18-20 centimeters. Let us explain in more detail. The method can be used in two variations:

• the potatoes are planted to a depth of 8-10 cm, and then a ridge is created with a height of 20 cm.
• the ridges in this case are prepared in advance. Their height should be 30 centimeters, and the distance between them is about 80 cm. Potato seeds are placed in the resulting trenches and then buried.

This planting allows you to harvest about two weeks earlier. However, it should be remembered that this method is suitable for moist soils, if the site is on a hillock, then the root crops may not have enough moisture and they will develop poorly or die altogether. As for the potato seeding rate, it is different. If we talk about small areas, one hundred square meters will need about 300 tubers.

Timing of harvesting potatoes

Some people think that the sooner the sprouts appear, the faster they will harvest. In fact, this is not the case. It doesn't matter how many days potatoes grow. The main thing is which variety was chosen. Early ripening varieties, which are intended for early consumption, can be harvested already in mid-July (again, it depends on the timing of planting). For digging, scoops are used. They pry the ground near the bush. Usually large roots are located immediately on the surface. Mid-season varieties ripen much longer. The optimal time for collecting potatoes is late August and early September.

Novice gardeners do not know how to determine whether a potato is ripe or not. This is pretty easy to do. Yellowed and drooping bushes are the first signal that it is time to start harvesting. Summing up, I would like to say that it is possible to grow a good harvest of potatoes even in the harsh conditions of Siberia. The main thing is not to be mistaken with the choice of the variety.

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