What should be the depth of planting potatoes, what does it depend on and what does it affect?
Potato yield is influenced by many factors: crop variety, quality of seed material, soil fertility, compliance with care recommendations.
Another factor that not all beginning gardeners know about is the depth of planting of potatoes. Let's consider at what depth to plant tubers and how this affects the growth and development of bushes.
Potato planting depth
Planting depth is the distance from the tuber to the soil surface. This factor determines whether the young shoots will receive enough heat, oxygen and moisture.
Experienced gardeners deepen planting potatoes by 5–15 cm. The exact distance from the tuber to the surface of the earth is determined based on the composition of the soil, the characteristics of the variety, the size of the seed, the sowing method, and climatic conditions. Let's look at each of these conditions in more detail.
Soil composition
When cultivating on dense, heavy soils (loam and clay soil), it is recommended to deepen the seed to a minimum distance (5-6 cm). On lighter sandy loam and peat soil, the distance increases to 8–10 cm. On light, loose, fertile soils, potatoes are planted to a maximum depth of 10–12 cm.
Advice! When sowing, potatoes are buried equally over the entire area of the plot. This will ensure uniform germination and simplify further care.
Features of the variety and size of tubers
Planting depth depends on the characteristics of the crop. When purchasing seed material of a new variety, it is important to clarify how to plant it correctly.
The larger the tuber, the deeper it is buried, and vice versa. If small potatoes are planted too deep, there is a chance they will not sprout.
Sowing method and climate
There are some unusual seeding methods that require shallow or deep planting. For example, when planting under straw The potatoes are lightly sprinkled with earth.
In rainy, cold spring, vegetables are planted closer to the surface of the soil so that they do not rot and receive enough heat. If the weather is dry and warm, the plants are sown a couple of centimeters deeper so that the tubers receive enough moisture to grow.
Planting in ridges and trenches
Sowing potatoes in ridges and trenches are essentially opposite methods of sowing. Both of them allow you to successfully grow healthy tubers even with an unfavorable site location and in unsuitable soil.
Into the ridges
This planting method is used when the groundwater level in the garden is high. It has proven itself well on heavy soils.
The earth is dug up, leveled and even furrows are marked on the surface. Using hand tools (hoe, shovel, hoe) or mechanized assistants (motoblock, cultivator), soil is raked along each furrow, forming a ridge.
Important! When the site is located in a low, marshy place, sowing in ridges allows you to avoid the appearance of rot and grow a healthy crop.
The height of each ridge is 15–20 cm. The distance between them is 50–70 cm. Seed tubers are laid out on the top of each elevation and sprinkled with 8–10 cm of soil.
In the trench
Planting potatoes in trenches is indicated for light and loose soils. In this case, ridge sowing is ineffective, since the elevations will crumble and be washed away by rain.
The trench method is used in dry, hot climates, on sandy or sandy loam soils.
On the site, trenches are dug about 15 cm deep, at a distance of 50–70 cm from each other. Place potatoes on the bottom and sprinkle with soil.
Planted tubers receive a sufficient amount of moisture and are protected from overheating.
Traditional smooth landing
Planting under a shovel is carried out both manually and using various devices.
Manual sowing
When sowing by hand, furrows are first marked in the prepared area. Then the rows will be even, which simplifies further care. An interval of 50–70 cm is maintained between them.
In each row, holes are dug 8–10 cm deep at a distance of 25–30 cm from each other. The plantings are not thickened, otherwise the risk of damage to the bushes during hilling and weeding will increase, which will contribute to the spread of diseases.
After the preparatory stage is completed, a potato is placed in each hole.
Healthy! To increase productivity, compost, humus, and fertilizers are poured into the holes.
The holes from the planted row are covered with soil from those in the next row. This is repeated until the end of the section.
Using a walk-behind tractor
Special devices make the hard work of a summer resident easier. One of the most modern and multifunctional devices is a walk-behind tractor.
This sowing technology is similar to manual sowing. First, smooth furrows are cut on the surface of the earth, planting material is laid out in them and manually covered with a rake or motor cultivator.
The planting depth is at least 10–15 cm, and the distance between tubers is 25–30 cm.
When forming furrows, a gap of at least 70 cm is left between them, so that during subsequent processing the wheels can move freely between the rows without damaging the bushes.
Using a potato planter
A potato planter is a special device that is attached to a walk-behind tractor and allows you to plant potatoes in one go. The tool simultaneously makes furrows, lays out the tubers and sprinkles them with soil.
At the same time, it is easy to monitor how the depth of planting tubers is adjusted and correct it if necessary.
Planting depth depending on region
When determining the depth of sowing potatoes, the region where the crop is grown is also taken into account.
In areas with hot, dry summers, vegetables are planted deeper to prevent overheating and ensure adequate moisture.
When cultivating in Siberia and the Urals, where summers are short and cool, the planting depth is reduced. This way the tubers will receive enough heat and will not rot during the rainy season.
This is interesting:
Proper planting of potatoes before winter: step-by-step instructions.
How and from what to germinate potatoes before planting.
What types of fertilizers are best to use when planting potatoes.
Conclusion
When determining the optimal planting depth, soil characteristics, growing region, varietal characteristics, size of seed tubers and planting method are taken into account. Potatoes are sown both manually and using modern technology.
By correctly determining the planting depth, it will be possible to obtain uniform shoots, simplifying the care of the crop.