The best ways to weed potatoes
Weeding is one of the most necessary procedures for obtaining a harvest. Removing weeds is a necessary measure to control pests and prevent the spread of diseases. In this article we will talk about why weeding potatoes is needed, as well as methods and tools that make this difficult work easier.
Do you need to weed potatoes and why?
Potato plantings occupy significant areas, and their cultivation takes a lot of time and effort. But you need to weed the potatoes. Potato tubers take a long time to germinate (3 weeks or more), and during this time a large number of weeds appear on the site.
If they are not removed in a timely manner, they will take away nutrients from the potatoes and lead to a decrease in yield..
Besides, removing weeds will prevent the spread diseases and the appearance of insect pests.
Attention! Weeding a potato field creates favorable conditions for the formation and development of tubers. This measure ensures access of air and nutrients to the roots.
Weeding is carried out simultaneously with loosening the soil and hilling the beds. This saturates the soil with oxygen and reduces moisture evaporation. Loosening and weeding are sometimes called “dry watering.”
Description and timing of the procedure
Weeding time is determined taking into account weather conditions and soil structure. There is no need to weed too often, the main thing is to ensure that the grass does not choke the potato bushes.
How often to weed
On average, a plot of potatoes is processed 2-3 times per season.. Water for the first time 3-4 weeks after sowing, removing the first weeds. At this time, young shoots reach a height of 2-4 cm.
The field is processed for the second time when the bushes reach a height of 20-30 cm, before flowering.. Weeding is combined with hilling and loosening the soil.
Advice. If weather conditions have delayed the emergence of seedlings, and the weeds have already grown, then carefully remove them with a flat cutter without waiting for the potato sprouts to appear.
During and after flowering bushes It becomes difficult to process the area.
When not to weed
The appearance of flowers on the bushes indicates the beginning of the formation of tubers. During this period, weeding and loosening is not recommended, since sharp tools can easily damage small potatoes.
If you still have to cultivate the potato field during this period, then do this carefully, acting only on the surface of the soil.
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Weeding equipment
Mechanical and hand tools will help make work easier. Let's tell you more about them.
Walk-behind tractor and its attachments
It is advisable to cultivate large potato fields with mechanized devices - for example, a walk-behind tractor with attachments. In specialized stores there are simple and affordable models and more expensive, reliable devices for weeding potatoes.
Cultivator
Cultivators can be manual, electric or gasoline-powered.. The plants are removed along with the root system. The most commonly used cultivators are equipped with a pair of knives located at an angle of 45° to each other.
Hand tools
Various saps and hoes – simple and reliable assistants for processing small areas.
Common sapa
A rectangular or trapezoidal piece of metal, sharpened on one side and mounted on a long handle. But this tool is more suitable for row spacing than for beds. With such a squeegee it is easy to cut off fragile potato stems and damage the roots.
Crested Sapa
Crescent cutting tool. This tool is similar to a hoe, in which not only the ends of the “horns” are sharpened, but also the arc connecting them.
Flat cutter
Another tool for removing weeds. It is notable for the fact that working with it requires less physical effort. The Fokina flat cutter is popular: it is good because the gardener himself can change the angle of the knife in a way that is convenient for him.
Trimmer
Another option for quickly getting rid of grass is using a trimmer. This the device resembles a scythe equipped with a motor. A special nozzle is provided to remove weeds.
Weeding rules
Weeding begins with the appearance of the first shoots. Weeds develop faster than many cultivated plants, in particular potatoes. Therefore, if they are not removed, they will prevent young plants from developing.
Remove grass in dry, hot weather. In this case, the roots will dry out quickly and will not sprout again. While working, they move backwards to avoid trampling down the cut weeds.
This is interesting. Woodlice is the only weed that is beneficial to cultivated plants. It is short, with weak roots. Woodlice slows down the evaporation of moisture, shades seedlings and protects the soil from drying out.
To ensure successful weed control, follow these rules::
- start weeding the next day after rain or watering - it is easier to remove the weed along with the roots from soft soil;
- weeds with roots are left on the site only in hot weather so that they have time to dry out;
- remove the grass in a timely manner - do not allow it to grow above 5 cm, as well as flowering and ripening of seeds - this will lead to their rapid spread throughout the entire area;
- to reduce the number of weedings, mulch the soil surface with sawdust, straw, mowed weeds or a special film;
- fertilizing with mineral fertilizers inhibits the growth of weeds, and fertilizing with organic matter, on the contrary, stimulates it, so these two types of fertilizers alternate.
DIY weeding devices
Experienced gardeners often independently make interesting devices and devices that make caring for potato plantings easier. In terms of efficiency, they are not inferior to factory ones, and sometimes even surpass them in characteristics.
The advantages of self-made tools include their low cost, because improvised means and materials are used.
To make homemade hedgehogs, take a hollow pipe to which teeth are welded from metal rods or fittings. The structure is attached to a metal frame and a wooden handle is added. The principle of operation of such a tool is simple and consists of pressing and simultaneously moving the device forward and down.
There are more complex and effective homemade devices. For example, a device based on a frame and a bicycle wheel, to which various replaceable weed-killing attachments are attached.
Weeding during flowering
The formation of tubers begins at the beginning of the flowering period. At the tips of the stolons, buds form, from which tubers subsequently grow. This stage lasts about two weeks and occurs at the beginning or end of June, depending on the region and crop variety.
Weeding and loosening of potatoes is completed before flowering begins., since in the future there is a high risk of damage to the stolons, and, consequently, a decrease in yield.
If weeding is carried out during the flowering period, then do it carefully, trying not to damage the bushes or touch the roots.
Interesting things on the site:
Growing potatoes using the Chinese method
Is it possible to do without weeding?
If the potato field is large, and it is not possible to purchase mechanical devices, then you can avoid weeding at all. But the harvest will not please either. Without access to air and nutrients, the tubers will grow small and diseased.
Planting potatoes under straw
This planting method interesting because it allows you to avoid weeding and loosening. It is based on the technique of mulching beds.
The landing technology is like this: Seed material is laid out on flat, heated soil and sprinkled with a little soil. Then the area is covered with a layer of straw 30-50 cm thick. Under such a blanket, the earth retains moisture, weeds do not grow, and the soil remains loose. Digging up potatoes is easy; you don’t even need a shovel. The tubers grow large and even.
Important! Another advantage of this method of cultivation is the improvement of soil structure. This is useful for heavy clay soils.
Reviews from experienced gardeners
Here are a few reviews from experienced gardeners about methods for weeding potatoes.
Lyudmila, Kemerovo: “I use a Fokina flat cutter and am very pleased, it works better than a regular hoe. I process flowering potato bushes only with my hands. Less risk of damaging bushes. A flat cutter in this case is the most useful tool.”.
Andrey, Kochki village: “I use homemade hedgehogs. They don’t require much investment, and the results are excellent. I made them myself from a hollow pipe. I welded teeth on it from metal rods and secured it to a metal frame. The finishing touch is a wooden handle.”.
Tatyana, Krasnodar region: “This summer I planted potatoes under straw. Our soil is the bank of a mountain river (stones, sand and clay). I was pleased with the harvest! The only disadvantage of the technology is that a large volume of straw is needed. Especially if the area for potatoes is large".
Conclusion
Timely removal of weeds is an important condition for obtaining large and healthy tubers. The first weeding of potatoes is carried out a month after planting, the second - before flowering.
When choosing tools for processing an area, they proceed from its size and their own capabilities. Various mechanical devices greatly facilitate the work of a gardener.