A well-deserved reward for hard work is the high yield of potatoes. In countries with moderate climatic conditions, including in Russia, this root crop is called nothing other than the second bread. This is confirmed information, because this agricultural crop is popular, both among ordinary summer residents and in large agricultural enterprises. The good thing about potatoes is that they are completely unpretentious to grow. But in order for the crop to be really rich, it is necessary to provide proper care, as well as to know the small secrets of fertilization and dressing.
Potato yield
What affects the yield
Statistical data for the period 2016 - 2017 show that the largest potato crop falls at the end of August - beginning of September. But how can you determine the exact timing? To do this, the following points must be taken into account:
- Indicator of soil fertility.
- The timing of planting culture.
- Climatic features of the region.
- Potato variety.
- The quantity and quality of fertilizers applied.
If a vegetable grower has been growing a crop for more than one year, accordingly, he knows what is the average yield of potatoes from 1 hectare, then he can independently make a forecast for 2018. It is not possible to determine the exact date of the beginning of harvest, but it is possible to assume and calculate the approximate amount of potatoes obtained in kg / m2.
The best yield indicators
If cultivation technologies are followed during the production process, then as a result the summer resident will receive the maximum result. The average potato yield is 150 centners per hectare. But if we trace this figure in different regions of Russia, then this figure is not the same. This is affected by the characteristics of the soil and climate.
- As practice shows, the best harvests are in the Bryansk region. The region holds a leading position in the sale of root crops in the market in the period 2016-2017, where the yield of potatoes from 1 hectare is 230 kg / ha.
- The honorable second place in cultivation and increase in yield is taken by Tula and the Tula region. Today the yield is 250 c / ha. Yields in this region are higher, but the amount of planted land is less.
- The ten largest suppliers of this culture also include Astrakhan, Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod, Tyumen and Sverdlovsk regions, as well as Tatarstan and Udmurtia. Here the indicators are an order of magnitude lower, but this does not affect the taste characteristics in any way.
- There is another part in Russia, where the potato yield is not inferior to the Bryansk and Tula regions - this is the European part of the country, as well as in the Urals and Siberia. In one season, 250-300c / ha are harvested in this region.
Indicators in summer cottages
Opportunities for growing vegetables at large agricultural companies differ from those of summer residents.
Since the former are calculated per ton, due to the availability of professional equipment and technologies, high-quality fertilizers and herbicides, they have a much lower percentage of bad potatoes. They work exclusively to increase the amount of harvested product per hundred square meters.
But sometimes, at a summer cottage, it is realistic to grow an equally tasty product, with record collection rates. The peculiarity of gardeners is that planting, cultivation implies specific goals: providing yourself and your family with a quality product. Therefore, the vegetable grower tries to do everything accurately and correctly, and in this he is helped by agricultural equipment. Some summer residents observe all the moments of planting while the potatoes were blooming - they spud the beds, applying fertilizers.
Joint efforts will be rewarded, the average crop yield in summer cottages is 150-250 kg per hundred square meters. The price for such potatoes does not differ much from the industrial one, although the quality is sometimes much higher.
List of high yielding varieties
Many potatoes in the nest
In the Russian register of agricultural crops, 280 types of potatoes are registered, which we grow in a temperate climatic zone. All these varieties are acclimatized, so they can be used for storage and for export. The most famous of this list:
- Luck is the most productive variety, the yield indicator will be 950 centners per hectare. Based on these facts, they assigned the category "super-yielding". This variety has a high price for seeds, planting and growing requires constant care, watering, fertilization, the period of technical maturation is 85-95 days.
- Idaho - the variety ranks second in terms of indicators. On average, 550 c / ha are harvested, this figure is real, both for industrial and home cultivation. The fruits of this variety are distinguished by their quality, a high index of carbohydrate and starch content, which makes them useful and nutritious.
- Bellarosa is an early maturing variety that is mainly grown in the southern regions. This is a relatively new species, so the price of seeds is quite high, but the cash costs pay off. After all, if you water and fertilize the plant correctly, then on average you can collect 350 c / ha. And most importantly, after harvesting, the garden can be planted again.
- Gala is a mid-early culture, 60-70 days pass before the onset of technical ripeness. Planting this culture is beneficial in that 85% of the tubers have large fruits, respectively, 340 centners of root crops can be harvested from one hectare.
- Rosara is an early ripe fruit variety that has a high starch content (more than 17%). With good care, more than 500 centners / ha can be harvested, but the average yield is 300-320 centners (300 kg per m2).
But it is worth remembering that not every plant, even a very high-yielding one, will give a high level of productivity if it grows in dry or depleted soil.
Influence of weather conditions
The period and conditions of ripening of root crops is to some extent amenable to human control, but there is a factor that is beyond control - the weather. To understand what the new harvest will be like and when you can dig potatoes, you need to observe the weather conditions.
- If the winter is long and the heat does not come until mid-April, the beginning of planting of early varieties will also be shifted in time. Cold is dangerous in that it can adversely affect the seeds, thereby making them unsuitable for growth. The optimum possible air temperature during harvesting is not less than 10 C, otherwise the tubers will begin to blacken.
- If, according to the weather forecast, a period of prolonged rains is expected, then it is best to postpone the landing. Since the rains bring with them a general decrease in temperature, and this will negatively affect the condition of the planted root crops. At best, they will simply get sick, at worst, the seeds will not sprout. If this weather phenomenon is expected during the potato harvesting season, then the harvest is carried out immediately. Waterlogged soil provokes diseases, the appearance of rot and deterioration of the quality of root crops.
- Severe drought. This weather phenomenon has a significant impact on the yield indicator. Potatoes are a moisture-loving plant, so if, according to forecasters, an increase in temperature is expected, the vegetable grower must take care of an additional irrigation system. Dry, clear weather is good during digging, because after it is dug out of the ground, the tubers can be dried in the air and determined for storage.
Secrets of growing potatoes
When and how to plant potatoes correctly
EASY, FAST and RELIABLE way of planting potatoes. How to plant potatoes without digging
The exact forecast of the yield for 2018, as well as the definition, the price / quality is still unknown, since there is no information on what the spring-summer period will be. But from any gardener who wants to get the maximum yield, careful preparation for the season is required, the correct choice of seed material, top dressing and fertilizers.