Soil Preparation: Potatoes may be cultivated practically anywhere, with the exception of saline and alkaline soils. Loamy and sandy loam soils rich in organic content, with good drainage and aeration, are the best. They are naturally loose soils with the least resistance to tuber enlargement. The optimal pH range for soil is 5.2 to 6.4.

Potato seed: To encourage sprouting, the tuber needs to be kept in a cool, shaded area for one to two weeks after being taken out of cold storage. Tubers can be treated with Gibberellic acid (1g/lit of water) to produce consistent sprouts, then dried in the shade before being maintained in an air-conditioned space for 10 days. To stop rotting, soak tubers in a 0.5 percent Mancozeb solution for 10 minutes.

Potato crops should be planted at a distance of between 50*20 cm and 60*25 cm and a seeding density of 1.40 kg per square meter (10 meters). To maintain the soil’s aeration, warmth, and moisture content, earth up is done. To guarantee optimum tuber production, the earth is dragged up around the base of the plant after it reaches a height of 15-20 cm. The second earthing procedure might be carried out two weeks following the first.

Irrigation: Potato crops need frequent irrigation, depending on the moisture content of the soil. There were a total of 5–6 irrigations: one before sowing, one after 3–4 days, and two light irrigations in between. Prior to harvesting, irrigation must be stopped 10–12 days in advance.

Harvesting potatoes: Take out the potato vines two weeks before digging up the potatoes to make harvesting simpler. Potatoes are harvested with a spading fork, a plow, or industrial potato harvesters that dig up the plant and shake or blow the soil away from the tubers, depending on the size of the output. During harvesting, it is essential to avoid bruising or other injuries as these serve as entry routes for storage ᴅɪsᴇᴀsᴇs.

Now let’s watch how to cultivate and harvest with modern farming techniques in the video below:

Source: Complete Agriculture

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