Vernalization is a series of agrotechnical techniques conducted before planting a particular crop. It can include heating, germination in the light, treatment with disinfectants and nutrient solutions. All this leads to an increase in the yield of the plant, including potatoes.
Vernalization of potatoes at home
As practice shows, the vernalization of potatoes before planting brings excellent results. However, such training does not take much time and effort. The cost of money is more than compensated for by a rich and high-quality crop.
So, the terms of vernalization of potatoes will depend on which way you will go - according to the minimum program or the maximum program.
The first is done in this scenario:
- you need to sort out and calibrate the tubers that have overwintered in the vault, removing all the dubious and unusable specimens;
- further, it is necessary to warm up and grow potatoes in the light;
- to protect the potato from pests and diseases, it is necessary to treat it with special solutions.
If you neglect these actions, the mother tubers will long remain under the ground without tangible development, and this threatens the fact that they will be affected by fungal diseases and damaged by soil pests. In addition, shoots of weeds will appear earlier than potato shoots and will continue to outpace their growth and development.
Warm potatoes should be done within 20-30 days before planting and be sure to light. The vernalization temperature of the potato is + 18-20 ° C. At the same humidity should be high - not below 85%, otherwise the tubers will dry up. Maintain humidity by spraying with plain water.
To protect from the Colorado beetle, soil pests and many diseases, use a solution of "Prestige" and "Maxim" in the proportion of 60 ml + 50 ml per 1 liter of water.
If you are a fan of growing potatoes and want to do everything according to the rules, then besides the above described actions, you should learn other secrets of vernalization of potatoes: "bathing" potatoes with a gradual increase in temperature, disinfection with bioorganic drugs and microfertilizers, separation of sprouts (division of tubers) sprouting in a greenhouse with sawdust or substrate and other complex manipulations.