Content
The Chinese method of planting potatoes is different in that the tubers are planted at a very deep depth of 50 cm. Then they are gradually covered with soil as the shoots grow. This allows for a constant flow of air to the roots. Therefore, each bush grows more actively and can produce up to 10-20 kg of root crops.
Features of the Chinese method of planting potatoes
The Chinese grow potatoes in a special way. The main task is to activate the growth of underground shoots (stolons), at the end of which tubers are formed. To do this, plant the tubers deeply and monitor how they grow. As soon as new stems appear, they are covered with fertile soil with materials that provide air flow. This allows you to get a lot of root vegetables and saves space.
Since Chinese planting requires deep deepening, not all varieties are suitable for this method of cultivation.In addition, it is worth considering that in the climatic conditions of some Russian regions, the planting time will have to wait, because at a depth of more than 15 cm the soil warms up much more slowly.
In this regard, it is recommended to choose the following varieties:
- Bellarosa (White Rose);
- Luck;
- Bernina;
- Madeira;
- Zhukovsky early;
- Giant.
When choosing potato varieties, it is important to take into account the climatic characteristics of the region. Since planting dates shift when growing in Chinese, you have to choose early or middle varieties. The later ones are suitable only for the North Caucasus, Krasnodar Territory and other southern regions.
How is it different from normal
Potatoes in China are planted in a special way, which differs from the usual one. The difference is due to several points:
- When preparing, a small groove 1 cm wide is cut out of the tubers.
- Planting is carried out to a much greater depth - about 50-60 cm.
- The dates usually shift by 1-2 weeks - accordingly, the harvest is also harvested later.
- The variety for planting is chosen more carefully - it must have time to ripen and be very productive.
- A small interval of 20-30 cm is left between the bushes.
- Ripening tubers are sprinkled with soil containing sawdust, sand or other material that makes the soil less dense.
- Hilling is not carried out.
Thanks to Chinese planting, there is no need to hill up potatoes
Otherwise, agricultural technology in Chinese is not much different from traditional ones. Tubers must be germinated before planting, then planted in holes and trenches, as described below.There are also no fundamental differences in harvesting and storing the crop.
Pros and cons of planting potatoes the Chinese way
A review of the practice and reviews of summer residents about the technology of growing potatoes in Chinese shows that this method has several objective advantages:
- a significant increase in yield - you can harvest up to 20 kg from 1 bush;
- saving sown area by 1.5-2 times;
- saving tubers for planting in Chinese style;
- less labor costs - no need to constantly engage in weeding and hilling.
- the frequency of watering decreases;
- the invasion of Colorado potato beetles is decreasing.
But there are also disadvantages to growing potatoes the Chinese way:
- despite the fact that caring for potatoes is easier, the planting process itself is labor-intensive - you have to dig deep holes;
- not all varieties are suitable for this technology;
- planting dates in a number of regions are significantly shifted;
- you will have to constantly loosen the soil.
Chinese agricultural technology is acceptable only for some regions of Russia. It is known that it is used, for example, in Eastern Siberia. You can try growing it in the middle zone, the Volga region, and the Black Earth Region. But since the method has its own characteristics, the choice of varieties must be approached with special attention.
Chinese method of growing potatoes
The features of Chinese agricultural technology are mainly related to planting technology. To do this, two methods are used - the formation of holes and trenches. Step-by-step instructions with photos are presented below.
Preparing potatoes for planting
Before planting in Chinese style, it is very important to properly prepare the potatoes. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- First, the seed is carefully sorted by appearance and size. It is necessary to leave potatoes the size of eggs.They must be completely healthy - dense, uniform in color, without mechanical damage or signs of disease.
- An incision is made in the middle in the form of a groove 1-1.5 cm wide, as shown in the photo.
- 3-4 weeks before the expected date of work, the tubers must be transferred to a cool, well-lit room with a temperature of 12-15 degrees and a relative humidity of no more than 70%.
- For Chinese planting, potatoes are placed in 2-3 rows on the floor or in wooden boxes.
- Periodically spray with water and turn so that the sprouts have enough light.
- The day before planting, Chinese potatoes are sprayed with a fungicide solution. To do this, you can use the following drugs: “Prestige”, “Quadris” or “Fitosporin”.
Soil preparation
The place for planting Chinese potatoes should be well lit and located on a hill. It is important to exclude lowlands where rainwater accumulates. Good precursors for potatoes are all legumes, as well as cruciferous vegetables. Representatives of nightshade and pumpkin plants are bad.
The area is first cleaned and the soil is dug up. It is not necessary to fertilize it, since a lot of fertilizer will be applied during planting - this is one of the features of Chinese agricultural technology. It is important to note that the soil must be loose. Therefore, if it contains a lot of clay, it is necessary to add sawdust or sand in the amount of 1 kg per square meter.
When digging, they get rid of stones and break up large clods of earth. The site will be small because space can be saved. Already during preparation for planting Chinese potatoes, you can visually mark several rows with an interval of no more than 60-70 cm.
Planting potatoes using the Chinese method in a hole
When choosing this method, agricultural techniques in Chinese operate as follows:
- Dig holes at least 50 cm deep. They should be slightly larger in diameter (60-70 cm).
- Half a bucket of humus, a glass of wood ash, and 40 g of superphosphate are placed in each hole. The resulting mixture is mixed with soil taken from the very bottom.
- To properly plant potatoes in Chinese style, two sprouted tubers are planted in the mixture.
- Cover with a small layer of soil - up to 8-10 cm in height. Water thoroughly with settled water.
- In a few weeks, stems will appear. As soon as the sprouts become 12-15 cm high, they are covered so that the tops of 5 cm remain.
- After they grow another 15 cm, they are again covered with soil in the same way. When growing in Chinese style, the procedure is repeated several more times until the pit is level with the ground.
Planting potatoes using Chinese technology in a trench
In order not to dig one hole after another, it is easier to make trenches. If you choose this method of planting in Chinese, you need to proceed like this:
- Dig a trench with the same width and depth - at least 50 cm. Its length will run along the entire bed in the direction from north to south (as with the traditional method of agricultural technology).
- Next, make several holes at intervals of 30-40 cm. Their volume should be equal to half a bucket (5 l). When planting Chinese-style potatoes, a mixture of soil (1 part) and fertilizer (1 part): ash, humus, superphosphate (all three components in equal quantities) is placed in the resulting holes.
- Next, two sprouted tubers, prepared before planting in Chinese (as described above), are planted in each hole. Sprinkle the top with soil (layer no more than 10 cm) and thoroughly sprinkle with water.
- As new shoots appear, sprinkle a little more fertile soil. They move in the same mode until the hole is completely filled with earth.
Potatoes under film and in a greenhouse
Planting potatoes using Chinese technology can be done in a greenhouse or greenhouse. This option is suitable for northern regions with short summers. The essence of the technology is exactly the same, but to additionally warm the soil, burning coal is placed in the dug trench.
It is allowed to lie there until it burns completely, then the soil should cool. The best option is if the temperature in the pit is consistently above 18 degrees. It is quite possible to maintain it in greenhouse or greenhouse conditions.
How to care for potatoes
To get a good potato harvest using the Chinese planting method, as in the video, it is important to organize proper care. The basic recommendations are exactly the same as for the conventional cultivation method. The only difference is that there is no need to hill up. Potatoes also practically do not need weeding, so it is rarely done.
Watering is given regularly, especially if grown in Chinese in regions with insufficient moisture. Water is poured every 7-10 days, and in severe drought - twice a week. The consumption rate is a bucket for 2-3 bushes. Moreover, it is advisable to pour it between rows. Simultaneously with watering, you can give a solution of humus or wood ash. It is enough to do this twice a month.
To keep the soil moist longer, plantings are mulched with sawdust or other materials. They should also be used when planting.Mulch not only prevents rapid drying out, but also repels pests.
Feeding is given several times per season:
- After planting, when the seedlings reach 10-15 cm, humus is placed in the planting hole. In this case, a layer no more than 5 cm high should remain on the surface.
- After the tops become high (30-40 cm), repeat the same action. Moreover, they pour so much so that the hole dug during planting is completely filled with earth.
- During the period of bud formation, complex mineral fertilizer is given. Instead, you can pour a mixture of superphosphate (40 g per 10 l) and potassium salt (25 g per 10 l).
To get a good harvest, it is recommended to fertilize 2-3 times per season.
As already mentioned, hilling is not necessary. Chinese potatoes also practically do not need weeding. But after planting, it is worth regularly loosening. This is especially important to do after heavy watering and heavy rains. Otherwise, the surface layer of soil will be compressed and the roots will not receive enough oxygen. When planting potatoes in Chinese style, this is unacceptable.
Another feature of care is that after the buds appear, they need to be cut off almost completely, without waiting for the berries to ripen. It is enough to leave a maximum of three buds on each plant. After the flowers fade, you can dig up the first crop.
It is also important to monitor the spread of diseases and pest infestations. Even resistant varieties, when grown in Chinese style, can suffer from late blight on tops and tubers, scab and other infections. Therefore, after planting and the appearance of mass shoots, it is important to treat with fungicides. For this purpose the following compositions are used:
- "Maksim";
- "Prestige";
- "Fitosporin";
- "Bordeaux mixture";
- "Ordan".
Potatoes grown in Chinese style can suffer from Colorado potato beetles, mole crickets, aphids and other dangerous pests. When the first signs of invasion are detected, it is recommended to treat with insecticides:
- "Aktara";
- "Ephoria";
- "Karate";
- "Fufanon";
- "Green Soap"
Conclusion
The Chinese method of planting potatoes is not yet widespread in Russia. However, it gives good results - you can collect at least 10 kg from a bush, rather than the usual 3-4 kg. Therefore, you can apply this method in your own household. Features of growing potatoes using Chinese technology are shown in the video.
