Content
- 1 When to plant potatoes in the Moscow region in 2024
- 2 Planting potatoes in the Moscow region in 2024 according to the lunar calendar
- 3 Do they plant potatoes before winter in the Moscow region?
- 4 Growing potatoes in the Moscow region in open ground
- 5 Growing potatoes in a greenhouse
- 6 Care after landing
- 7 Conclusion
The procedure for planting potatoes is not as simple as it seems at first glance. One of the most important points is to choose the right time when to plant potatoes in the Moscow region and other regions. There are no clearly defined deadlines, so gardeners take into account many nuances, ranging from their own experience, the climate in the region, the weather forecast for spring and ending with folk signs and recommendations of the lunar calendar.
When to plant potatoes in the Moscow region in 2024
Potato planting in the Moscow region begins no earlier than the substrate warms up to 8-10 °C, and the daytime air temperature settles at 15-18 °C. Taking into account the peculiarities of the local climate, the procedure can be planned for the last days of April or the first half of May.
Early ripening varieties and hybrids are often planted in the summer - up to the tenth day of June
In addition to long-term weather forecasts, gardeners often rely on folk signs. According to them, you can start planting potatoes in the Moscow region and other regions in April-May when:
- the bird cherry blossoms;
- dandelions begin to “scatter” fluff;
- Birch leaves are roughly comparable in size to penny coins.
Planting potatoes in the Moscow region in 2024 according to the lunar calendar
Taking into account the recommendations of the lunar calendar is a popular method among gardeners for choosing the most favorable days for planting potatoes in the Moscow region and other regions. According to it, the full moon, new moon, as well as the days preceding and following it are immediately excluded.
It is necessary to plant tubers and root crops during the waning moon, when all the “vital juices” of plants are concentrated in the root system. In addition to the phase, they also take into account in which Zodiacal constellation the Earth’s satellite is located.
Fertile signs include:
- Calf;
- Cancer;
- Scales;
- Scorpion;
- Capricorn;
- Fish.
The following are considered neutral:
- Twins;
- Virgo;
- Sagittarius.
The most unfavorable time for planting potatoes in the Moscow region is when the moon is at:
- Aries;
- Lev;
- Aquarius.
Do they plant potatoes before winter in the Moscow region?
The climate in the Moscow region, compared to many Russian regions, is quite warm. Winters are most often snowy and not too severe; frequent and prolonged thaws are not typical for them.All this makes it possible to plant potatoes in the Moscow region before winter and obtain early harvests.
Growing potatoes in the Moscow region in open ground
There are no specific features in planting and caring for potatoes in the Moscow region compared to other regions. The nuances of agricultural technology are determined by the characteristics of the selected variety or hybrid.
Soil preparation
A place for planting potatoes in the Moscow region is chosen based on the following criteria:
- good lighting;
- the presence of protection from sudden gusts of wind and drafts;
- a substrate that combines fertility with medium density;
- neutral or slightly acidic pH (5.0-5.5);
- absence of prerequisites for constant waterlogging of the substrate.
Preparing a site for planting potatoes in the Moscow region necessarily begins with digging up the soil to a depth of 25-30 cm. At the same time, the bed is cleared of weeds and other debris. The “standard set” of fertilizers includes organic matter (humus or rotted compost) and complex mineral supplements.
If the quality of the substrate leaves much to be desired, in the process of preparing a bed for planting potatoes in the Moscow region, certain shortcomings can be corrected. For example, coarse sand is added to heavy soil. The acidified one is “neutralized” with slaked lime, dolomite flour, and crushed chalk. For an alkaline substrate, the pH is normalized by adding peat, fresh sawdust from coniferous trees, and pine needles.
It is enough to dig a bed for planting potatoes to a depth of approximately one spade bayonet
Preparing tubers for planting
Preparing potato tubers for planting in the Moscow region begins with their thorough inspection. Copies even with minor damage are immediately rejected. “Conditional” ones are sent for germination in a bright room with good ventilation and a constant temperature of 12-15 ° C.
Further actions are determined taking into account the characteristics of the potato variety or hybrid chosen for planting: its susceptibility to certain diseases, susceptibility to damage by certain pests, general endurance. Depending on the “weak points,” the tubers are treated with solutions of suitable biostimulants, insecticides or fungicides, using both store-bought preparations and folk remedies. It is also practiced to “warm them up” at a temperature of about 40 °C.
Germination of tubers promotes the rapid emergence of seedlings and plant development - this is especially true for late varieties and hybrids
Planting scheme
The standard scheme for planting potatoes is the same for the Moscow region and for any other region. The approximate interval between tubers is 35-40 cm, row spacing is 60-70 cm. However, the dimensions of adult plants must be taken into account. If the bushes are very spreading and/or tall, the distances between tubers and between rows of plantings are increased by 15-30 cm.
Growing potatoes in a greenhouse
Potatoes can be grown in heated greenhouses all year round. In “cold” weather, tubers planting in the Moscow region begins no earlier than the end of March. A more realistic date is the first half of April.By this time, the soil temperature at a depth of 10-12 cm should be at least 6 °C, and the air should warm up to 18-20 °C.
Potato varieties for “greenhouse” planting in the Moscow region are chosen early or ultra-early. Tubers, as well as for open ground, are germinated and treated with insecticides and fungicides. The recommended planting pattern is 20x40 cm. The holes must be filled with humus.
Potatoes in greenhouses need more frequent watering than in open ground (every 10-12 days) and high-quality fertilizer. It is also necessary to regularly inspect the plantings for symptoms characteristic of disease and pest attacks.
Potatoes are rarely grown “for oneself” in a greenhouse; most often this is practiced on an industrial scale
Care after landing
Basic agricultural technology for potatoes in the Moscow region is limited to:
- By watering. In the absence of precipitation, potato beds in the Moscow region are watered once every 15-20 days. It is also advisable to moisten the soil approximately 3 weeks after planting and at the stage of mass bud formation. 12-15 days before the expected harvest, watering is excluded.
- Loosening. In “packed” soil, normal development of tubers is impossible, so it is recommended to loosen the beds every 2-2.5 weeks and “outside the schedule” (after watering and heavy rains).
- Feeding. If the soil is fertile, the bushes will have enough nutrients added when preparing the bed. The standard scheme includes three fertilizing: nitrogen when the stems reach a height of 8-10 cm, and complex during flowering and 7-10 days after it.
- Hilling up.Helps increase productivity. Potato plantings are hilled at least twice - when the stems stretch 12-15 cm and 2-2.5 weeks after the first time.
The main thing is to prevent the soil from drying out during flowering; it is at this time that tubers form
Conclusion
You need to plant potatoes in the Moscow region on time, otherwise you can’t count on a good harvest. The timing has to be determined “individually” every year; each gardener has proven methods. No less important for the future harvest is the preliminary preparation of the bed and tubers, adherence to the planting algorithm, and knowledge of the basic principles of crop care.
