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Potatoes are propagated mainly by tubers, although they can be propagated by layering, cuttings, seeds, and even peels with eyes. Each method has its own characteristics, pros and cons. Step-by-step instructions and practical growing tips can be found in this article.
How do potatoes reproduce?
Potatoes mainly reproduce vegetatively, i.e. without the participation of seeds. This allows for 100% transmission of genetic characteristics from one generation to another. As a rule, vegetative methods are quite simple. For example, it is enough to germinate the tubers, and then plant them in open ground in May and harvest a full harvest in July-August.
But there is also a generative way to propagate potatoes using seeds. In this case, it is possible to save money and space. Seeds take up significantly less space and are easier to deliver and germinate. In addition, they even spend the winter in matchboxes without creating special conditions. However, you have to grow seedlings, which is more difficult than, for example, propagating potatoes with tops. In addition, genes can be combined in different ways, which is why it will not be possible to preserve all varietal characteristics.
That is why, in practice, potatoes are most often bred vegetatively.There are several available methods for this, for example, growing from tubers, as well as propagation by eyes, sprouts and even peel. Step-by-step instructions for each method are provided below.
Tubers
Growing potatoes from tubers is the most common method of propagation. They are sorted in advance, and a month before planting they are laid out in a lighted room with a temperature of 12-15 degrees Celsius. Then proceed like this:
- Lay out in two layers on the floor or in wooden boxes.
- Periodically spray from a spray bottle and turn over.
- Treatment is carried out several times with a growth stimulator, for example, Epin or Zircon.
- After two weeks, with this method of propagation, sprouts will already appear. You must continue to spray with water and turn over.
- At the beginning of May, they are planted in pre-prepared holes according to an established pattern, for example, 70 cm between rows and 30 cm between adjacent tubers.
Classic seeds are not tubers, but rather grains that ripen in green berries. They are collected by hand, stored until spring, and then seedlings are grown.
Thanks to spraying with water, potatoes can germinate in 2-3 weeks
Reproduction by sprouts
This method of propagation is used in cases where there is little planting material. The instructions are:
- Tubers are sprouted in moist soil.
- As soon as the sprouts reach 6 cm, they are separated from the mother root.
- If there are few sprouts, they can be cut into several sections so that each has 1-2 buds.
- Transfer to seedling boxes or separate pots and plant at 2/3 depth.
- Place in a bright place, cover with film, periodically water and ventilate.
- After 3-4 weeks they are transplanted into open ground.
Thanks to this method, it is possible to obtain several batches of seed material at once during the season. Potatoes are quite viable - after cutting off the old sprouts, new ones form in their place. Moreover, the efficiency is high, since each root crop can produce up to 40 sprouts. However, they are demanding in terms of temperature, watering and other growing conditions. In addition, each sprout will produce only 3-5 tubers. Another risk is the possible transmission of a bacterial or fungal infection.
With your eyes
Another vegetative method of propagating potatoes is through eyes. These are conical formations with a diameter of up to 2 cm, which can also produce new layers. The instructions are as follows:
- Back in January-February, large tubers are selected and the eyes are cut out from them (the rest is used for food).
- A month before the planned planting, in early April, the glazes are planted cut side down in loose, fertile soil. You can use a seedling box.
- The soil is treated with Trichodermin or another drug to prevent blackleg.
- For successful propagation, potato eyes are planted at intervals of 5 cm (7 cm between rows).
- Sprinkle with soil up to 1 cm.
- Grow at a temperature of 16-20 degrees in a lighted place, watered periodically.
- After the seedlings grow to 3 cm, they are again sprinkled with soil, then the procedure is repeated two more times.
- When the seedlings reach 10 cm, they can already be transplanted to the site.
Peeled
Potato propagation is possible even with the help of the peel, if it has eyes.They are cut and dried a little, and then planted directly in the soil, and they need to be placed with the eye facing up. Sprinkle with fertile soil and grow in the same way as regular potatoes. The harvest will be small, but then the variety can be propagated in the traditional way using tubers.
Peelings with eyes can also be planted in pots and then transferred to open ground
By layering
Potatoes are also propagated using layering. For this purpose, high-quality tubers without cracks, mechanical damage and signs of disease are selected. You need to do this:
- A month before planting, place them in a lighted place and keep them at a temperature of 15 degrees.
- Place in boxes of peat or loose soil at intervals of 2 cm to a depth of 5 cm.
- Periodically water with water at room temperature.
- Place the boxes in a greenhouse or next to a window - in such propagation conditions, potato seedlings will appear in just 7-10 days.
- When the sprouts reach 6-8 cm, they are simply separated from the mother root crop and planted in a permanent place.
- In this case, the parent tubers can be sprinkled with soil again to obtain new cuttings.
This method of propagation provides tangible advantages - you can get many plants at once, and even large tubers are suitable for cultivation (in this case, size is not important). Although there are also disadvantages associated with the risks of infectious contamination and the complexity of the technology.
The main stages of propagation by layering
Tuber division
Dividing the tuber is not the same as traditionally growing seed potatoes from root crops. With this method of reproduction, the eyes are used. Usually 6-10 such formations appear on a root crop. But only the apical ones are well developed.If they are removed, the rest begin to grow, and then reproduction will be successful.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- A month before planting, seed potatoes are transferred to a cool and well-lit room (temperature up to 15 degrees).
- Place them on the floor or in boxes and periodically spray them with water.
- The next stage of potato propagation is that three weeks after planting, the apical eyes are removed along with a small part of the pulp.
- They are placed in fertile soil for seedlings or wet sawdust to a depth of 1 cm.
- Water periodically.
- For successful propagation, cut potato tubers are placed in dry soil with the cut side up and wait until the remaining eyes begin to grow.
- A week later, the top along with the root is removed and divided into several parts.
- Each fragment is transplanted into open ground according to the chosen scheme.
This propagation method makes it possible to use the main part of potato tubers for food. Moreover, even large root crops can be used for propagation. If you remove the top buds, the rest will begin to grow faster. Although there are disadvantages - the risk of contracting infections increases. In addition, each eye produces a maximum of five tubers.
Cuttings
Another vegetative method of propagating potatoes is using cuttings. It is used in cases where the plants have faded, since at this moment it is no longer possible to obtain eyes or sprouts. The algorithm is like this:
- After all the buds have withered, several side shoots are cut off from the bushes.
- The top part is cut off from each and cuttings are obtained, which must have at least one leaf and a bud in the axil.
- Treat the cuts with a solution of fungicide or potassium permanganate.
- For successful propagation, cuttings are planted in separate boxes with fertile soil. Moreover, the stem must lie horizontally, and the leaf must rise vertically.
- The cuttings should be sprinkled with soil only to 1 cm, leaving all the leaves on the surface.
- Place the containers in a warm, well-lit place and moisten them periodically.
- A month later, when small tubers appear, store them and plant them in open ground the next season. Those. Further propagation of potatoes is carried out in the traditional way from tubers.
Potato cuttings begin after flowering has completed.
This breeding technology allows you to protect plants from fungal and bacterial infections (provided the soil is clean). In addition, potatoes can be grown in a box, which is not so difficult. However, cuttings require good care - stable lighting and moisture. Moreover, each of them produces only one tuber. Therefore, achieving good yields is possible only the next season.
Propagation by seeds
Finally, potatoes can also be propagated by seeds. This is a rare method because it is labor intensive. Therefore, this technology is used only for very valuable, rare varieties. The sequence of actions is as follows:
- In summer, collect seeds from green berries.
- Dry them in a ventilated area or under a shelter.
- Store in matchboxes until March.
- In early spring, sow in boxes with fertile soil for seedlings.
- Place in a warm place, cover with film and water periodically.
- 1.5 months after sowing, transfer the seedlings to the ground - then the potatoes are propagated in the traditional way.
Growing seedlings requires creating suitable conditions, regular watering, fertilizing and loosening the soil.But thanks to this method, it is possible to obtain a large amount of planting material and even develop a new variety.
Combining potato propagation methods
As a rule, potatoes are bred from tubers. But you can also combine different methods of reproduction. Practice shows that this method allows you to significantly increase the amount of planting material (8-10 times). The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- Propagate the tubers by sprouts, cut them and plant them.
- Divide the root vegetable into several parts so that each has one eye. Plant in the ground.
- After the bushes reach 20 cm, divide them into several parts.
- After the flowering phase is complete, take cuttings from the plants.
Conclusion
Potatoes reproduce in different ways. Mostly, summer residents and farmers use vegetative methods, since they give good results with minimal labor costs. Although in some cases potatoes are also grown from seeds. Thanks to this, it is even possible to obtain a new variety with a unique combination of properties.
