Handling potatoes during the summer.

From the moment the plants peek through the soil, the best thing you can do for fast, healthy growth is hoe between rows whenever the soil is dry enough.

The reason for this is that the hoe will keep weeds under control and at the same time conserve water by forming a fine tillage.

In poor soils, it would be helpful to give an old soot bandage before the plants are grounded. This should be done when the soil is damp and then it is a good idea to remove the soot.

Some growers tend to think that the question of the best time to make land is of little importance, however, the time of this work is quite important in the life of their potatoes.

If the plants are grounded too early, you will not be able to dig between the rows, and if you do so too late, there is a chance that you will bruise the young leaves and this will make them more vulnerable to potato disease, which they need to be.

In general, potatoes should be grounded when the plants are five to six inches tall. As a precaution against disease, the soil should be stretched up to the plants so that the ridge, with a nice fine point, is secured.

Some growers ground potatoes in such a way that the soil is left in a flat state on top, and this is done to make the most of the summer rains.

Aside from the fact that this method is questionable as to whether or not this flat ridge helps to catch more rain, there can be no doubt that in a season where there may be a lot of disease, a flat ridge is a problem. helps spread the problem.

For the grower to fully understand this, it is necessary to point out that the tiny organism responsible for disease outbreaks always attacks the underside of the leaves.

The small puncture that was made spreads rapidly, and the disease spores are at the edge of the spread circle. These spores are always falling, and if a flat ridge forms, the spores fall on this ridge damaging the upper tubercles. By using the pointed ridge system, diseased spores will fall harmlessly between rows.

Store your potatoes:

Once your crop is harvested, you need a system to store it for the winter. If you only have a small amount, then any cool, dry shed or cellar can be used.

The tent should be frost-proof and dark, with no light coming in. One way to do this is to throw sacks or straw on the pile of potatoes.

Be sure to check the potatoes as you store them. If you notice sick or bruised potatoes, discard them so you don’t infect them whole.

A good way to avoid problems, it would be useful to throw a few handfuls of lime on the pile.

If you don’t have space in your shed, another method of storing your harvest would be to make a clamp or a hole in your garden, covering the potatoes with a good layer of straw and placing them on these two feet of soil. Then you scoop out the potatoes when you need them, making sure to cover the remaining potatoes.