Growing potatoes in a barrel: technology, video, reviews

Potato belongs to the category of common crops, so every gardener grows it. But not always the size of the plot allows you to get a sufficient number of tubers. In this case, gardeners resort to unusual methods, one of them is growing potatoes in a barrel. For the idea to be successful, it is necessary to study in advance the features of planting and further care of the crop when using this method.

Growing potatoes in barrels guarantees an early harvest

Why plant potatoes in a barrel

This method of landing in the first place makes it possible to save space on the site. After all, a barrel replaces a garden bed measuring 2 square meters. m. Moreover, it can be placed anywhere, even where there is no fertile layer of the earth, the main thing is that the plants are evenly lit.

Planting potatoes in a barrel makes it possible to get a crop much earlier than when grown in open ground. This is due to the fact that the substrate in the container warms up much faster, and also remains loose and breathable throughout the season. In addition, the yield of potato bushes when grown in a barrel is much higher than when grown in a traditional way. This is due to the significant growth of the root system of the culture under favorable conditions.

The advantages and disadvantages of the method

The method of growing potatoes in a barrel has its strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, you need to familiarize yourself with them in advance in order to avoid problems later.

Potatoes in barrels are not affected by late blight, regardless of weather conditions

The main advantages of this growing method:

• space saving;
• increase in productivity;
• early ripening of tubers;
• reduction in labor costs;
• soil can be reused;
• it is possible to land much earlier than usual;
• the possibility of placing the barrel in any lighted place;
• fertilizer savings;
• plants are better supplied with heat and light;
• increased culture resistance to diseases.

Disadvantages:

• the purchase of a sufficient amount of packaging is required;
• the need to fill barrels with nutrient soil;
• regular watering throughout the season;
• cannot completely replace the traditional one.

Growing potatoes in a barrel step by step

To successfully grow potatoes in a barrel, you need to properly prepare the container, soil and tubers. It is also required to land and provide further care, taking into account the features of the method. Only if all recommendations are followed, the end result will exceed all expectations.

Barrel selection and preparation

You can plant potatoes in any barrel with a volume of at least 7 liters and a height of more than 50 cm. It can also be grown in sugar bags, old tires and wooden tubs or boxes of a suitable size, in mesh structures, the walls of which are lined with straw.

Before planting, the bottom of the container or bag must be removed for the unhindered removal of excess water. It is also necessary to make holes in the side walls with a diameter of about 1 cm for access of oxygen to the roots of the plant during the growing process, which will ensure the full development of the underground part. It is recommended to do them at a distance of 15 cm from each other.

And to facilitate watering in the future, you need to install a vertical perforated hose or a plastic pipe with holes in the barrel, the upper part of which should be brought out.

The barrel for growing potatoes must be stable

Soil preparation

In order for potatoes to be able to please a good harvest with this method of cultivation, it is necessary to prepare nutritious soil. It is recommended to do this in the fall or at least three weeks in advance for planting. The best option may be a soil mixture consisting of turf, humus in equal volume.

It is also additionally recommended to add microbiological fertilizer Em-Bokashi to the substrate for growing potatoes in a barrel at the rate of 100 g per 10 liters of land. After that, mix thoroughly, cover with dark agrofibre and leave for 20 days.

Preparing the tubers

The yield of potatoes grown in barrels and other containers directly depends on the quality of the planting material and its preparation. Therefore, it is necessary to select tubers of medium size, regular shape with a sufficient number of eyes. They must be free of damage and signs of disease.

Planting material must be brought into a warm place for a month in the room and the temperature should be kept within + 12-15 ° С. It is recommended to soak the tubers for 45 minutes in a special solution. For its preparation, it is necessary to use 40 g of superphosphate, 30 g of potassium sulfide, 2 g of boric acid, 5 g of copper sulfate per 10 liters of water. After soaking, planting material is recommended to be laid out in one layer on a flat surface for uniform emergence of sprouts.

Pre-germination of tubers increases yield by 30-50%

How to plant potatoes in a barrel

Potatoes belong to the category of light-loving crops, so when growing them in a barrel, the container must be installed so as to provide good illumination throughout the day. The best option may be the southern and southwestern sides of the site. When planting potatoes in a barrel, it is necessary to initially fill the container ½ of the height with a nutrient substrate and moisten it well. After the water is absorbed, you need to spread the sprouted tubers at a distance of 20 cm from each other. And then sprinkle them with a layer of nutrient substrate 10 cm thick and level the surface.

As soon as shoots appear and the shoots reach a height of 3-4 cm, the substrate must be added to the container again. Its layer should be 10 cm. It is recommended to repeat the procedure several times as the aerial part of the potato grows. You can sprinkle the culture when planting in the first decade of May until mid-June. This procedure ensures the growth of the root system of the plant, which is the key to a good harvest.

Care after landing

This method of cultivation greatly simplifies the care of the culture. Indeed, in this case, the bushes completely fill the space in the container, which prevents the growth of weeds. In this case, weeding is not required. It is enough only to periodically loosen the top layer of soil at an early stage of crop development, if necessary.

You can install barrels along buildings and a fence if they do not create a shadow for potatoes

This method of cultivation requires regular watering. After all, the moisture in the barrel will quickly evaporate, as it is constantly in the sun. Therefore, potatoes need to be watered more often than with the traditional method of growing. For this, it is recommended to use settled water at the rate of 3 liters per bush.

To get a high yield, barrel-grown potatoes need to be fed three times per season. First time use chicken manure 1:15 or mullein 1:10 at the first germination stage. This stimulates the active growth of green mass. The second and third feeding is recommended during the formation of buds and after flowering. During these periods, it is recommended to use 40 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulfide per 10 liters of water. Potato bushes grown in a barrel should be watered with a nutrient solution at the rate of 1 liter per plant. Top dressing should be done the next day after moistening, so as not to burn the roots of the plant.

Cleaning

Harvesting, grown in a barrel, can be carried out as soon as the tops begin to turn yellow sharply. This sign indicates that the peel of the tubers has already coarsened, which means that the harvested fruits are suitable for long-term storage. To collect, it is enough to simply turn the barrel over and shake out the substrate along with the crop. After that, it remains only to collect the tubers, dry them for a month in a dark room, and then transfer them to the basement for long-term storage.

Harvesting should be done in the morning in dry, clear weather.

Conclusion

Growing potatoes in a barrel allows you to get a good crop of crops even in areas not intended for sowing. To achieve maximum productivity when using this method, it is necessary to follow the rules for preparing the container, substrate and planting tubers. It is also recommended to take into account the recommendations for care, as it has some important features.

Reviews about growing potatoes in a barrel