Kerbovka potatoes: what is it, how to properly cut

Kerbovka potatoes – a procedure for making shallow incisions above the kidney in the form of a ring or arc (“moon”). It allows you to increase productivity by stimulating the growth of lateral buds. It is recommended to carry out kerbovka a few weeks before planting.

Why cut potatoes before planting

Any variety of potato needs preliminary preparation before planting. Usually, the procedures are started 3-4 weeks before the May holidays, i.e. in the first half of April.

Along with the standard procedures (put out in the light, periodically spray with water, pickle in a fungicide or potassium permanganate solution), some summer residents recommend kerbovka. These are small incisions above the eyes up to 10 mm deep.

Due to this, previously dormant lateral buds are activated in the tubers. Therefore, seedlings will be practically guaranteed – about 95-100% of the seeds will sprout.

In addition, the stems will form together, evenly. This will avoid the appearance of small tubers. In general, the Kerbovka procedure contributes not only to an increase in yield, but also to the appearance of approximately the same root crops of an attractive, marketable appearance. That is why it is held on the eve of planting potatoes.

In order for the incision to give the desired effect, it is necessary to take into account several rules:

1. Decide on the timing – usually the procedure is planned 3-4 weeks before planting. But even if this time is missed, you can do it in a week.
2. Work only with warm planting material. It is first taken out of storage and allowed to lie down for a day at room temperature. The cut parts are also stored at room conditions.
3. Do not work in the sun and do not leave the tubers under open light, because of this they will subsequently rot in the soil.
4. Before kerbovka, be sure to disinfect both tubers and tools.

Advantages and disadvantages

Kerbovka as a way to prepare potatoes for planting has several advantages.

Thanks to kerbovka, the tubers become larger, small root crops are not found

Pros:

• increase in productivity;
• stimulating the growth of previously dormant buds;
• uniform distribution of nutrients;
• shredding prevention;
• potatoes are attractive.

Cons:

• additional preparation is required (keep at room temperature, disinfect);
• tubers can be infected;
• it is necessary to work carefully, leaving sections with a depth of no more than 10 mm.

Terms of kerbovka

The success of the potato picking procedure depends on the time at which it is performed. Most experienced summer residents agree that work should be started immediately after removing the tubers from the storage location. This usually happens in the first half of April, i.e. four weeks before landing.

Kerbovka can be done earlier, for example, five weeks before planting. At this moment, small annular cuts are made on the tubers with a depth of 5-8 mm, a maximum of 10 mm. Sometimes it is allowed to leave an incision up to 15 mm – some gardeners believe that this is a more effective way. Therefore, it is worth experimenting and independently determining the optimal depth.

Disinfection and preparation

Before kerbovka, potatoes and tools for work must be prepared. To do this is quite simple:

1. Lay out the planting material on a table or other surface.
2. Keep at room temperature for a day.
3. Soak in a solution of potassium permanganate 1 g per 1 liter or fungicide (according to instructions) for 30 minutes.
4. Treat knife blades or a teaspoon with the same solution.

After carrying out the kerbovka, the incised places of the potato should also be disinfected. To do this, they are sprinkled with ash or crushed charcoal powder. If it is not available, you can use regular activated charcoal from a pharmacy.

Then the root crops are placed in boxes in 2-3 layers, placed in a cool (12-15 degrees) and lit room. They are periodically sprayed from a spray bottle and turned over. After two weeks, sprouts will appear en masse, and after another 10-15 days, you can start planting. Usually the deadline falls on the May holidays.

How to properly cut potatoes before planting

An incision on a potato during planting can be made in 2 ways – in the form of a ring or a moon. Both options are described in the following sections.

Annular incision of potatoes before planting

You can make a kerbovka over each eye in the lower region of the potato root. But dealing with each is quite troublesome. Therefore, it will be easier if you make an incision exactly in the middle of the root crop. This is the ring method of kerbovka. The incision is made with a sharp knife, and its depth should not exceed 10 mm, so you need to work carefully.

Ring kerbovka

Another rule is that the cut should not be perfectly straight. Since the eyes lie at different depths, they need to be bypassed with a knife. Previously, the knife is disinfected in potassium permanganate or in another antiseptic.

moon-shaped kerbovka

This is another way of kerbovka, it also improves the survival of tubers and increases yield. Unlike the annular incision, the work is carried out not with a knife, but with an ordinary teaspoon. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Hold the tuber in a solution of potassium permanganate 1 g per 1 liter for 20 minutes.
2. Dry well on the table.
3. Make an incision over each eye with a teaspoon up to 10 mm deep.

moon notch

What varieties of potatoes can be cut

If you perform the kerbovka of potatoes correctly, then you can take almost any variety for work. Even early-ripening varieties that grow quickly do not always have time to give a crop in the northern regions. In this case, stimulation of the appearance of sprouts is mandatory, including with the help of an incision.

There is no strictly defined list of varieties that can or cannot be cut, since this method of preparation is relatively new. At the same time, one can find data on the effect of kerbovka on the germination of such varieties as Red Scarlett and Adretta in the climatic conditions of the Oryol region. The study showed that after the cutting procedure, the yield of these crops increased by 15-20% compared to the control group, which was grown in the traditional way.

Conclusion

Kerbovki potatoes – a relatively new procedure for preparing tubers for planting. Experienced summer residents claim that it allows you to increase productivity by 15-20%. Therefore, it is worth experimenting and making a separate bed, comparing the results in the fall with the control group.

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