Contents
Planting potatoes in the Leningrad region is necessary, taking into account regional characteristics. It is in the northwestern region that climatic disasters most often occur: the air temperature changes sharply. Such jumps will lead to crop loss if you do not know the nuances of planting.
When to plant potatoes in the Leningrad region
The optimal time to start work is the first weeks of May, when birch buds begin to bloom. It is necessary that the soil has time to warm up to a depth of 10 cm.
The air temperature should not be lower than + 8-12 ° С
Planting potatoes in the Leningrad region in 2022 according to the lunar calendar
Experts are sure that you can succeed in the cultivation of vegetables if you adhere to the lunar calendar. On the new moon and full moon, it is best to postpone all work on planting potatoes in the Leningrad Region. But periods of growth or decline are the optimal time for action.
At the same time, when the night star goes into decline, it is recommended not only to plant tubers, but also to spud and feed the plant.
In 2022, all work is best planned for May 1-6, 10, 11, 15, 17 or 19. For gardeners who did not have time to complete everything necessary on time, two favorable numbers remain: 27 and 31.
If spring comes late, then landing is allowed in the Leningrad region and in June – 1-3, 7-9, 12 and 14 numbers.
Growing potatoes in the Leningrad region
To get a good harvest, it is not enough to place the tuber in the ground and water it periodically. It is necessary to take into account the composition of the soil, the climate and the quality of the potatoes. Depending on these factors, you can choose the best landing method.
Soil preparation
When working with potatoes in the Leningrad region, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules when choosing a place and soil for beds:
- the area should be well lit by sunlight throughout the day;
- the plot is flat, without slope and lowlands;
- the soil is loose, fertile, rich in nutrients;
- the earth is a loamy or sandy loamy soil.
One of the mandatory stages of working with the soil is digging the earth to the depth of a shovel bayonet in spring or autumn.
Preparing the tubers for planting
If you immediately place the potatoes in the holes without pre-treatment, then the seedlings will have to wait a very long time. It is recommended to purchase seed a month before the start of work.
Potatoes need to be inspected, specimens with cracks or mold, traces of rot should be removed. Optimal tubers for planting in the Leningrad region should be clean, medium in size, without signs of disease.
Potatoes must be sprouted. To do this, put them in a box in one layer and hide them in a place where sunlight does not fall. The temperature in the room should be +13-16 °С during the day and at least +10 °С at night.
Germination usually takes 3-4 weeks
The scheme of planting potatoes in the Leningrad region
The choice of method depends not only on the decision of the gardener, but also on the composition of the soil. If the soil is light and sandy, then it is recommended to plant potatoes “under a shovel”. If the site has a heavy clay soil mixture, then it is best to use the Dutch method: place the tubers in the ridges.
Planting depth is one of the important indicators, which is influenced by the type of soil, the size of the seed. Most often, this indicator is 8-12 cm. If potatoes are placed too close to the surface, it will turn green.
It is necessary to observe the distance between the potatoes, and between the rows. This will allow the culture to get enough nutrients. The optimal distance between rows is 70-80 cm. The distance between small tubers should be 20-22 cm, medium 25-27 cm, and large 30-33 cm.
The most popular landing method is “under the shovel”. The technology of work is simple: make a hole, put fertilizer in it, if this was not done during digging, and then place the potato tubers there with the sprouts up. Cover the material with earth, level the soil.
A significant drawback of the “under the shovel” method is the difficulty in caring for shrubs.
There is another way to get a harvest. To do this, gardeners in the Leningrad region use the Dutch planting technology.
Work algorithm:
- Make furrows up to 15 cm deep, maintaining a distance of 75-80 cm.
- Place the tubers in the ridges with the sprouts up. During planting, there should be a distance of 30 cm between the potatoes. The material should be placed at the highest point of the ridge to a depth of 15 cm.
- Planting furrows is required alternately.
- Cover potatoes with soil.
When planting potatoes in the ridges of the Leningrad region, the culture will receive all the necessary substances, enough light and air
Growing potatoes in a greenhouse
This method is suitable for gardeners seeking to get the most abundant harvest in the shortest possible time.
In the Leningrad region, potatoes should be planted in April. The technology for placing tubers in the ground remains the same. Care is no different.
The advantages of planting potatoes in a greenhouse are the absence of pests, the ability to create the necessary microclimate.
To further reduce the time for growing crops, gardeners do not neglect seedlings. To do this, 3-4 weeks before planting, the sprouted tubers are placed in peat pots with soil.
Care after landing
One of the important stages of agricultural technology in the cultivation of potatoes is hilling. This procedure reduces the risk of tuber greening. The root system after hilling will become more powerful, the shrubs themselves will be stronger. As a result of such care, potatoes are not afraid of temperature changes, drafts. Hilling is also a good way to kill weeds.
Stages of work:
- The first hilling is carried out 2-3 weeks after planting. The plant should reach a height of at least 10 cm. It is necessary to cover the bushes with earth, leaving 2-3 cm from the top.
- If the soil is clayey and heavy, then 2-3 weeks after the first. The tops should be at least 12-15 cm in height. No more than 5 cm of sprouts should protrude above the ground.
- When the bushes reach 30 cm in height, it is necessary to carry out the third hilling. It is necessary to fill up the plant in such a way that shoots up to 30 cm long protrude above the ground.
The Leningrad region is characterized by a rainy climate, so potatoes should be watered after planting only during a hot period. The plant needs water during the flowering period.
Conclusion
You can plant potatoes in the Leningrad region both in open ground and in a greenhouse. Gardeners get an excellent harvest, provided they provide the crop with proper care. When planting potatoes, regional climatic features and soil composition should be taken into account.
