What are the key management techniques for potatoes during the flowering stage?

The potato is a common crop in China, grown in almost every household, and to grow potatoes well, you need to do a good job with basic tasks such as water and fertilizer management and pest and disease control. So what are the management techniques for potatoes during the flowering stage?

1. Appropriate topdressing

After potatoes bloom, apply nitrogen fertilizer to plots with short, yellow, and weak potato plants, generally applying 5 kg of urea per mu, topdressing plant by plant; for plots where plants grow vigorously, mainly apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizer, with 15 kg of phosphate fertilizer and plant ash per mu, and specific adjustments can be made appropriately according to potato growth and soil conditions to ensure the nutrient needs of potatoes during the flowering stage.

For plots with weak plant growth and yellowing leaves, carry out foliar spraying in time, choosing a sunny afternoon, spraying a mixed solution of 0.3% potassium dihydrogen phosphate and 0.3% manganese sulfate or 0.3% urea; the concentration should not be too high, so as to avoid burning the plant leaves. Spray “pacloputrazol” in time for regulation, promoting the transformation from vegetative growth to reproductive growth and preventing excessive vegetative growth.

2. Timely watering

Water in time during the flowering stage. Generally, when rainfall is low, irrigate in time so that the soil moisture content reaches 70-80%, which is beneficial for tuber formation and expansion. Water should be applied along the furrow, and it is best not to let it flow over the top of the ridge to prevent the soil surface from crusting.

3. Timely intertillage

When potatoes are at the bud stage and the full-flowering expansion stage, loosen the soil once each time. For the first hilling, a height of 3-4 cm is best, and for the second hilling, a height of 4-5 cm is best, to promote tuber expansion and prevent tubers from being exposed and turning green.

4. Timely topping

After potatoes form buds, top them as early as possible and remove the flower buds. When removing flower buds, do not damage the leaves on the main stem.

5. Pest and disease control

Once potatoes enter the bud stage, various pests and diseases will appear. Once central diseased plants are found, fungicides such as copper sulfate and chlorothalonil can be used for control, or insecticides, fungicides, plant growth regulators, trace-element fertilizers, and the like can be mixed and sprayed. Per mu, use 20-30 g of 10% imidacloprid wettable powder + 100 g of 58% metalaxyl mancozeb wettable powder + 30-40 g of 15% pacloputrazol + 100 g of 0.1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate, mixed with 40 L of water, and spray the mixture in the morning and evening.

Overall, potatoes are still quite easy to manage during the flowering stage. As long as you remove the flower buds in time and do a good job with basic tasks such as water and fertilizer management and pest and disease control, it is fine.