The potato is hailed as the "underground apple" - what are its places of origin and growing conditions?
The potato is also called Irish potato, taro, and so on. Whether in Western or Chinese cuisine, it occupies an important position and is deeply loved by people. So, where is the potato's place of origin? What are its growing conditions? What are its growth stages?
1. Where is the potato's place of origin?
In China, potatoes mainly come from the northern regions. China's main potato-producing areas are Dingxi City in Gansu, Guyuan City in Ningxia, the Southwest, Inner Mongolia and the Northeast. Dingxi City in Gansu Province, with its unique geographical environment and natural conditions, has become one of the best suitable growing areas for potatoes in China and even the world. It has become one of the country's three major potato-producing areas, the country's largest virus-free seed potato breeding base, an important national commercial potato production base and potato product processing base, and is known as the “Hometown of Chinese Potatoes”, supplying large quantities of potatoes to the whole country every year.
2. Potato growing conditions
The potato has high yields, is rich in nutrients and has strong adaptability to the environment. It is now found all over the world. Tropical and subtropical countries can even cultivate it in winter or in cool seasons and obtain relatively high yields. It prefers cool conditions, and the formation and growth of its underground tubers require a loose, airy, cool and moist soil environment. The suitable temperature for tuber growth is 16-18 degrees. When the soil temperature is higher than 25 degrees, the tubers stop growing. The suitable temperature for stem and leaf growth is 15-25 degrees, and growth stops above 39 degrees.
3. Potato growth stages
1. Dormancy period
After the potato is harvested, if it is placed in an environment suitable for sprouting but cannot sprout for a long time, this is physiological natural dormancy. Tuber dormancy begins at the moment when the tip of the stolon stops polar growth and the tuber begins to swell. The length of this period is related to the storability of the tubers, to whether seedlings can emerge in time after planting, and therefore to the level of yield.
2. Sprouting period
From bud emergence to seedling emergence is the sprouting period. This is the second stage of potato growth. During the sprouting period, the first section of the main stem grows. The center of growth during the sprouting period is bud elongation, root formation and stolon formation. Nutrients and water mainly come from the seed potato and are supplied in the order of stems and leaves, then roots. The speed and quality of growth are governed by the seed potato and the environmental conditions required for sprouting.
3. Seedling period
From seedling emergence until the sixth or eighth leaf unfolds flat, that is, completing the growth of one phyllotactic cycle, is called “rosette formation”. “Rosette formation” is the growth of the second section of the main stem and is the potato's seedling period. The seedling period is relatively short; whether spring or autumn cropping, it lasts only a short half month. The seedling period is the key stage determining whether the plant can survive.
4. Vigorous growth period
From rosette formation until the twelfth or sixteenth leaf unfolds is the potato's vigorous growth period. At this time the main stem begins to shoot up rapidly, the main stem leaves have all formed and branches and branch leaves expand, the root system continues to expand, and the tubers swell to the size of a pigeon egg. The vigorous growth period has a stage in which the center of growth shifts.
5. Tuber formation period
After the potato's vigorous growth period is completed, it enters the tuber formation period, which is dominated by tuber growth. During this period, stem and leaf growth gradually decreases, the basal leaves begin to turn yellow and wither and fall, and the organic nutrients of all parts of the plant are continuously transported to the tubers. The tubers then swell faster, especially fastest in the 10 days after the flowering period. The length of the tuber formation period is governed by climatic conditions, diseases and variety maturity, and is generally 30-50 days.
The above is Tuliu.com editor's introduction to the potato. I hope it can help all growers!