Three Methods for Quickly Sprouting Potatoes in Spring

    Spring potatoes are generally planted using potatoes harvested the previous autumn as seed potatoes. Because during the period from harvest to planting, the potato tubers have not yet broken dormancy or have just broken dormancy, if such seed potatoes are planted directly, they will emerge late or unevenly, which will affect the potato yield. Therefore, sprouting potatoes in spring is the key period for increasing potato yield. The methods for sprouting potatoes in spring are as follows:

Potato

    1、Indoor sprouting method:Choose a ventilated, cool place with a relatively low temperature, cut the whole potato into several small pieces (each piece must have 1-3 eyes), then wash the sap off with cool water. After the tubers are air-dried, layer them in moist sand indoors to sprout, building up three or four layers. Cover the potato tubers with rice straw to retain moisture, and keep the indoor temperature at around 20°C. When the sprouts grow to 1-0.5 cm, take them out and place them in a cool, shaded place outdoors to harden the sprouts for 1-3 days, then they can be planted.

    2、Greenhouse sprouting method: At the end of the walkway inside a plastic greenhouse far from the door, if the ground is too dry, spray an appropriate amount of water to make it slightly moist, then spread 1 layer of potato tubers and scatter 1 layer of wet sand (note: disinfect with chemicals). In this way, 3-5 layers of potato tubers can be spread continuously, and finally cover the top with burlap sacks or straw mats to retain moisture. But note, never cover with plastic film. After 5-7 days, when the potato sprouts reach about 0.5 cm, the sprouts can be hardened and planted.

    3、Seedbed hotbed sprouting method:Use an existing seedbed, or dig a new seedbed. After leveling the bottom of the bed, spread 1 layer of potato tubers, scatter 1 layer of wet sand, and spread 3-5 layers of potato tubers. Finally, cover the sand with 1 layer of straw mats. Set up bamboo arches over the seedbed, cover tightly with plastic film, and press down the edges with soil. After 5-7 days, when the potato sprouts grow to about 0.5 cm, the sprouts can be hardened and planted.

    During the sprouting process, adhere to the "five suitable and five unsuitable" principles: potato tubers should be large rather than small, the number of layers should be few rather than many, the soil (sand) should be dry rather than wet, the sprout-hardening time should be long rather than short, and the sprouts should be short rather than long. Pay special attention: humidity during the sprouting process must not be too high. If humidity is high during sprouting, it can easily cause roots to grow from the stems of the potato sprouts, and these roots will shrink or die from water loss during the sprout-hardening stage before planting. The suitable sprout length for planting potatoes is 0.5-1 cm. When the sprouts reach 0.5-1 cm, place the sprouted tubers indoors under scattered light to make the sprouts turn green.